Istanbul: Places to Explore

The area between the Grand Bazaar and the shore of the Golden Horn teems with people during the day. Even though most of the old Byzantine and Ottoman buildings have long gone, the stalls and peddlers who... Read more

The neighborhood that climbs the Galata Hill is known both as Pera and Beyoglu, and is often referred to as the "New Town," where the first thing you'll learn is that new is a relative term in Istanbul... Read more

As you leave the chaos of the city behind, you'll see wooded hills; villages large and small, modern and old-fashioned; the old wooden summer homes called yalis (waterside houses) that were built for the... Read more

Exploring Eastern Thrace (the area historically bounded by the Danube and Nestos rivers, and the Aegean, Marmara, and Black seas) has a harsh climate—sizzling in summer, bitter in winter—and... Read more

The Prince's Islands, known simply as Adalar in Turkish, are everything that Istanbul isn't: quiet, green, and car-less. They are primarily a relaxing getaway from the noise and traffic of the big city... Read more

The old walled city of Istanbul rises on several hills above the port of Eminönü, and an incredible concentration of art and architecture spanning thousands of years is packed into the narrow... Read more

Constantinople was a huge city, and large western areas are little visited but contain plenty of fascinating pieces of the city's long history. It's predominantly residential, and at times can seem like... Read more