Tag: Istanbul

From The Bay Area To The Bosporus: Getting To Know The Istanbul Startup Scene

Jessica Stillman, Contributor

I write about careers, the future of work & generational differences.

A veteran of the Bay Area startup scene relocates to Istanbul and reports back on the pluses and minuses of working among the city’s vibrant community of young entrepreneurs.

Why would a young woman with a great gig as a VP Marketing at a mobile e-commerce company in San Francisco pack up and move halfway around the world to work at a startup in Istanbul? And what did she find when she arrived in her new city on the water (this time the Bosporus rather than the Bay)?

Forbes asked Peri Kadaster, now head of strategy and marketing at mobile software company Pozitron, about making the move from the Bay Area to Turkey and got the inside scoop on what the startup scene in her new city is like.

How big is the startup scene in Istanbul?

A lot of people are surprised at the size of its startup scene. Turkey is a country of 75 million people with a very young and increasingly educated population, so it’s ripe for cultivating entrepreneurs. In recent years one of the biggest advances has been in the institutional support for entrepreneurs. Endeavor, for example, is an incredible worldwide organization that is phenomenal in providing mentoring and support to the startup ecosystem. Several of the leading technology companies – including Pozitron (where I work) – have started out with strong ties to the Endeavor program.

In addition several incubators and angel networks have been increasingly active, including eTohum(Turkish Y Combinator), Galata Business Angels(founded by first generation internet entrepreneurs), and numerous university Technoparks (which provide tax incentives for office space). Several of the leading universities in Istanbul have programs aimed at promoting entrepreneurship. I would say over the past decade, there has been a step function acceleration of not only the number of entrepreneurs but also the maturity of the surrounding ecosystem.

Is it focused on any particular niche or sector?

Several of the players I am most excited about are in e-commerce (e.g., flash sales – Trendyol andMarkafoni are the biggest examples) and other forms of commerce (food delivery, such as Yemeksepeti). When eBay acquired GittiGidiyor for 200 million USD, it highlighted to the global market that Turkish startups can drive meaningful value.

The services industry is another area that is seeing a lot of attention. Turkey has a large, relatively low-cost, word-of-mouth based market around services. Now, as people have gotten more comfortable with e-commerce, businessmodels that bring aggregation and transparency to these markets are emerging (for example, Favoreat brings together people who cook with people who want home-cooked food).

What are the top challenges startups there are facing?

One area where Turkey is not as well developed is in institutional investors. Most domestic investment originates from large banks and/or conglomerates, and more recently private equity firms have entered the mix. But venture capital (as well as angel investment) is still a relatively nascent field in Turkey, so a lot of the VC investments that do take place are foreign in origin. That presents its own challenges, like getting on the radar of investment firms around the world, but also presents opportunities for firms abroad who are looking for diamonds in the rough.

Another challenge is that the equity-based ownership and compensation model is in early stages in Turkey. Partially due to legal complexity, while some firms offer profit-sharing, the idea of compensation tied to equity is rare. As a result, there is competition for talent with later-stage firms who can provide more cash compensation, without the issue of equity dilution. A third challenge is copycats. After Groupon GRPN -0.49% debuted in Turkey, within a few months there were 126 “clone” companies, most of which had no business model. The threat of imitation can be a barrier to entrepreneurs looking to test new concepts.

I think the biggest challenge to Turkish entrepreneurship is actually cultural. Turkey is in the shadow of larger, more western markets like the United States. One of the things that surprised me the most is that Turkish entrepreneurs often don’t give themselves enough credit. Put another way: there is a deep-seated fear of failure. Whereas in Silicon Valley it’s in some way a badge of honor to talk about past business failures, in Turkey there is still a stigma attached to shuttering a business.

What are the biggest advantages of starting up in Istanbul?

Turkey is located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, making it logistically a fantastic gateway for interaction with other markets. Istanbul’s 3-4 hour flight perimeter covers Dubai, Doha, Moscow, London, Berlin, Cairo, and Paris, making it an ideal location for client service and multinational operations. The population is well-educated, with over 50 universities and a vibrant expat culture.

Turkey has leapfrogged many other western countries in the speed of internet and smartphone penetration. Turkey is consistently cited as one of the most engaged markets by social media outlets, so we are lucky to have a population that is not only comfortable but highly engaged with new technologies. This makes it a phenomenal playground for rolling out new businesses. Lastly, there is a phenomenally supportive ecosystem that has emerged around entrepreneurship in Istanbul. There has been a “reverse brain drain” since the 2008 US financial crisis, where highly educated Turks are often returning to start entrepreneurial ventures.

