Turkish Forum

Tag: Istanbul

  • İstanbul receives 16 percent more tourists in first 11 months

    The number of tourists visiting İstanbul from January through November of 2011 has increased by 16 percent compared to the same period one year ago, according to official figures.

    İstanbul Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate figures for 2011 reveal that İstanbul attracted 7,509,000 foreigner tourists from January through November. This number was 6,489,000 in the first 11 months of 2010.

    In the first 11 months of 2011, 6,959,291 tourists arrived in İstanbul via the city’s Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports, while 550,046 tourists arrived via the ports of Haydarpaşa, Pendik and Karaköy.

    The port used most by tourists is Karaköy, which received 460,855 tourists in the first 11 months.

    İstanbul received the highest number of tourists in July — 916,486, whereas January saw the least number of tourist — 378,380.

    Germans made up the largest number of foreign tourists visiting the city, with 12.3 percent of the total number of tourists. Russia and the US ranked second and third, with respectively 6.1 and 5.6 percent of the total. Italian, French, English and Iranian nations followed on the list, respectively.

    The number of Arab tourists visiting İstanbul rose by 28.5 compared to 2010. The Arab tourists accounted for 11.1 percent of the tourists coming to İstanbul.

    Saudi Arabia is the country from which citizens coming to Turkey increased the most with an increase of 71.3 percent of the total. Iraq followed Saudi Arabia with 64.7 percent, and Kuwait followed Iraq at 40 percent.

    Arab interest in Turkish culture — from TV soap operas, pop music and food to Turkey’s rehabilitation of its Ottoman history — has helped bring in an influx of Arab tourists to Turkey in recent years.

    via İstanbul receives 16 percent more tourists in first 11 months.turizmtatilseyahat

  • Istanbul starting to rival high-end Paris and London says Sotheby’s

    Istanbul starting to rival high-end Paris and London says Sotheby’s

    Some areas of Istanbul have become as attractive as the high-end “marquee addresses” of London and Paris, says Turkey’s Sotheby’s International Realty General Manager Arman Özver.

    vip2Özver believes that Istanbul’s location and culture gives it the “most historic value” of any European city, with a well-developed financial system and good infrastructure meaning that it is being seen as a ‘safe haven’ by the world’s super rich- especially areas like the upmarket Nişantaşı district.

    “Nişantaşı is the same as Knightsbridge in central London,” he says, “and if rental or sale prices in İstanbul collapse by 50%, prices for buildings like these will maintain their value, because they are unique,” he commented.

    Many properties in Istanbul now reach $15,000, $20,000, $25,000 per sqm, even in downtown locations, with wealthy investors realising that they can access Moscow, Azerbaijan, the Gulf cities of Doha and Dubai and Europe’s financial capital, London, all with flights under four hours.

    And Özver has high hopes for the future of property in Istanbul, with buyers still clamouring to invest: “In the last six months we have hosted representatives of different Arab royal families who are looking for property in Istanbul. They have very specific requests and are sophisticated investors, owning properties across the world,” he adds.

    via A Place in the Sun | News and features – Istanbul starting to rival high-end Paris and London says Sotheby’s.

  • Foursquare’s Three New City Badges for London, Paris and Istanbul are Only the Beginning

    Foursquare’s Three New City Badges for London, Paris and Istanbul are Only the Beginning

    Foursquare’s Three New City Badges for London, Paris and Istanbul are Only the Beginning

    Yea, we’re still addicted to Foursquare; follow us for tips here!

    CityBadges4Just in time for the holiday season—and by “holiday” we mean taking holidays away from family—location-based social networking app Foursquare has finally introduced a suite of new, international badges. If you’re traveling to London, Paris or Istanbul, you’re going to want to make sure you’re not only hitting the top spots in the city, but that you’re checking into them as well.

    The three badges are easy enough to get. First, follow 4sqCities, and just to be safe, it wouldn’t hurt to also follow the individual city lists here: London, Paris, Istanbul. Then travel to one or all of the cities and clickety-click to check-in to the places on the recommended lists. Five places earns the badge.

    Sure, this is pretty great for Foursquare users around the world clamoring for diversified badges, but what’s even better is that Foursquare hints on their blog that these three are just the beginning of world cities with their own badges. Want to suggest the next? Do it here.

    For the super-curious, here’s the unlock text you’ll see when you earn each:

    London Calling:

    From Buckingham Palace to Brick Lane, The Savoy Hotel to Soho Square, and Downing Street to Diagon Alley, you’ve seen the city’s best… and all before teatime. Add a spoonful of sugar for us! Well done, chap.

    La Ville-Lumière:

    You’ve picnicked avec un peu de vin by les quais de Seine, partied in République, missed le dernier métro, and taken un velib instead. From la Rive Gauche to la Rive Droite, you’ve seen it all (except Les Catacombes)! C’est un truc de ouf.

    Bosphorus:

    You’ve traipsed across the Seven Hills and spent the morning in Europe and the afternoon in Asia. You know the Bagdat Caddesi like the back of your hand and can spot a good kebab cart a kilometer away. You’ve visited the best of Istanbul! Tebrikler!!

