Category: Travel

Karaköy, Istanbul’s coolest new hotspot
Karaköy, near the Golden Horn, is Istanbul’s latest upcoming neighbourhood. Our city insider finds the area’s 10 most exciting new places to eat, shop, sleep and explore

Read more about Istanbul in our city guide, and more about holidays in Turkey and Greece in Saturday’s Travel section
- Sevil Delin
- The Guardian
Karaköy hotspot … head to Kiliç Ali Pasa for luxury Turkish pampering in this beautiful restored 16th-century hammam

Once a thriving port, Karaköy fell on hard times in the 20th century, and magnificent commercial edifices were divided into workshops. The opening of the nearby Istanbul Modern art gallery in 2004 sparked a renaissance that has gained momentum in the past couple of years. Now, hardware stores rub shoulders with galleries, restaurants and boutiques, creating a dynamic blend of urban grit and glitter. Hoping to cash in on this cachet is a swath of soon-to-open hotels, so Karaköy’s days as an “in-the-know” hideout may be numbered.

Istanbul’74

Power couple Demet Müftüoglu Eseli – long affiliated with Turkish luxury fashion label Vakko – and filmmaker Alphan Eseli established Istanbul’74, a thriving international arts and cultural platform, in late 2009. Headquartered at its art gallery and office in Karaköy, Istanbul’74 organises world-class exhibitions, workshops and festivals such as Istancool, each May. The latter has attracted luminaries such as Gore Vidal, Tilda Swinton and Zaha Hadid. Istanbul’74 itself has helped put Istanbul on the global artistic map, exhibiting works by Tracey Emin, Robin Rhode and Angel Otero.
• Galata Sarap Iskelesi Sokak, Süha Fazlı Han 8/3, istanbul74.com, open Mon–Sat 10am-7pm

Kılıç Ali Pasa Hamam

Designed by Mimar Sinan – architect to Suleiman the Magnificent – this hammam dates from the 1580s, and had fallen into ruin before it was saved by Ergin Iren, who devoted seven years to its meticulous restoration. It reopened in 2012 as a luxury hammam with an unexpectedly minimalist interior. After a revitalising bath, wrap up in fresh towels and rehydrate under the stunning 17-metre-high dome with a cool glass of sweet serbet.
• Hamam Sokak 1, book in advance on +90 212 393 8010,kilicalipasahamami.com, entry is around £50pp, open daily, 8am-4.30pm (women), 4.30pm-midnight (men)

Karaköy Rooms

A boutique guesthouse with just nine bedrooms, Karaköy Rooms is in a renovated building upstairs from Karaköy Lokantası – one of Istanbul’s finest Turkish restaurants. Both are run by husband and wife team Aylin Okutan and Oral Kurt. The retro-styled rooms are elegant, rates are reasonable, and the traditional Turkish breakfast served downstairs is a snip.
• Galata Sarap Iskelesi Sokak 10, +90 212 252 5422,karakoyrooms.com, doubles from £108

Elipsis

An ellipsis is the three dots (…) that follow an incomplete statement. Sinem Yoruk, the young and stylish founder of Elipsis, Istanbul’s only dedicated photography gallery, chose the name to reflect her desire to leave visitors speechless. Born and raised in London, Yoruk can date her passion for photography to her family’s professional photo lab. Founded in 2007, Elipsis moved to Karaköy in summer 2012, and represents both internationally renowned artists and emerging Turkish talents.
• Hoca Tahsin Sokak, Akce Han 10, elipsisgallery.com, open Tues-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat noon-6pm

Ops Cafe

Nautical touches such as a hanging rope ladder and lanyard curtain ties reveal that the proprietor, Yasin Kalender, was a sea captain before opening this relaxed cafe last year. His wife, Esin, designed the interior, and named it Ops after the Roman goddess of plenty. The simple yet hearty menu includes a traditional Turkish breakfast, classic cafe fare and wines. All dishes prefaced by the “Ops” name feature the house speciality: delicious Albanian smoked beef.
• Mumhane Caddesi Nimet han 45B, opscafekarakoy.com, mains £10, open Sun-Mon 8.30am-8pm, Tues-Sat 8.30am-10.30pm