You came from the Bay Area, so what are the biggest contrasts with the scene there you’ve noticed?

There are many similarities between Istanbul and the Bay Area – every week there are countless happy hours, conferences, and other events. There is an energy that is palpable. The biggest contrast is that Istanbul lacks some of the physical hubs so prevalent in the Bay Area, whether it’s the ballpark area in SoMa or University Avenue in Palo Alto, the Bay has neighborhoods that make it very easy for companies to interact and exchange ideas. Coworking spaces and hubs are relatively nascent in Istanbul.

Do you run into any misconceptions about the ecosystem in Turkey and, if so, what are they?

Unfortunately misconceptions about Turkey are a daily fact of life. One of the biggest misconceptions is a cultural lack of awareness of what Turks are like. When partners from the United States visit Pozitron’s Istanbul office for the first time, they are usually blown away at how “western” it is. Scores of 20-something developers in flannel shirts and jeans, gadgets like 3D printers andGoogle GOOG +1.38% Glass strewn for experimentation and breaks, free food and drinks, stand-up desks and yoga ball chairs. Looking at the people and at the environment you could easily mistake us for countless other companies in the States. But many people do not know what to expect, so that is an issue.

The Turkish government also has done a disservice to the startup ecosystem. As a result of the authoritarian crackdown on peaceful protesters in Istanbul earlier this year, many foreigners perceive either the ecosystem or the country as troubled.

Is there anything else you’d like American readers to know about startups in Istanbul?

Every single day I get asked why I moved from San Francisco to Istanbul. I encourage anyone excited about entrepreneurship to visit both San Francisco and Istanbul. What I’ve seen in Istanbul has blown me away in terms of the level of talent around innovation and product development. There is zero doubt in my mind that Istanbul will continue to emerge as one of the global capitals of entrepreneurship in the years to come.

Photo credit: Wajahat Mahmood via Flickr.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicastillman/2013/11/25/from-the-bay-area-to-the-bosporus-getting-to-know-the-istanbul-startup-scene/

November 26, 2013
Istanbul, Turkey: Last Minute New Year’s Eve Destinations – Cities

Istanbul, Turkey

Here’s the thing about flights: A seven-hour hop from New York to Amsterdam feels no shorter than a 10-hour jump to Istanbul. This is especially true on Turkish Airlines, which offers excellent service on its long-haul straight shot between the Big Apple and Byzantium. Strangely, travelers won’t find themselves sharing a row with tourists. Istanbul gets quiet in winter, which is why the holidays are a perfect time to visit. On New Year’s Eve, the lines to get into the Hagia Sophia (once Aghia Sofia, a Greek Orthodox basilica, and later a mosque) and the Blue Mosque (named for its incredible blue tiles), twin monuments to the Muslim present and what was once the center of the Holy Roman Empire, turn into short processions, and the gem, gold, and leather dealers in the Grand Bazaar are more likely to cut you a deal. Come evening, count down with the young people on Istiklal Street in the trendy Beyoglu neighborhood, where singing and dancing in the streets is strongly encouraged by wandering accordion players.

Take advantage of the off-season rates on hotels in tony Sultanahmet and spend the big night in luxury at the Four Seasons for $700, then head to your appointment at Acemoglu Hamam, one of the city’s more respected baths. On your way between your comfy bed and a century-old steam room, be sure to grab a sahlep from one of the vendors yelling happily at the well-mannered street dogs in Sultanahmet Park. The creamy drink is incredibly tasty and the perfect antidote to the chilly wind blowing off the Sea of Marmara. If snow falls, consider it a scenic bonus.

via Istanbul, Turkey: Last Minute New Year’s Eve Destinations – Cities – MensJournal.com.

November 23, 2013
Istanbul – where history meets magic

Aslihan Agaoglu
Last updated: October 26, 2013

Istanbul – where history meets magic

I love Istanbul because it stands against what is portrayed of East and West today: two different worlds, far away from understanding each other, writes Aslihan Agaoglu about her hometown.

