How to trick fate: the long history of the Evil Eye
Understand the 5,000 year old tradition and why millions of people around the world believe in this magical power. Have you ever wished that you could kill with a single…
The ultimate guide to Beyoğlu: what to do and where to eat
No other neighborhood of Istanbul reflects the city’s centuries-old, diverse history, better than Beyoğlu. In between the new, yet not necessarily well-executed ideas, it is still possible to find places…
Seat of the sultans: a complete tour of Topkapı Palace
For 400 years, Topkapı Palace was the center of an empire that straddled three continents. Its historical, architectural, literary, and artistic value cannot be exaggerated. Among all the myths and…
Unlocking the Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia has served as both a shrine of peace and an everlasting fountain of mystery through the centuries. By Aslıgül Armağan As one of the oldest surviving churches…
What should a tourist visiting Istanbul do? Orhan Pamuk says…
In 1992, the Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk shared with The Guide Istanbul the best ways he can think of to experience his Istanbul vision. Orhan Pamuk’s most famous stories…
Iznik ceramics: relighting the kilns of history
The tiles of Iznik can be found decorating monuments and religious structures; not only in Turkey, but in Cairo, Damascus, Jerusalem, and many other cities, and are proudly displayed in…
Magical protectors: talismans of Istanbul left by the Romans
The Romans built more than 20 columns to protect the city against everything from flies to earthquakes. A few of them are still standing today. By Joshua Bruce Allen Istanbul…
The dazzling legacy of Ottoman jewelry
The Ottoman Empire’s bejeweled masterpieces give us tantalizing glimpses into Istanbul’s multi-ethnic past, and its cultural legacy is the exquisite jewelry being made by the city’s contemporary designers and craftsmen.…
Robert College: leading the way through 150 years of history
Overlooking the immortal Bosphorus, Robert College has been turning out some of Turkey’s best and brightest minds since the Ottoman Empire, remaining a haven for young education across 15 decades…
Istanbul noir: Ahmet Ümit and the dark side of the city
Celebrated novelist Ahmet Ümit talks on the city’s vibrancy, its history, and its dark side. By Joshua Bruce Allen Ahmet Ümit’s novel, Farewell, My Beloved Homeland (Elveda Güzel Vatanım), has…