Atölye 11

Located below the bell tower of the Turkish Orthodox church, this two-story boutique opened in December 2011, and sells a range of decorative objects, clothing and accessories by Turkish designers. Most popular are the embroidered silk cushions with Anatolian kilim motifs. Atölye 11 also sells Take Away Istanbul, a tongue-in-cheek line of souvenirs that includes Turkish tea glass, shot glasses and clever, Istanbul-inspired T-shirts.
• Mumhane Caddesi 47, atolye11.com, open daily 10.30am-7pm

artSümer

After founding artSümer in December 2004 on Istiklal Caddesi, Aslı Sümer moved her gallery to Karaköy in September 2011. A second-generation gallerist, Sümer fosters cutting-edge, Turkish artists who share her belief that art has the power to surprise and transform. The current astonishing site-specific installation by Gözde Ilkin runs until 30 March, followed by a show on antique dealers by Elif Öner in nearby Çukurcuma.
• Mumhane Caddesi, 67 Laroz Han, artsumer.com, open Tues-Sat 11am-7pm

Kagıthane

Located in the period French shopping arcade (Fransız Pasajı), Kagıthane shares a space with Bej, one of Karaköy’s first cafes. Meaning “house of paper”, Kagıthane is a concept store full of quirky paper objects and souvenirs inspired by Istanbul’s cats, street signs, fish and architecture. Established in 2011 by designer Emine Tusavul, the creative line includes coasters printed with traditional Turkish motifs, caricature postcards, and wrapping paper featuring sesame-encrustedsimit bread rolls and triangles of cream cheese.
• Kemankes Caddesi 11, Fransız Is, kagithane.com.tr

Karabatak

Named after the Bosphorus’s bobbing cormorants, Karaköy’s most popular cafe opened in June 2011. Julius Meinl, the Austrian coffee brand, created Karabatak as an office and hole-in-the-wall training cafe. Customers enjoyed Viennese coffee and cakes at extremely reasonable prices. Word quickly spread. The menu remains very limited (try the cappuccino-like weiner melange and the Sachertorte) but the space has grown. The vintage decor includes a converted tractor/bar. Upstairs is a quiet room with free Wi-Fi.
• Kara Ali Kaptan Sokak 7, karabatak.com, coffee £2-£3, open Mon-Fri 8.30am-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-10.30pm

Unter

This cafe-bar opened in October 2012, serving hearty fare from Istanbul’s three favourite cuisines: Turkish (panfried liver and grilled octopus), Italian (prosciutto and lasagne), and American (mini burgers and pulled pork – a rare find in this city). With your stomach suitably lined, try Unter’s signature Bloody Mary or draft Turkish Tuborg Gold. Open late into the night, Unter attracts urban upmarket locals, and the top two floors often host arty after parties and private events.
• Karaali Kaptan Sokak 4, +90 212 244 5151, unter.com.tr, mains from £10, open Tues-Thurs 11am-midnight, Fri 11am-2am, Sat 9am-2am, Sun 9am-8pm

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/mar/22/istanbul-karakoy-top-10-cafes-shops-galleries
March 24, 2013
Tourism and Turkish Culture Office UK is the Co-planner of the Istanbul INN London

BY MATTIN TOURISM — 23 MAR, 2013

The Istanbul INN London is going to the very first event of its kind and the Tourism and Turkish Culture Office UK is the partner for the planning. The event will be held from the 12th of April to the 15th and it is going to exclusively focus on the cultural Istanbul capital, Turkey.

Running for 4 days, INN London is going to reveal some of the factors that make Istanbul stand out from the architecture to the contemporary art, food, fashion, drink and the cultural life of the people. the unique cultural and lifestyle experience is set to bring together some of the leading designers, architects, fashion designers, shops, galleries and Chef Silvena Rowe who is going to be the celebrity guest. The programme will include some cultural events and talks, Turkey travel information and the opportunity for those in attendance to buy Turkish products.

Istanbul INN London is ideal for all prospective travelers and especially those interested in learning what’s new in Istanbul. It is also perfect for people interested in setting up business links. INN is also set to go on tour due to events planned in the Far East, the Americas and Middle East. Some of the exhibitors expected to attend the event include Merkur, Pi Artworks, Merkur, artSumer, Sanatorium, Cda projects, Dirimart and Elipsis. Architects will also be expected to grace the event and they will include Superpool and Emre Arolat Architects while fashion houses are going to include interior designers such as Merve Kahraman and Iksel and Vakko.