The traffic is hectic, as always, and I am in my car trying to cross the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Bridge, aptly named after the Ottoman Sultan who conquered Istanbul in 1453, at the age of 21. It’s a sunny day; the blue sky stretches over and meets the blue waters of Bosporus at the horizon. Ahead I can see the big yellow sign that says, “Welcome to Asia.” I am literally crossing continents to have lunch at my grandma’s house and I’ll be back home for afternoon tea. This is possible in one city in the world: Istanbul.

I was born and raised in Istanbul and I have to admit that it is not the easiest place to live in. It is overpopulated, with over 13 million people according to the Turkish Statistical Institute, it is noisy, polluted and has a tendency to test your patients on a regular basis. But it is also a magical city, bursting with stories and history, that never creases to surprise you, which might explain why so many people want to live here.

When I was in primary school, learning about the life of Mehmed II, Mehmed the Conqueroras he was known, our teacher took us on a field trip to Hagia Sophia. I still remember the fascination I felt the first time I walked through its door and stood under the magnificent dome. Hagia Sophia, meaning ‘Holly Wisdom’, served as an Orthodox patriarchal church from 360 to 1452, until Mehmed II conquered the city. When he saw Hagia Sophia, he must have been just as fascinated as I was because he did not demolish it, instead he converted it to a mosque and attended its first Friday prayer on 1 June 1453.

“I am literally crossing continents to have lunch at my grandma’s house and I’ll be back home for afternoon tea”

Hagia Sophia, or Aya Sofya as it is known today, became the first imperial mosque of Istanbul and it served as inspiration for many other Ottoman mosques. It is considered the archetype of Byzantine architecture and is said to have changed the history of architecture. When you walk in, the grand structure takes your breath away and even though it was converted into a mosque, it still gives you the feeling of a cathedral with its basic skeleton. It was made a museum by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey on 1 February 1935 and continues until this day to serve as one, embodying the essence of both Christianity and Islam. In my opinion, the “Holly Wisdom” stands today to represent tolerance in the city that is literally the bridge between Europe and Asia.

If you don’t want to get stuck in traffic, and in Istanbul you are likely to at any hour during the day, your best chance for crossing over to the other side of the city is by sea. You can take one of the famous steamboats, order your tea in one of the traditional thin-wasted glasses and enjoy the scenery for twenty minutes until you arrive. You’ll get to see the old wooden mansions, painted red, yellow and white juxtaposed along the shore line, the Dolmabahce Palace and of course that tiny little building in its very own tiny little island, standing between two continents. That lonely looking building is the Maiden Tower, now a restaurant and very popular for romantic marriage proposals, but there is a myth behind it that is known by almost all Istanbullians.

The Maiden’s Tower belongs to the medieval Byzantine period and legend has it that it was built by a Sultan to protect his beloved daughter from an awful prophecy. One day, an oracle shows up at the Sultan’s palace and prophesises that a venomous snake will kill the Sultan’s daughter when she turns eighteen. The Sultan, desperate to keep his daughter safe, orders his architects to build a small tower that would stand between two lands, hoping no snakes can reach his daughter there and sends her to the tower before she turns eighteen. On the day of her eighteenth birthday, the Sultan brings his daughter a basket of exotic fruits but little does he know that there is a venomous snake hiding beneath the basket. When the princess reaches in to take a fruit, the snake bites her finger and she dies, just as the oracle prophesised, in her father’s arms.

Even if you are not the one for myths and prophesies, Istanbul has something magical to offer. How about a visit to the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, where over one million objects are represented, almost all of the eras and civilizations in world history? You can see parts of statues from the Temple of Zeus, The Troy exhibit, artefacts from the early civilizations of Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Arabia and Egypt and my personal favourite: the world’s oldest love poem!

The inscription on the tablet, according to the Archaeology Museum:

“Dating from the 8th century BC and belonging to the Ancient Babylonian Era, is described as the world’s oldest known love poem. According to the Sumerian belief, it was a sacred duty for the king to marry every year a priestess instead of Inanna, the goddess of fertility and sexual love, in order to make the soil and women fertile. This poem was most probably written by a bride chosen for Shu-Sin in order to be sung at the New Year festival and it was sung at banquets and festivals accompanied by music and dance.”

Today, people from all kinds of ethic, religious and cultural backgrounds live under the same sky of this ancient city. History gushes out from every corner, a common history that comes together like a mosaic with many colours, and it tells us that we are connected to each other through this shared history. I love Istanbul because it stands against what is portrayed of East and West today: two different worlds, far away from understanding each other. Istanbul shows me that there could indeed be a bridge between East and West, a better understanding and a chance to make a better history for the next generations.

