Istanbul holidays
‘An unforgettable rail journey’: my night on the Istanbul-Sofia Express
The overnight service from Turkey to Bulgaria started running again this year and was voted one of the world’s best journeys for 2023 by Lonely Planet
Tom Hall
22, Nov, 2022 @7:00 AM
A local’s guide to Istanbul: mosques, slow-cooked kebabs and the magnificent Bosphorus
The author celebrates new open spaces along the Golden Horn, and picks the best places to eat, shop and be inspired by the city’s rich history
Lisa Morrow
08, Jan, 2022 @2:00 PM
Istanbul: a virtual tour through books, film, food and music
Crime writer Barbara Nadel explores the ‘vibrant but maddening megacity’ that inspires her books
27, Jan, 2021 @6:30 AM
10 of the best books set in Turkey - that will take you there
These novels – and one classical epic – evoke the cities, landscapes and cultures of Turkey ‘you’re unlikely to find on a beach holiday’
Jeremy Seal
21, Jul, 2020 @5:30 AM
I cycled across Europe to Istanbul – and learned to live in the moment
On this epic slow ride to Istanbul, following the Rhine and Danube rivers, our writer ‘turned the pedals and waited for the world to unfold’
Helen Moat
16, May, 2020 @10:00 AM
Istanbul ferries now cross the Bosphorus through the night
The launch of a 24-hour weekend ferry linking European and Asian sides of the city means Istanbulites need not be stranded on the wrong continent after a night out
Sami Kent
02, Mar, 2020 @1:33 PM
Last orders: Istanbul’s historic fish sandwich boats shut down by authorities
The closing of the last three balık ekmek boats on the Golden Horn marks the end of an Istanbul culinary tradition
Sami Kent
01, Nov, 2019 @1:00 PM
'Make war against fascists!' Gaye Su Akyol, Turkey's psychpop powerhouse
She gets called ‘the most courageous artist in Turkey’ and has been questioned by the police about her lyrics. The singing sensation takes us on a tour of Istanbul to explain how political turmoil feeds her work
Robin Denselow
14, Jul, 2019 @2:00 PM
Back from the brink: new breath for tourism in Istanbul
It’s only two years since an attempted coup but Istanbul is moving on and reinventing itself
Ed Cumming
02, Dec, 2018 @7:00 AM
A local’s guide to Istanbul's new cool neighbourhood
In once sleepy Kadıköy-Moda, new nightlife and culture hotspots happily coexist with the district’s established restaurants and cafes
Eda Erman, interview by Kit Macdonald
19, Feb, 2018 @6:30 AM
The Istanbul Research Institute … a lot more interesting than it sounds
Right by the city’s retail-heavy İstiklal Caddesi is an elegant space offering tranquillity, free exhibitions and fascinating insights into old Istanbul
Caroline Eden
09, Aug, 2017 @12:42 PM
Istanbul: former tourist hotspot is ghost town for small businesses
With a string of terror attacks and an attempted army coup impacting tourism, small traders in the Turkish metropolis are paying the price
Suzanne Bearne
09, Feb, 2017 @8:16 AM
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