Istanbul reborn: why it is the most popular short break destination in 2024
With seven Michelin-starred restaurants, many luxury hotels, and recently restored historic hammams, Istanbul is the most popular destination for short breaks in 2024.
Turkey expert Nick Redman spoke about its advantages. The city's bustling streets have cocktail bars worthy of Barcelona and Lower Manhattan, shops stocked with local designers, boutique hotels that could be of interest to Rome, and restored historic resorts and contemporary art galleries, The Time writes.
Where to stay
Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel (kempinski.com), is an original Istanbul favorite on the Bosphorus. The rooms are decorated in high Ottoman style with mother-of-pearl inlays, sultan prints, and imperial maroon and blue fabrics. Private balconies offer views of the water and Asian shores, and the neoclassical palace has 11 rooms.
At the Peninsula Istanbul (peninsula.com), opened last spring, the spa is the star, a shimmering tribute to hammams and holy buildings, with marble and a dome detailed by Zeynep Fadillioğlu, Turkey's first female mosque architect. The hotel bedrooms are elegantly decorated in dark gray tones and scarlet lacquered wardrobes, afternoon tea in the modernist lobby is in keeping with the original Hong Kong Peninsula, and the beachfront location with its chic pool overlooking the spires and eaves of the Byzantine peninsula palace adds even more charm.
New to the design hotel scene is the bijou Ecole St Pierre (estphotel.com) in a restored 19th-century French Catholic school in upbeat Galatia. The rooms were once classrooms, and creative people had fun with the interiors, introducing a library reception and decorative hooks. In the former choir room, Il Cortile restaurant and bar are decorated in an attractive mid-century modern style, serving pizza on the patio.
Where to eat and drink
The Turk Fatih Tutak Hotel has two Michelin stars, the first in Turkey. The best wines are combined with an original tasting menu. In a boho alleyway, Cukurcuma invites you to No19 Dining (Faik Pasa Caddesi 6), where chef Aylin serves delicious vegetarian meze and exquisite ceramics are for sale. Aheste is a warmly lit cozy place with red brick walls and delicious dishes.
Istanbul is made for Japanese cuisine with its variety of fish. Head to Sankai by Nagaya, a 24-seater hidden in a discreet suite by the water at Bebek by The Stay. Chef Hiroko Shibata's always fresh sushi and comprehensive menu have already earned him recognition - and a new Michelin star. Neolokal (neolokal.com ) is a logical choice after exploring the art at the Salt Galata Cultural Center near Karakoy: distant domes loom through giant windows, and deluxe Anatolian dishes include marinated sea bass and raki beans.
What to see
The Serifiye Sarnici, an underground capsule of ancient Constantinople, is a must-see – go there after hours and with a private tour. With its tall columns and impeccably preserved Corinthian capitals, it is a magnificent relic of the era of Emperor Theodosius II of the 5th century.
The recently renovated Zeyrek Cinili Hammam is a rare "double" example with areas for men and women (most hammams observe alternative days), an early work by Sinan (c. 1490-1588), an architect of the great mosques of Turkey, was considered the eastern Michelangelo.
You should also visit the Mesher Gallery, which is hidden in plain sight on the busy Istiklal Caddesi Street. Also located on this street is Casa Botter, Istanbul's first Art Nouveau apartment in a 1900 building with a quaint Viennese-style facade.
Earlier, TravelWise wrote about the best hotels in Istanbul to stay at during your vacation or business trip.