Aslihan Agaoglu @Asli_Agaoglu

Aslihan Agaoglu was born in İstanbul and worked as a lawyer before she moved to England, where she did her MA in creative writing at the University of Kent. She is currently completing her Ph.D. at the department of Middle Eastern studies, King’s College London.

Source: http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/travel/istanbul-where-history-meets-magic_18954

October 28, 2013
From Athens in 1998 to Istanbul in 2013

By Alexis Papachelas

History goes in cycles and while this is one of its most charming features if you’re a scholar, it is not so pleasant when you’re actually experiencing it.

A few days ago I was in Istanbul to attend an event held in memory of the late Turkish journalist Mehmet Ali Birand. I remembered the expression on his face when he first visited Athens around 1998. He was impressed by the wealth, the dynamism and the air of Europe that was evident everywhere.

“Wow, you guys have really progressed. You’ve left us far behind,” he told me after a long walk through central Athens. Had Birand been alive today, I may very well have uttered the same words to him about Istanbul.

Turkey today is a country that exudes confidence and has made marked leaps forward.

Let’s start with the trip. The airplane was full of Greek Americans heading home, as Ataturk International Airport has become a hub for travel to the United States, Asia and Africa. Here in Greece, we used to brag about our overly expensive new airport, but we never succeeded it turning it into a real crossroads.

On the streets of Istanbul, there is ample evidence of construction activity as new residential complexes spring up near the banks of the Bosporus and new private universities go into operation, making Greek universities seem like poor relatives in comparison.

Turkey has made so many leaps forward because it has found in Recep Tayyip Erdogan its own Andreas Papandreou. But there is a difference between the two. The Turkish prime minister has modernized his country and unleashed its creative forces, while at the same time assimilating into the system the masses of Anatolians who voted for him. He tore down outdated institutions and built new ones in their place.

On the other hand, while Turkey may be in its prime right now, it is also showing cracks that have many observers very concerned. Its overambitious foreign policy opened fronts that have no strategic advantages; its economy is at risk if the real estate bubble bursts and drags banks down with it; and democracy is being sorely tested, if the experiences of non-establishment journalists are anything to go by.

Given this uncertainty, we should not draw any conclusions about where Greece or Turkey will be in 20-30 years. Sure, Greece is at a very low point right now, but that is nothing new if viewed from a historical perspective. Turkey likewise has known growth before, but has also gone through long periods of decline.

We mustn’t forget that history is never predictable, dull and linear.

via ekathimerini.com | From Athens in 1998 to Istanbul in 2013.

October 27, 2013
Quo Vadis Istanbul?

Take your pick of a name for Istanbul: Would you prefer Konstantinoupolis, Islambol, the Poli or even Istanbul-not-Constantinople?

About This Article

Summary :

Istanbul’s future development is also tied to the memories of its past.

Author: Riada Ašimović Akyol
Posted on: October 20 2013

Categories : Originals Turkey

Two recent articles from Al-Monitor sparked a lively debate on whether Gulf Cities have become the new leading centers of the Arab World. While reading the response of Michael C. Dunn, the editor of the Middle East Journal, who argues that “the contrasts between the old capitals and the new, the old culture and the new, are going to be features of the Middle East over the coming generation,” I could not help but ponder on the future of Istanbul in similar dichotomy.

First, it should be noted that global trends suggest an increasing necessity of “paradiplomacy, or subnational foreign relations,” referring to strengthened local power in order to protect cities’ interests abroad. In that light, Rodrigo Tavares praised São Paulo’s acquired global diplomatic power in Foreign Affairs, observing, “The insularity of the Greek city-states is a thing of the past, along with the absolute centralization of power in national capitals.”

This might be bad news for Turkey, where the decision-making process seems as centralized as it could get. According to academic Guven Sak, “Micromanagement is a Turkish trait, embedded strongly in our psyche.” With 60% of cabinet decisions in 2012 made about local construction projects, Sak criticizes the further lack of decentralization as a negative development.

