The best way to enjoy the Princes’ Islands
Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands are havens of tranquility and the ultimate escape from Istanbul’s noise and traffic without having to fly or drive long distances. Dotted with impressive wooden country mansions,…
From Hopa to Kars: explore Turkey’s eastern borders
The path through the Georgian Valley from the Black Sea to Kars is a long and winding one, full of historical riddles, narrow passes, and vistas of awe-inspiring beauty. All…
From Berlin to Khorasan: seeking the roots of saz music
Starting from Berlin, crossing Anatolia, and ending in Iran, musician Petra Nachtmanova and filmmaker Stephan Talneau went on a road trip in search of the roots of saz music. Charting…
Weekend plans: Sunday in Yeniköy
Looking to make the most of an exciting day in the city without time and energy lost in Istanbul traffic? We’re going to show you how! Let’s start with the…
Top 7 places to drink Turkish wine
With Turkey’s undergoing a wine boom, Istanbul is full of places offering a taste of local production. It is no secret that our next door neighbor, Suvla, is The Guide…
Celebrating Istanbul’s women
International Women’s Day—held on March 8 every year—is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and is a call to action for gender equality.…
For first time visitors: top 7 Istanbul mindful moments
While Istanbul’s hustle and bustle may make the city appear at first glance the opposite of a mindful traveler’s dream destination, there are many accessible quick respites to help one…
Nourishing education: cooking workshops in Istanbul
Writing about restaurants has always been a part of The Guide Istanbul’s DNA, but now we are taking it one step further. reparing food is not as easy as Instagram…
Best shopping malls in Istanbul
Istanbul boasts a great number of grand malls across the city where you’ll find everything you may be looking for, from high-end international brands to the very best of Turkish…
Table for two: best romantic restaurants in Istanbul
From fine dining restaurants to modern meyhanes, there are many places to enjoy a romantic meal with your valentine in this glamorous city. Nicole One of the best fine dining…
Ten beautiful Turkish words that don’t exist in English
From the Central Asian steppe to southeastern Europe, Turkish is a language that has absorbed many influences while retaining its own character. Most of the vocabulary comes from Turkic, Arabic,…