THINGS TO DO
IN ISTANBUL
T H IN G S T O D O IN IS T A N B U LHistorical Places
to see
Istanbul, Turkey’s cultural and financial center, is located on the Bosphorus Strait, and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn. It extends both on the European and on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, and is therefore the only metropolis in the world, which is situated on two continents.
Dolmabahçe Palace
one of the most opulent palaces in Istanbul, Dolmabahçe Palace was built on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait in the mid 1800s as the new imperial residence. You will be impressed with the throne room, Harem and chandeliers. Our hotel is also in a walking distance to this amazing historical building. Open daily except Mondays and Thursdays from 9.00 AM - 5.00 PM.
Topkap› Palace
constructed after the conquering of Istanbul, wascommissioned by Fatih Sultan Mehmet and created from 1460-1478. This palace is the oldest and widest of the palaces and has been a museum since 1924, when Atatürk gave official permission for its use as a museum. Additionally, its location provides a view of Haliç, Bo¤aziçi and the Marmara sea, as well as being the first palace to be built on an acropolis. Open daily except Tuesdays from 9.00 AM - 5.00 PM.
Kariye Museum
is actually a church built during the Byzantium period, which was used as a mosque after Istanbul was conquered. The mosaics and frescoes in the museum are certainly among the most beautiful examples of Byzantine art. The building, restored between 1948 and 1958, serves as a museum now, and it is definitely worth the ride to Edirnekap› if you have plenty of time in Istanbul. Open daily except Wednesdays from 9.00 AM - 4.00 PM.
Ortaköy Mosque
is a baroque mosque, which was commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecid in 1853 to be built by Architect Nigo¤os Balyan. The mosque is in Ortakoy, which is a distinct location on the Bosphorus with its small streets and cafes.
Sultanahmet Mosque
is the only mosque which was originally built with six minarets. Due to the color of more than 20.000 tiles decorating the mosque, it is known to foreigners as the “Blue Mosque”.
Süleymaniye Mosque
is the largest and most appealing mosque in the city. It was completed by the grand master Architect Mimar Sinan, and has a fascinating beauty. The most appealing section of the interior is the original and colorful stained glass, decorated with Turkish motifs on the niche wall.
Saint Sophia Museum
which is among the most important existing monuments of world
architectural history, is a product of East-West synthesis. First, it served as the primary church for 916 years and then as a mosque for 477 years. It was turned into a museum upon the instruction of Atatürk. Open daily except Mondays from 9.30 AM - 4.30 PM.
Istanbul Modern
was the first museum of modern art in Turkey, which aims to showcase and add value to Turkey’s output in the fields of modern and contemporary art. The museum’s permanent exhibition entitled ‘Modern Experiences’ presents, within a framework of art history, 100 years of artistic adventures, which have unraveled throughout Turkish geography. The museum is located by the sea and in a close proximity to Conrad Istanbul.
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Sak›p Sabanc› Museum
houses small sculptures, metal objects of art, porcelain, and decorative art collections, as well as valuable hand written works of art and a large collection of paintings from the 19th
and 20th
Century. Open daily except Mondays from 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM.
The Prince Islands and Maiden’s Tower
With their beaches, pine forests, phaetons and colonial style houses, The Prince Islands are the most well-preserved locations of Istanbul. A walk by the beautiful gardens of the mansions, flowers of acacia, Judas tree blossoms, rosemary and lavender are an unforgettable experience. With churches and monasteries from the Byzantine period, excellent fish restaurants and beautiful surroundings, Prince Islands are one of the sightseeing favorites of the city. Take a ferry to Büyükada then, if time permits, you can continue your journey to Heybeliada, Burgazada, and K›nal›da. Maiden’s Tower is situated on a stone mound, at the meeting point of Asia and Europe, the tower’s architectural existence dates back to 341 BC.
Grand Bazaar
consists of over 4000 shops and 61 streets. Therefore, you need to set aside a substantial amount of time to visit this historic bazaar. But when it comes to Turkish gifts or souvenirs, there is no better place to shop. You cannot find the antiques, hand woven carpets and gold jewelry sold at the Grand Bazaar anywhere else in the world! A trip to the Grand Bazaar means that you will also be visiting one of Istanbul’s prominent historical landmarks. Open daily except Sundays from 9.30 AM - 6.30 PM.
Egyptian Market
was founded in 1660, and contains stores that sell dried herbs and spices. This makes the Spice Bazaar the number one destination for those with an interest in healing herbs and natural products. You can also find traditional local flavors such as farm cheeses, Turkish Delight, and Turkish coffee. Open daily except Sundays from 9.30 AM - 6.30 PM.
Istinye Park
consists of three main sections. The Grand Rotunda houses the children’s enter-tainment area and the food court. The Lifestyle Center recreates a town square with an open green space in the center, pools and streets lined with domestic and international brand names. This section offers the pleasure of outdoor shopping. Finally, the Fashion District is a modern indoor shopping mall together with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Paul Smith... Istinye Park is 8 km from the hotel and the drive time is 25 min.
Kanyon
is a four-story mall that has 160 stores. Close to forty of these are global brands such as Harvey Nichols and George Jensen that are entering the Turkish market for the very first time. The ground floor is home to trendy local and international designers. Leisure and entertainment is on the first floor with the movie theater, restaurants, cafes, bars, health clubs and a gourmet supermarket. The open space found on the lowest floor is designed to host live entertainment. Kanyon is 3 km from the hotel and the drive time is 15 min.
Akmerkez
is one of the most prestigious shopping malls in Istanbul. The large selection of stores, some of which are Gilan, Zara, Vakko, Nike, Adidas, Beymen, Calvin Klein, Massimo Dutti, and Camper are some of the brands to be found here.
Akmerkez is 3.5 km from the hotel and the drive time is 15 min.
Istanbul’s colorful nightlife offers a wide range of bars and nightclubs. Here are some of the venues that we recommend:
Reina, Sortie and Anjelique are all located on the prettiest spots of the Bosphorus where you can enjoy the nice view. Nu Teras is situated on the roof of the 200 year old Passage de Petit-Champs, and welcomes guests with a breathtaking Istanbul view with the Golden Horn just below. Babylon is a live music venue located in Asmalimescit, just minutes away from the heart of Istanbul, Taksim. Open 5 nights a week, the venue features live music and DJ performances by artists from the jazz, electronic, rock, folk, and world music disciplines.
For additional information please contact our Concierge.