Istanbul. A voyage to Istanbul, Turkey, Euroasia.

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float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0cwiIJGzU5ysWvBypFdoxKkYHWraQSQnPiyntg3akg3gBsDsxPUzbkPrH8ZpggvQQt9zbBmaLC9CIOgLM02eiiIbLTFYl7OryPL7xb-amWpCS0uaBTuuONoxQ0GdpOm6vFkH9Ku_YwOa/s200/Istanbul,+Turkey+9.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisq4vZG69dg1bz8nSwoJsS7zriFrn6K3zRhWh1xyM5E3RWatDGgmjWehe1elM5uAfkTV_UUm64SLafFqI7SA-r1CGvJ1iQ6brZd833dWbTalydyYZl1KdxS_3GmdnvoohTfRHsAoIkrvDH/s1600/Istanbul,+Turkey+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisq4vZG69dg1bz8nSwoJsS7zriFrn6K3zRhWh1xyM5E3RWatDGgmjWehe1elM5uAfkTV_UUm64SLafFqI7SA-r1CGvJ1iQ6brZd833dWbTalydyYZl1KdxS_3GmdnvoohTfRHsAoIkrvDH/s200/Istanbul,+Turkey+7.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yz55gJODn4T4GuW0EQygJuS9ZsWgX3BgJi8SFqEb-x3lsy4mTNgBhiMassZkPUn9M5IY6F6w0qTYUL3KT4x7Me-w_37Yx7ayK1lX-LeuuUlYoQh4b-FryX9m5OHLEIUSJwpO8jc2VKHD/s1600/Istanbul,+Turkey+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yz55gJODn4T4GuW0EQygJuS9ZsWgX3BgJi8SFqEb-x3lsy4mTNgBhiMassZkPUn9M5IY6F6w0qTYUL3KT4x7Me-w_37Yx7ayK1lX-LeuuUlYoQh4b-FryX9m5OHLEIUSJwpO8jc2VKHD/s320/Istanbul,+Turkey+20.jpg" width="320" /></a>Istanbul is hot. And we’re not talking about the weather. These days, there are more happening restaurants, bars, galleries and clubs around town than there are exquisite Ottoman mosques (and that’s a lot). The international fashion and design press have been talking up İstanbul ad nauseam, but the most significant thing about the accolade ‘World’s Hippest City’ is that İstanbullus themselves have come believe it. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLlw4wVkLtrOTZns1DDeqMds2mYTi1HkXznDCwj3NYqxZseILCESUNe4XAPV5jzFhWL9QfeADieRt3ZiAUS-MdjLU-VG1RDU-0eY8sErVzMyiY4gbELEnXK4VjOwJe3i3c6UhvMUag3_0/s1600/Istanbul,+Turkey+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLlw4wVkLtrOTZns1DDeqMds2mYTi1HkXznDCwj3NYqxZseILCESUNe4XAPV5jzFhWL9QfeADieRt3ZiAUS-MdjLU-VG1RDU-0eY8sErVzMyiY4gbELEnXK4VjOwJe3i3c6UhvMUag3_0/s320/Istanbul,+Turkey+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>The creeping sense of decrepitude that had fallen like a pall over their once-all-powerful home town has vanished, replaced by a sense of energy and innovation not seen since the days of Süleyman the Magnificent.<br /><div class="mpuWrapper " id="mpuInContent"><div class="mpuInner"><div class="adContainer" id="adContainer_mpuInContent"></div></div></div>The city’s over-abundance of important historic buildings and exciting new art galleries and museums provides visitors with more than enough to see during the day, but it’s at night that the place swings into high-velocity, mega-stylish action.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8jgTukKFK6RWmBdR3MzgpyPnGE9kDTdL5B1YufopppfPhaNzVozw15YvkUiSRSSVeTcAi51cO5rHMe5xOXkGAVl2iNrqMAPJ_AyN1LixikCkI9ldW8fCCfcDqOuBVOsAqZmBZeIu6f2-/s1600/Istanbul,+Turkey+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8jgTukKFK6RWmBdR3MzgpyPnGE9kDTdL5B1YufopppfPhaNzVozw15YvkUiSRSSVeTcAi51cO5rHMe5xOXkGAVl2iNrqMAPJ_AyN1LixikCkI9ldW8fCCfcDqOuBVOsAqZmBZeIu6f2-/s200/Istanbul,+Turkey+11.jpg" width="200" /></a>Locals are flocking to see and be seen at an ever-growing array of bars, clubs and restaurants, bringing with them an infectious sense of joie de vivre and a discerning ability to judge these places on their standard of service, drinks, music and food as well as their position in the what’s-hot-and-what’s-not stakes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMaYs9tDaof_GW0uCWmYFzIpXByr0No7CF9Qhfr91aZ_Zo6DjIruX1Fyjr-cYF0vPvTO48e4nHAoZs1Y8hGnIsIhA-r65SltSrqiTff7Z7Rfj6b1wmwtBi4aYaC0S0cOhICZUxUIVe3HZ/s1600/Istanbul,+Turkey+12.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMaYs9tDaof_GW0uCWmYFzIpXByr0No7CF9Qhfr91aZ_Zo6DjIruX1Fyjr-cYF0vPvTO48e4nHAoZs1Y8hGnIsIhA-r65SltSrqiTff7Z7Rfj6b1wmwtBi4aYaC0S0cOhICZUxUIVe3HZ/s320/Istanbul,+Turkey+12.jpg" width="320" /></a>That’s not to say that the locals are turning their backs on much-loved city institutions such as the rakı-soaked meyhane (tavern) or tranquil çay bahçesi (tea garden), because they wouldn’t dream of doing anything so foolish. They know, after all, that such institutions are one of the reasons that their home is – and always has been – rightfully dubbed the ‘City of the World’s Desire’.<a class="pin toggleMap closed" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul#" id="pinToggleMap" style="display: block;"><span class="showMapText">Show in Lonely Planet</span></a><br /><b>Ready to go?