    So…who’s up for a weekend in Istanbul?

    [Images: Foursquare]

    via Foursquare’s Three New City Badges for London, Paris and Istanbul are Only the Beginning || Jaunted.

  • PROBABLY ONCE THE MOST POPULOUS CITY

    PROBABLY ONCE THE MOST POPULOUS CITY

    According to BBC News’ Five things you didn’t know about Delhi, in the 1670s,  Delhi briefly overtook Constantinople (now known as Istanbul) as the world’s largest conurbation.

    Here is the related part of the article on BBC :

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    As Delhi celebrates 100 years as a capital, author Sam Miller supplies a few snippets of fact and trivia about the city that may have escaped you.

    PROBABLY ONCE THE MOST POPULOUS CITY

    In the 1670s, under the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Delhi briefly overtook Constantinople (now known as Istanbul) as the world’s largest conurbation – according to the venerable urban statistician Tertius Chandler.

    Red Fort Delhi flourished during Mughal rule

    Delhi, by this time, was already full of the ruins of past empires still visible on the streets of the modern city.

    The sudden new growth in population was caused by Aurangzeb’s father, Shah Jahan, who built a new capital just north of the ruins. The new city was named Shahjahanabad after him – and is now known as Old Delhi.

    Delhi began to shrink again as the Mughal Empire gradually disintegrated, and Constantinople was restored to its position as the most populous city in the world.

    According to 2011 estimates by Demographia, Delhi is now the second largest urban area in the world, behind Tokyo, while Istanbul trails far behind in 19th position.

    via BBC News – Five things you didn’t know about Delhi.

  • A taste of tradition in old Istanbul

    A taste of tradition in old Istanbul

    2545275994MBCH An aerial view of Istanbul, Turkey.
    Published on Tuesday 6 December 2011 15:51

    Cold weather, cultural clashes and cuisine worthy of Sultans follow Sarah O’Meara around her week-long tour of Istanbul.

    A wise restaurant manager once told me Turkey enjoys what residents call ‘a posthumous summer’. Mid-way through October, a brief cold and often very wet snap descends before the thermostat resets and Turks enjoy another bout of late autumnal heat ahead of winter’s final chilly victory.

    Unfortunately, this sage came into my life too late for me to pack a brolly for my recent week-long trip to Istanbul. Dripping wet, my husband and I heard the story on our first night in the city, along with the only other couple who’d ventured out to Asitane restaurant that stormy night.

    “We’ve had 21 couples cancel,” explained the manager of the authentic Ottoman restaurant. Still, a steaming plate of fruity lamb nestled in a carved-out melon (a dish first served by Sultan Suleiman to celebrate his sons’ circumcision in November 1539, apparently), did something to dry our dampened spirits.

    For thousands of years, emperors, sultans and their millions of loyal citizens have enjoyed the very special Bosphorus riverside location of Istanbul, which is at its best when the sun’s out and the water twinkles with optimism.

    While it may no longer be the seat of a grand continent-spanning empire – as Constantinople (now Istanbul) was during the Roman and subsequent Ottoman period, from 1453 until 1923 – it still hums with optimistic energy on both its European and Asian shores.

    In keeping with her Asian neighbours, Istanbul’s 12 million residents, up from three million in the 1970s, are enjoying an economic boom.

    Sadly for the tourists who jostle out of the many mosques and palaces, this can mean mayhem. The quickest way for visitors to burn through their money is in a taxi, as the city’s inadequate transport system means the roads are in gridlock most of the time.

    If you’re in Istanbul for a whistlestop tour, it’s probably easiest to stay bang in the centre, within tram-riding distance of the historic districts (Sultanahmet) and the modern bars and shops (Beyoglu).

    For those in need of a treat, last year the Pera Palace Hotel opened its doors after a two-year restoration. The famous 1892 hotel, which originally provided the last destination stop for travellers arriving on the Orient Express, is a tribute to the city’s first forays into fashionable Western living.

    Tasteful and effortlessly elegant, a few nights staying in the most refined hotel in town, faithfully furnished with antique bureaux and marble-clad bathrooms, will transport you back to those more glamorous times when Greta Garbo, Ernest Hemingway and Sarah Bernhardt stalked Europe’s capitals looking for inspiration and the high life.

    Indeed, Room 411 is believed to be the place where Agatha Christie wrote Murder On The Orient Express.

    Sitting on your French balcony, you’ll see Istanbul’s housing skyline stretching far into the middle distance. Yet the areas of interest for tourists are relatively self-contained nearby.

    Probably the best decision we made, after buying an umbrella, was investing in a tour guide. It’s no mean feat absorbing the city’s history, which stretches from the moment Roman emperor Constantine I designated it his new Christian capital in the 7th century, to the eventual fall of the Islamic Ottoman empire, while still enjoying the sights.

    And a guide’s also useful for pointing out the best place to eat really nice kofte (meatballs) or lahmacun (Turkish-style thin pizza) for lunch.

    For tourists who don’t want to spend all their time sightseeing, you can take in the top three sights in a day. Topkapi Palace, home to the Ottoman Sultans, complete with harem; the Hagia Sophia, an impressive cathedral turned mosque, before being declared a museum by Ataturk, and the Blue Mosque are all within walking distance. Very handy if you’re just there for the weekend.