Tolga Tyuluoglu, Tourism and Turkish Culture Office UK director said that INN is one of the most exciting projects they have undertaking and it resonates with their objectives aimed at transforming and promoting the tourist and cultural attractions of Istanbul to a wider audience in the UK and London. Already, they have directed too much research into the INN project and it is clear that they are trying to stay true towards safeguarding the interests of Istanbul. .

via Tourism and Turkish Culture Office UK is the Co-planner of the Istanbul INN London | Holidays Press.

March 23, 2013
Expanding Turkey’s menu

Expanding Turkey’s menu

MARKET day arrives in Yalikavak, a small Turkish town on the Bodrum Peninsula, and my sister Caroline and I are in deep discussions over an acceptable price for a beautiful scarlet handbag.

By: Annabelle Thorpe

Browsing in the bazaar at Yalikavak

There are dozens of bags on the stall in front of us, the air is thick with spices and everywhere women are bustling past with carrier bags filled with fresh vegetables, pots and pans and slippers, while tourists coo over the amazingly cheap cashmere wraps and pretty ceramics.

We fix on a price and retire, slightly exhausted, to a ramshackle cafe at the side of the market to revive ourselves with gozleme, delicious Turkish pancakes stuffed with feta cheese and herbs, and sip Turkish tea from tulip-shaped glasses.

Around us sit local men in knitted caps and smart grey trousers playing backgammon and sipping tea, habits formed over decades and little changed by the recent influx of tourists.

Yalikavak is just one of a clutch of unspoilt village resorts that cling to the coastline of the Bodrum Peninsula.

That they have remained unspoilt is largely due to the lack of beaches, and the fact that many of the tourists who come here are holidaying city dwellers from Izmir and Istanbul.

Yalikavak and its neighbouring resorts of Torba and Golturkbuku have slim strips of sand but there is little to rival the beautiful beaches of Oludeniz and Iztuzu. Instead most visitors from the UK stay in Bodrum or Gumbet, around 20 minutes away by taxi but a world away in atmosphere and size.

The influx of Turkish tourists has seen a crop of stylish boutiques spring up in Yalikavak and the other villages.

Our base for the first few days is the 4reasons Hotel, a chic 21-room boutique retreat 15 minutes walk from the waterfront.

Run by the delightful Esra, it is stylish without being pretentious. Our all-white room is furnished with Turkish art and antiques and has a balcony that’s perfect for watching the spectacular sunsets.

Golturkbuku has a very different feel to laid-back Yalikavak. This is where the beautiful and wealthy come to play, arriving on gleaming yachts and sipping caipirinhas at cocktail bars overlooking the water.

Part of the joy of staying on the peninsula is the chance to explore the different villages. None are more than a 20 to 30-minute drive and there are regular “dolmuses” (minibuses) which provide an excellent service if you don’t want to hire a car.

We are keen to visit Golturkbuku, said to be Turkey’s answer to the French Riviera. Although it is relatively low season the beach clubs are still running with decked platforms over the water, elegant white loungers and raffia chairs.

Hip hotels line the gently curving bay and we combine a lazy day on the beach with a browse in the chic boutiques. Golturkbuku has a very different feel to laid-back Yalikavak. This is where the beautiful and wealthy come to play, arriving on gleaming yachts and sipping caipirinhas at cocktail bars overlooking the water.

Those who sail into Golturkbuku usually head on for a few nights in Bodrum and we do the same, swapping our small boutique hotel for a couple of nights at the Grand Yazici, a sleek, modern hotel with a spectacular pool area. It sits on the hillside above the town affording mesmerising views over the rooftops to the castle and gulet-lined harbour.

We head into the winding streets and alleys that run between the whitewashed houses in the Old Town. It’s here where the real atmosphere is to be found.

We stumble across La Pasion, a lovely Spanish tapas restaurant in a candlelit courtyard and although it feels a little surreal to be tucking into patatas bravas and albondigas (meatballs), the food, particularly the crab croquettes, is fantastic.

The bright lights of Bodrum feel like a complete contrast after our few days on the peninsula and the chance to experience both in one week is what makes this such a great choice.

GETTING THERE: Anatolian Sky (0844 273 3586/ anatoliansky.co.uk) offers seven nights at the 4reasons Hotel from £729pp (two sharing), B&B, or seven nights at the Grand Yazici from £745pp (two sharing), B&B.

Price includes return flights from the UK and transfers. Rhino Car Hire (0845 508 9845/ rhinocarhire.com) offers seven days car hire from £135.

