Istanbul has always been a city of contrasts,bringing together a mixture of East and West,antiquity and contemporary.Typical walking tour in Istanbul is the old city "Sultanahmet District".A main attraction is Byzantine
Hagia Sophia,Church of Divine Wisdom and walk through the Sogukcesme Street right behind the church to the entrance of Topkapi Palace Gardens.Along the Sogukcesme Street are the traditional Ottoman Houses restored as hotels.At the end of the street is
Topkapi Palace and nearby the Blue Mosque.
The Istanbul Art Center,which has worksshops of calligraphy,marbled painting,Ottoman miniatures,glassware and bookbinding.is only 5 minutes from the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome,Across from Blue Mosque is the Turkish Islamic Arts Museum.Grand Bazaar,a covered maze of some 4000 shops selling everything from modest souvenirs to priceless treasures is one of the other highlight of Sultan Ahmet District.
For an experience unlike any other,the Sultan Kayiklari (Sultan's Boats) provide the most authentic way to tour the breathtaking water that seperate Istanbul's Asian and European Shores.On elaborate vessels replicating the Imperial luxury of Ottoman royalty,the Sultan's boat tours are themed around three great water-side palaces of the city,the only tour boat permitted by the National Palace Board to shuttle between these monuments.Along the route,architectural wonders,both ancient and contemporary capture the Imagination,as do the sites of great wealth and industry from Topkapi Palace to the original Ottoman factory used to make fez hats.
Beyoglu,the historic diplomatic district,now the center of a lively cafe culture reflects the city's renewed energy.It's cobbled streets,both sides are historic buildings now filled with local shops,sidewalk cafes and trendy music clubs
,In Beyoglu you may have your dinner at very traditional small meyhane at the Fish Market or right at a restaurant which has a 360 degree view of Istanbul in a modern setting.
Dining in Istanbul is not casy to decide.You may have your dinner either in old city at a traditional restaurant in an Old Palace on the European shores of Bosphorus.You may taste some of the best traditional dishes from country's different regions even in Spice Market or Grand Bazaar Both.
Asian and European shores of the city offer good samples of small seafood restaurants in villages of Kuzguncuk,Kanlica,Anadolu Kavagi
,Sariyer,Tarabya,Yenikoy,If you would like to sample some of the street food ,do not miss Ortakoy district with its craft market at weekends.The culinary choices alone reflect the varienty of experiences available in Istanbul.