    Each building is a tribute to the vision of the country’s rulers, with The Blue Mosque (officially called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) in particular drawing the eye with its six minarets, just one less than the most prestigious mosque in Mecca.

    If you’ve got more time in town, then take advantage of Istanbul’s location spanning the Bosphorus river. Along the coast on both the European and Asian sides are fishing villages boasting charming restaurants and relaxing views.

    After a day of sightseeing, there’s one Turkish tradition that should definitely be adhered to. Whether you prefer to try the communal bath approach or high-end treatment, a Turkish hammam is an exquisitely quirky affair.

    Halfway between a wash and a massage, depending on your budget, these traditional baths can be found all over the city.

    For a personal, delicate treatment, head to the beautifully renovated Ciragan Palace (

    Afterwards we dined overlooking the Bosphorus at the hotel’s Tugra restaurant, enjoying one of the most romantic locations the city has to offer.

    Halfway through the week we left the city centre behind and sought out a boutique hotel on the Asian side of Istanbul.

    The Hotel A’jia is a serene former ‘yali’ (palatial summer mansion of the Ottoman elite) that is a 90-minute drive from Sultanahmet or one-hour boat journey.

    All modern lines, white walls and contemporary art, it’s the ideal place to chill out, with the skyline of Istanbul printed along the glass wall of your room.

    Once ensconced, our one venture out was to join the glitterati for the night at Mimolett, Istanbul’s closest hope for a Michelin star.

    A pet project for head chef Murat Bozok, into which he has reportedly poured his heart and the contents of his wallet, it’s worthy of Mayfair with its mirrored walls, splendid modern chandeliers and tantalising menu.

    Allow more than a few hours at this stunning restaurant to devour dishes such as spicy tuna with olive and eggplant paste and savour splendid Turkish Kayra Chardonnay.

    Then head out for a digestif at one of the city’s many rooftop bars, such as Zoe’s just round the corner (

    Key facts – Istanbul

    :: Best for: History buffs and bar flies.

    :: Time to go: Late spring or summer.

    :: Don’t miss: A rooftop bar.

    :: Need to know: Cabs are expensive and traffic jams common.

    :: Don’t forget: To book a guide – visit

    Travel facts

    Sarah O’Meara was a guest of Pera Palace, where double rooms start from 200 euros, and Hotel A’jia, where rooms start from 270 euros, including breakfast.

    Return flights with Pegasus

  • New Istanbul Aquarium Offers Views From Under the Sea

    New Istanbul Aquarium Offers Views From Under the Sea

    By SUSANNE FOWLER

    06globe istanbul aquarium blog480

    At the new Istanbul Akvaryum.Istanbul Akvaryum

    Posts | City Guide

    In a city surrounded by bodies of water, the new Istanbul Akvaryum, or aquarium, offers a peek at what lies beneath.

    At the aquarium (Senlikkoy Mahallesi Yesilkoy Halkalı Cad. No: 93; istanbulakvaryum.com), which opened in July, visitors start by following a route lined with tanks of Russian sturgeon from the Black Sea, then walk through a replica of what curators imagine Noah’s Ark to have been like.

    Later comes a selection of species found in the Bosporus Strait, through which dolphins still migrate, dodging some 55,000 ships a year that carry cargo from Russia and the Caspian Sea to global markets. (The display has a strong environmental message about marine life in danger of depletion.)

    Next is a gently rising path that snakes from exhibits on the Sea of Marmara, the Dardanelles, the Aegean and the Suez Canal, through the Red Sea, Antarctica (with a chilly iceberg you can reach out and touch while considering the effects of global warming). Then it’s off to Gibraltar, the Atlantic and the Panama Canal to the Amazon rain forest, which will feel like a steamy Turkish hammam on a wintry day, for a peek at piranhas and frogs in shades of neon green, blue or yellow.

    The facility attempts to recreate the natural habitats for its estimated 15,000 creatures and plants including scary sharks, slithery giant eels and deceptively placid stingrays. It also offers interactive games and, for an extra fee, what the creators call “5-D” movie theaters that mimic effects like fog and wind. The periodic fish-feeding by divers in wet suits is fun to watch.

    Most, but not all, of the displays are accompanied by explanations in English. During a recent visit, the crowd was a blend of Turkish families and European couples with children. Figure on spending about two hours to see the full exhibition, and more if you want to enjoy a drink or lunch at one of the cafes, sitting in the sunshine to enjoy a view of the real Marmara Sea.

    The aquarium is in Florya, a wealthy suburb of western Istanbul, well off the usual tourist track. A taxi cost around 40 lira from the Old City, but a local train leaving Sirkeci Station with a stop about a half-mile from the spot was 2 lira (about $1) each way, aquarium employees said. For more on transport options, go to the aquarium Web site.

    An adult ticket is 29 lira (about $16), discounted to 22 for students. Children under 2 are free. Family and group prices are also available here.

    via New Istanbul Aquarium Offers Views From Under the Sea – NYTimes.com.