Express Readers can claim a 10% discount via rhinocarhire.com/Express.aspx. Quote “Express Discount” when booking. Turkish Culture and Tourism Office: 020 7839 7778/ gototurkey.co.uk

via Expanding Turkey’s menu | Travel | Life & Style | Daily Express.

March 18, 2013
Minister calls on Christian and Jewish minorities to return to Turkey

Christian and Jewish minorities who have left Turkey can come back to their home country as the mistakes of the past will not be committed again, said Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik during his visit to the Russian capital, Moscow, March 16.

Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik attended the Tourism Fair in Moscow. AA photo

“If you encounter troubles anywhere in the world, know that the first place you can appeal to is the Turkish embassy. Turkey has become a democracy that protects every identity and their historical legacies,” he said, adding that minorities had faced many problems in the past. “Turkish democracy now gathers in itself every identity.”

Çelik added that the same care was shown in the restoration of mosques, churches and synagogues. He also mentioned that the Taksim Barracks, known as Topçu Kışlası, which are planned to be restored in the near future, had marks of Russian architecture. “[As the Justice and Development Party] we consider the traces left from the Russians in Anatolia as historical legacies,” he said.

Speaking about tourism, Çelik said the government expected an increase of 15 percent in the number of Russian tourists who visit Turkey this year.

March/17/2013

via POLITICS – Minister calls on Christian and Jewish minorities to return to Turkey.

March 18, 2013
Turkey: Enjoying a sunny break that hit the right note

Eamonn O’Neal and wife Sheila found great weather, top service, super food and drink – and a daily song from Olivia Newton John …

If you hear the word Xanadu, you may think of the elaborate city built for the Mongolian Emperor Kublai Khan. Or perhaps it conjures up images of Olivia Newton John in the 1980s film of the same name.

Every morning, around 10am, in a lush part of southern Turkey, Olivia Newton John’s famous title song echoes round the faux pillars and themed artefacts which represent extravagant 13th century architecture.

We are staying in The Xanadu Resort Hotel in Belek, part of the Thomas Cook Ultimate Style range which offers a high quality, all-inclusive experience.

Using the original Kublai Khan legend as the inspiration for its exterior design, the Xanadu is set in an established pine forest, less than 20 miles from Antalya on the beautiful Mediterranean coast. It is one of many luxury hotels purpose-built to cater for sun worshippers, lovers of adventure sports, tennis players and keen golfers.

Xanada resort, Belek, Turkey

Travelling with Thomas Cook direct from Manchester, you fly into recently-renovated Antalya airport. The transfer from the airport to the hotel is an easy drive and takes around 40 minutes.

It was my first visit to Turkey and I found the stereotype of Turkish people being extremely friendly to be accurate. The Xanadu staff are helpful and eager to please.

This modern, five-star hotel sits on the edge of a private beach, opposite the Noblis golf course. It has excellent facilities including a buffet restaurant, a couple of a la carte restaurants, four pools, one of them indoor, a spa, a ten-pin bowling alley and a secret garden bar. What more could you want?

My previous experiences of all-inclusive holidays, whilst not unpleasant, have been a bit of a let down in terms of the quality of the food and drink. At The Xanadu, however, both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are top, named brands and the food is of the highest quality, whether dining a la carte or in the buffet. Very impressive.

The 420 rooms have up to three beds, and come with everything you would expect, including a balcony or terrace. Sheila and I stayed in a junior suite with a fairly large lounge area which led on to the balcony, offering a view of the pool and the sea.

As well as rooms of all sizes, the Xanadu has bungalows. These are set in the beautifully kept gardens close to the hotel’s tennis courts and offer perfect accommodation for families or small groups wanting a little more privacy.

This is clearly a destination loved by golfers, with shuttles taking them to the numerous courses close by. Neither Sheila nor I play golf so we were happy spending our time by one of the pools or on the beach, less than a two-minute walk away.

We did venture out to do a bit of shopping, once to Antalya and once to the more local shopping centre in Belek.

The city of Antalya was occupied by the Italians from the end of the First World War until the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923 and is one of Turkey’s largest metropolitan areas. As with many places in this country, there are echoes of Christian, Jewish and Muslim cultures. We made our way to the old town and enjoyed the hawkers, traders and street entertainers.

I was seduced into buying a big bag of fragrant pomegranate powder, which, at the time I wondered how I had ever managed without but which is now stuck in the back of a kitchen cupboard .