This sort of unhealthy decision-making often includes even Istanbul — the essential heavyweight among country’s urban centers — due to its importance as the most effective platform for Turkey’s global branding. On that note, in 2013, Travel and Leisure Magazine recognized Istanbul as Europe’s “Best Tourism City,” and second on the global list. There is also lot of positive official involvement in the international arena, including twinning agreements with 67 cities and active membership of the major international NGOs and in the UN system, as explained in detail in “City diplomacy and Istanbul.” Nevertheless, the report criticizes Istanbul’s prioritizing mainly on business promotion and economics. Leadership is probably content with the currently positive outcomes of their efforts. According to predictions, Beijing and Istanbul will have twice as many company headquarters by 2025.

Moreover, there are many new government plans for Istanbul’s further development. The latest issue of Turkish Review published a very comprehensive report “Istanbul 2023: Toward a Megacity.” Though it is debatable how necessary some of the 17 envisaged “crazy projects” are, many are commendable. As expected, there is a large number of both staunch supporters and harsh critics of government investments (from ecological, architectural, archeological, even legal standpoint).

Yet, it should be noted that all of these Turkish discussions on Istanbul take place through certain ideological lenses. In “Istanbul’s Pasts: Raw Material for Constructing the City’s Future,” academic Malte Fuhrmann explains in a very insightful and informative manner how identity and history strongly influence all aspects of everyday life. He notes, “as a metropolis [that had repeatedly] achieved the status of one of the foremost centers of political and military might, ecclesiastical authority, trade and the arts in Europe and the Middle East, Istanbul’s past tends to intrude onto the present more vigorously than it does in less prominent sites.” Neglecting this context means botching an important debate.

Fuhrmann identifies four historical names of the city: Konstantinoupolis, Islambol, the Poli and Istanbul-not-Constantinople. It is crucial to understand each as separate visions of different “imagined communities” they were to create.

First, the perception of the pre-Ottoman past as a threat has led to present “negation and commodification of Konstantinoupolis.” Though Byzantine remnants are impossible to avoid in Istanbul, they are used à la carte, according to city’s reputation-enhancing needs. Second, a currently popular idea [at least among Turkey’s majority and upholders of the ruling leadership’s vision] is of Istanbul as Islambol. More precisely, it suggests “Not the radical, ahistorical Islamic city, but a post-modern megalopolis that has readorned itself with the Ottoman dynasty’s emblem.” Third, there is Poli, “The city of Western order and multicultural harmony,” based on the 19th-century Pera (Beyoglu district). Fuhrmann explains that the district is once again perceived as “a gathering place for gâvurs(infidels).” Yet, as opposed to the case in Riyadh or Tehran, Beyoglu’s lively domestic art, music and nightlife scene doesn’t pose problems, since it is understood as entertainment that attracts numerous expatriates who [are welcome to] work in foreign companies. Finally, Fuhrmann calls the idea of “Istanbul, not Constantinople” as the “Requiem for a republic.” The Kemalists see the current pro-Islamist government, and their mayors, as breachers of the “founding principles of the state.” Hence, nostalgic republicans defend the spaces related to historical ideas from the past, such as Istiklal Caddesi or the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) on Taksim Square, even despite the fact that “the building hardly conforms to present-day popular architectural taste.”

To sum up, it seems that ideological glorifications of buildings like AKM on one hand, or of a museum celebrating the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul on the other hand, won’t easily disappear. Additionally, it is important to acknowledge a specific framework of discussions on urban politics in Istanbul. According to Fuhrmann, “the question is rather on which of the multitude of elements of the urban past they [political activists or commentators] choose to base their worldview.” (For example, Islamist writer Ali Bulac argues that “A new ‘city-civilization perspective’ is needed for Islamic centers.”)

Then there are controversies on the very nature of future development. Some perhaps really blindly oppose any construction in Istanbul. But, there are reasonable concerns about the rampant construction effort in the city, and criticisms that a “concrete civilization” is in the making. What Istanbulians ultimately need is more local conversations on projects, even more so for those of huge scale, before the government endorses them, as it should be the case in a participatory democracy.

Moreover, considering more collaboration between developers and creative people — like the recent “built-in art” gaining momentum in London — might also bring a breath of fresh air to those who feel suffocated by consumerism and myriad shopping centers. Here is to state of the art performance centers, like in the new Zorlu Center, or par excellence new opera centers like the upcoming one in Bakirkoy. Those who direct Istanbul’s development should manage it while not neglecting the fact that cities with reputations for a high quality of life, as opposed to just sightseeing or business, will always rule the game.