</b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigykvYtN_gTVeEEBUS5R8p7PxO-8T3sWPrht1DbVgCcXpuC4vPgTHECN2Jyd_hzyWwRw7NNYY_Vqic8ucQMl1TDkT0F88NhZ99p1AJVTs_C6W2WIa8qEgbuREdXv-sYA-NdoMjrwCtNGRT/s1600/Turkey+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigykvYtN_gTVeEEBUS5R8p7PxO-8T3sWPrht1DbVgCcXpuC4vPgTHECN2Jyd_hzyWwRw7NNYY_Vqic8ucQMl1TDkT0F88NhZ99p1AJVTs_C6W2WIa8qEgbuREdXv-sYA-NdoMjrwCtNGRT/s320/Turkey+27.jpg" width="320" /></a>These tours & activities make it easy:<br /><ul class="inBody"><li><a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/activities/bus-minivan-tours/istanbul-one-day?lpaffil=fbta1">See the best of Istanbul in a day</a></li><li><a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/activities/day-cruises/bosphorus-cruise-istanbuls?lpaffil=fbta1">Get ready for superb views on a Bosphorus cruise</a></li><li><a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/tours/short-breaks/gallipoli-pilgrimage?lpaffil=fbta1">Visit the battlefields of Gallipoli</a></li><li><a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/europe/tours/culture-history/turkey-explorer?lpaffil=fbta1">Explore the best of Turkey on a 15-day tour from Istanbul</a></li></ul><div class="relatedLinks clearfix"><h3 class="themeHeading">More about Istanbul </h3><ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWw81-owpgQqwYt11VIX_4eAZvzB-Acx3euzPfvSQheds-afGTncQjHlDIxLHilDeHWYbIzMBeE1seoO2om0cvc5NcccOZkSOdqDR_sEFlhdMcjGN1KgoKnpAVBgK4cfVdrq3-mI9LhTC/s1600/Istanbul,+Turkey+26.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWw81-owpgQqwYt11VIX_4eAZvzB-Acx3euzPfvSQheds-afGTncQjHlDIxLHilDeHWYbIzMBeE1seoO2om0cvc5NcccOZkSOdqDR_sEFlhdMcjGN1KgoKnpAVBgK4cfVdrq3-mI9LhTC/s400/Istanbul,+Turkey+26.jpg" width="400" /></a><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/weather">When to go & weather <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/transport/getting-there-around">Getting there & around <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/practical-information/money-costs">Practical information <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/history">History <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/work-study-volunteering/study">Work & study <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li> <a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/travel-tips-and-articles">Tips & articles <span class="bottom"></span> </a> </li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/hotels?lpaffil=hotels-beta">Hotels</a></li></ul></div><div class="relatedLinks clearfix"><h3 class="themeHeading">Make it happen</h3><ul><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/shopSearch?q=istanbul%5E2+or+Turkey">Shop for travel guides</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul/hotels?lpaffil=hotels-beta">Search hotels</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings/flights.do">Cheap flights</a></li><li><a class="linkChevron" href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings/insurance.do">Travel insurance</a></li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNm2kA-ED-7Q-f-S7BeEaR-FfWy-xaYo2knZTFyD3iR01-ffbRo7W8k60s-XVlAtsFXLP6gzcnrvpg-SJ6HcsK6_8NUDqLtUrE9TxjtLx6550P1XvTTxT5D7ugdFiiPZ1gXWvsTQ05_TW/s1600/Istanbul,+Turkey+10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNm2kA-ED-7Q-f-S7BeEaR-FfWy-xaYo2knZTFyD3iR01-ffbRo7W8k60s-XVlAtsFXLP6gzcnrvpg-SJ6HcsK6_8NUDqLtUrE9TxjtLx6550P1XvTTxT5D7ugdFiiPZ1gXWvsTQ05_TW/s640/Istanbul,+Turkey+10.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmP8iekrGaQf9_auK_caiI5iOUeJrmyNRlQGFq_oZ_nKXNl3O67cP1qgQi4cd1zidItm0oVTTZ-9P7vXZRRy_7Lml_-p6Uo7mwP4PGvkDDD087_yo3A9DEngs42tEWPpzlI0uwHU-Ir3H/s1600/Istanbul,+Turkey+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmP8iekrGaQf9_auK_caiI5iOUeJrmyNRlQGFq_oZ_nKXNl3O67cP1qgQi4cd1zidItm0oVTTZ-9P7vXZRRy_7Lml_-p6Uo7mwP4PGvkDDD087_yo3A9DEngs42tEWPpzlI0uwHU-Ir3H/s640/Istanbul,+Turkey+5.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXUX9qpVSYQ2Pnh-drxVaoWFpt_zJLUQ5oDZGoxXSt201zAKfxCZNsX5q-vQQPC3H3XCJ34V_9K1s1roYWDgbO14bqTiDCBEqymmkurkuRNh609gTzSsrzt7lvd2tfydlffqz6bh9oX8l/s1600/Istanbul,+Turkey+18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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Istanbul. A voyage to Istanbul, Turkey, Euroasia.

  Istanbul is hot. And we’re not talking about the weather. These days, there are more happening restaurants, bars, galleries and clubs ar...

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