Closer to the hotel, Belek’s shopping centre is compact, clean and tidy with a wide range of shops. Sheila bought handbags and jewellery whilst I opted for a compulsory souvenir red fez. Strangely, that has also found its way into the back of a cupboard.

As Belek has been developed for tourists, the planners have laid the town centre out symmetrically and with flowered verges running down the middle of the streets, you could almost be wandering around a film set.

One of the out-sourced activities offered to guests at the Xanadu is white water rafting, an adventure sport which is incredibly popular in this part of Turkey. The rivers are amazingly beautiful as they gush and glisten through spectacular, ancient valleys.

In the spirit of gathering unique experiences, Sheila and I sat in a ramshackle restaurant and, rather than actually getting our feet wet, enjoyed a traditional artisan lunch whilst watching the rafting from dry land.

The Xanadu has a full-size, outdoor amphitheatre in which extravagant shows are produced nightly. The standards of production and performance are impressive, with professional performers giving their all.

If you take a stroll from the hotel, all you really come across are golf courses and other hotels, so it can’t be said that the Xanadu is situated at the hub of a town’s activities. However there is a bus which runs into Belek every half hour. The journey takes under 15 minutes and costs about £1.

There is also a taxi rank right outside the hotel and journey prices are quoted or haggled over before the journey starts. Be careful, though, because three currencies are used regularly: Turkish Lire, Euros and US Dollars. Make sure you’re on the same wavelength as taxi drivers and shopkeepers.

It is hard to find fault with a holiday at the Xanadu and we had a great week. There was an unfortunate delay on the return flight which we could have done without, but for sunshine, service and super food and drink, a stay here is worth the money – particularly if you like the sound of Olivia Newton John’s voice.

FACTFILE :

Thomas Cook Holidays with Style offers 7 nights on all-inclusive at the 5 star Xanadu Resort Hotel in Belek, from £558 per person, departing from Manchester on 15th April 2013. Price based on 2 adults sharing and includes direct transfers, 20kg luggage allowance and in-flight meals by TV celebrity chef James Martin. 10 and 11 night holidays and room upgrades are available. Correct at time of issue and subject to change, optional extras may be applicable at the time of booking.

thomascook. com, 0844 412 5970, or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Co-operative Travel.

March 17, 2013
See How Turkey’s Ancient Cave Dwellings Were Transformed Into A 5-Star Hotel

See How Turkey’s Ancient Cave Dwellings Were Transformed Into A 5-Star Hotel

Max Rosenberg | Mar. 13, 2013, 6:08 PM

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The Museum Hotel, in Cappadocia a historic region in Turkey, was created out of thousand-year-old cave dwellings.

It took four years of excavating and renovating before the hotel was operational.

The visually stunning hotel is now filled with antiques and artifacts, many of which are registered with museums.

It has outstanding accommodations, unique rooms, and views fit for a king.

Click through to see how ancient cave dwellings became a five-star hotel.

The Museum Hotel is a luxury hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey that opened in 2002.

Cappadocia Museum Hotel

However, the hotel isn’t exactly new. It is built into ancient cave and stone dwellings, some that date back thousands of years.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

Before the hotel was ready for guests, the site had to be excavated and renovated.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The project began in 1998. It was a long and tedious task to make the space hospitable.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The site was inhabited by a number of different civilizations throughout history including, Hittites, Persians, and early Christian Romans.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The last inhabitants of the area were a nomadic people known as the Tekeli, who brought a different breed of horse to the area.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

Some of the structures were in better condition than others.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The location is on uneven terrain, but is elevated above the surrounding area.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The ancient buildings were used for a variety of purposes, and the hotel planned to create a “living” museum out of them.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The project was completed in 2002. The hotel and pool now look spectacular.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

Even though the walls may be thousands of years old, the accommodations and amenities are worthy of a five-star rating.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The hotel is renowned for its spa, which has unique treatments like an “experience shower” with sound and light effects to a four-handed massage.

Cappadocia Museum Hotel

It’s also home to the upscale restaurant Lil’a, which serves traditional Cappadocian dishes.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

You feel like you are on top of the world with this view.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The hotel has 30 unique rooms and suites.

Courtesy of Museum Hotel

The decor is everything you would expect from an upscale establishment. Rooms start at around $350 each night.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/cappadocia-museum-cave-hotel-in-turkey-2013-3?op=1#ixzz2NVBdXcBX

March 14, 2013