On the other hand, an outcry for stopping city’s further development is as futile as saying “enough of globalization already.” Istanbul’s past legacy might be both blessing and curse. So, the idea of Istanbul as the “future capital of the world” remains an ideal for some, and “as a perverse instance of wishful thinking” for others. Yet, a propitious economic climate, with all its ups and downs, has indeed been a unique opportunity for Turkey to leave a durable civilizational mark with Istanbul’s new architectural and cultural legacy. It should not be wasted.

Renowned writer Orhan Pamuk might be right to describe a peculiar feeling of melancholy (hüzün in Turkish) as the fundamental trait of Istanbul: “a state of mind that is ultimately as life-affirming as it is negating.” Hence, in a similarly contradictory way, Istanbul’s aficionados swear on leaving the city for its unbearable traffic, overwhelming crowdedness, unpleasing new aesthetics, you name it… But they remain helplessly opiated by their love for the city.

Riada Ašimović Akyol is an independent analyst and writer. Her articles have been published by the Al Jazeera Center for Studies and Turkish daily Today’s Zaman. She is obtaining her doctorate in international relations at the Galatasaray University in Istanbul. On Twitter: @riadaaa

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/10/istanbul-future-development-globalization-megacity.html#ixzz2iMbFgtrA

October 21, 2013
5 new reasons to visit Istanbul

5 new reasons to visit Istanbul

Oct 16th 2013, 14:30 | By Francesca Menato

Make like Kelly Brook and visit the ‘gateway to the East’ – you won’t regret it.

© Getty – Handbag

Beautiful architecture, history and culture galore, food you’ve never heard of and friendly locals – A recipe for a perfect city break.

Kelly Brook was there not long ago enjoying the Bosphorus waterway.

Here are some of the lesser known reasons to visit the honourary capital of Turkey:

1. THE RAINBOW STEPS

The story of Huseyin Cetinel and his rainbow steps has to be one of the nicest we’ve heard.

A retired forestry engineer dedicated four days and around $800 of his own money to painting a huge set of public steps rainbow colours in the Findikli and Cihangir area in honour of Gay Pride this year.

The community was thrilled with the colourful addition to the landscape but the right wing mayor was not – The steps were painted over in grey over night.

The backlash was so intense that new rainbow steps appeared across the area and the original steps mysteriously returned to their former multi-coloured glory as government workers repainted them over night.

© Instagram / Francesca Menato

Who doesn’t like rainbow steps?!

2. CHAI AND CHECKERS

There’s no better medicine for a weary traveller than a nice cup of tea. In Turkey it comes small, without milk and if you like,apple flavour (this tastes quite like hot jam).

Near tourist areas a cup will cost you three to four Lira but if you go off the beaten track you shouldn’t be charged more than one, which is a little more than 30p!

These quiet spots are said to be for men to play games – checkers and bat gammon boards are on most outdoor tables – but don’t worry women are entirely welcome and comfortable.

3. MACKEREL WITH A VIEW

The Galata Bridge is teaming with fisherman so it’s only right to sample a catch.

There are amazing street food sellers on the side nearest to the Galata Tower who fry up mackerel with spices and add salad to create a delicious sandwich for around £2.

Wander down to the water’s edge to the west of the bridge for a perfect spot to sit with your food.

© Instagram

Enjoy a fresh fish lunch looking over at the New Mosque

4. SWIMMING SPOTS

Despite all the water, Istanbul is not known as a place to go for a dip.

The main waterway is the domain of boats and fisherman.

However you can make trips to the nearby Princes’ Islands, known to locals as simply “The Islands” for a rest-bite from the city madness and clear waters you can swim in.

Ferries run daily and if you’ve visited during the summer heat you’ll be very happy to make the short trip – just pick which ones you want to see.

5.JUNK SHOP MEANDERING

The area of Beyoğlu is teaming with junk and thrift shops.

It is the perfect place to walk around taking in the local spirit and marvelling and the amount of ‘vintage’ that can fit in one store.

Stick to streets on the South-East of the Istiklal and enjoy getting lost.

Remember to haggle the vendors down as things often aren’t priced.

© Instagram / Francesca Menato

Most things in the junk shops won’t have prices so don’t be afraid to haggle.

KELLY BROOK SUFFERS BIG BAD HAIR DAY IN ISTANBUL

October 19, 2013