31 March 2010

Grand Bazaar open on Easter Sunday, April 4th

The Grand bazaar will be open on Sunday on 4th of April 2010, due to the heavy tourists arrival in Istanbul for the Easter holidays.

26 March 2010

Istanbul Tulip Festival

The 5th edition of the International Istanbul Tulip Festival organized by the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul will be celebrated between April 2nd-18th, 2010.

As usual, Emirgan Park will be the heart of this festival but you can see millions of tulips blooming all around Istanbul during that time; in squares, in public parks, or in any green space. This is the most colorful festival in Istanbul.

20 March 2010

Istanbul: one of the "World's sexiest cities"

The English newspaper The Sunday Times Travel Magazine has published a list of a dozen of must-see cities around the world and they named them as "The World's Sexiest Cities", Istanbul being one of them. Here are the 12 "exotic" cities: Istanbul, Rome, London, Paris, New York, St Petersburg, Havana, Bath, Berlin, Seville, Tangier, Stockholm.

"48 hours in Istanbul" by the Reuters

The international news agency Reuters has published their new "Travel Postcard: 48 hours in ??? " series dedicated to Istanbul this time. The news agency recommended Istanbul for its treasures and its glorious past. Here is their suggestions for travelers who'll visit Istanbul in 48 hours:

FRIDAY
18.00: Go up to Galata Tower to enjoy the sunset on the Golden Horn.
19.00: Walk on Istiklal pedestrian street.
20.00: Dinner at 360 restaurant on the roof of Misir Apartment.
22.30: Party at Babylon, Nardiss Jazz Club or Jazz Stop at Beyoglu.

SATURDAY
09.00: Visit the historic peninsula and the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet mosque).
10.00: Visit the ancient Hippodrome and then the Hagia Sophia museum.
11.30: Visit Topkapı Palace and Gulhane Park nextdoor.
13.00: Go to Eminonu to taste the fish & bread.
14.30: Visit the Underground Cistern (Yerebatan) where the James Bond Movie "From Russia with love" was shot.
16.00: Go to the Grand Bazaar.
20.00: Dinner at the Maiden's Tower (Kiz Kulesi) on the Bosphorus.

SUNDAY
09.00: Visit Dolmabahce Palace.
11.00: Visit Istanbul Modern museum.
14.00: Visit Suleymaniye Mosque (Burak's comment on this: it's still closed for restorations but will re-open soon until this summer) and eat beans "kurufasulye" at Kanaat restaurant nearby.
16.00: Relax at Cagaloglu Hammam.

The full article can be read at Reuters website.

17 March 2010

Kremlin's treasures at Topkapi palace

Treasures from Moscow's Kremlin Palace will be on display at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul between March 12th and June 7th, 2010, as a part of "Istanbul European Capital of Culture of 2010" activities. The exhibition includes works of art from the 16th and 17th centuries.