Istanbul Hotel Tashkonak

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TRAVELLERS

ARRIVAL TO THE ISTANBUL
Turkey demands an official entry visa from citizens of several countries. Before your departure to Turkey it is better to check with a Turkish consulate in your country to determine if you need a visa. In some cases, you can obtain a visa upon arrival at Ataturk airport for a small fee. After passing from the passport control, it is appropriate to declare your foreign currency and your valuable objects and have it recorded in your passport. As elsewhere too, there are limits on the amount of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes that can be brought in: two boxes of cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 grams of tobacco and 2.5 liters of alcoholic drinks are allowed.

WORK HOURS AND HOLIDAYS
Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 AM until noon or 12:30 PM, depending on the bank, and from 1:30 PM until 5.00 PM.
Museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 AM until 5.00 PM or 5:30 PM and closed on Monday. Palaces are open the same hours but are closed Thursday. For museum specific information please visit our museums section.
Shops and bazaars are usually open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 1.00 PM and from 2.00 PM to 7.00 PM, and closed all day on Sunday. Most large stores and some small shops remain open throughout the day.
You can find restaurants or cafes open virtually any time of the day or night.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
January 1 (New Year's Day), January 29-31 (Seker Bayram, marking the end of Ramadan), April 7-10 (Kurban Bayram, an important religious holiday). Muslim religious holidays are based on the lunar calendar and will shift about 10 days backwards each year. The dates given here for the Seker and Kurban holidays are for 1998.
April 23 (National Independence and Childrens Day), May 19 (Ataturk's Commemoration Day), August 30 (Zafer Bayram, or Victory Day), October 29 (Cumhuriyet Bayram, or Republic Day, celebrating Atat?rk's proclamation of the Turkish republic in 1923).

VISITING THE MOSQUES
Most mosques in Istanbul are open to the public during the day. Prayer sessions, called namaz, last 30 to 40 minutes and are observed five times daily. Tourists should, however, avoid visiting mosques midday on Friday, when Muslims are required to worship.
For women, bare arms and legs are not acceptable inside a mosque. Men should avoid wearing shorts as well. Women should not enter a mosque without first covering their heads with a scarf. Before entering a mosque, shoes must be removed.

MAIL
Post offices are painted bright yellow and have PTT (Post, Telegraph, and Telephone) signs on the front. The central Post office is open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 9 PM, Sunday from 9 AM to 7PM. Smaller ones are open Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 5.00 PM.

VAT
The value-added tax, here called KDV, is 18%. Hotels typically combine it with a service charge of 10% to 18%, and restaurants usually add a 18% service charge.
Value-added tax is nearly always included in quoted prices. Certain shops are authorized to refund the tax (ask).

ELECTRICITY
The electrical current in Turkey is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); wall outlets take Continental-type plugs, with two or three round prongs.

SAFETY & SECURITY
The streets of Istanbul are considerably safer than their counterparts in the United States or Western Europe. Travelers should nevertheless take care of their valuables, as pickpockets, although not as common as in the U.S. or Europe, do operate in the major cities and tourist areas.

POLICE
Tourism police Tel. (0212) 527 45 03

TRANSPORTATION
You can consider visiting other tourist attractions in Turkey once you come to Istanbul. Turkish Airlines (THY) and several private airlines have frequent scheduled flights to most of the other cities.
If you think about other possibilities than flying, you can go by bus, train, ship or even rent an airplane or a helicopter.

HELICOPTER AND PLANE RENTAL
Mach Air Tel: (0212) 541 14 23
Sancak Air Tel: (0212) 541 41 41
Mas Air Tel: (0212) 663 04 03
Istanbul Havayollari Tel: (0212) 543 62 58
Top Air Tel: (0212) 541 60 40

TRAIN (STATE RAILROADS)
The railroad is slower but can be fun, especially if you reserve a first class compartment. Trains run between Ankara and Istanbul, Istanbul and Izmir, and reservations are required.
Sirkeci train station (European side) Tel: (0212) 520 65 75
Haydarpasa train station (Asian side) Tel: (0216) 348 80 20

MARITIME LINES
There are scheduled trips among the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean ports.
Turkish Maritime Lines Tel: (0212) 244 02 07 / 249 92 22
City Ferry Administration Tel: (0212) 244 42 33
Car FerriesTel: (0216) 353 40 85
Sea Buses Tel: (0212) 560 72 91 / 249 15 58 / 251 61 44
Tel: (0216) 362 04 46 / 336 88 19 / 306 20 00 BUS It is by far cheaper, of course, to take an intercity bus. The best of the companies offer comfortable, quality transportation, an excellent and cheap alternative to flying. Many buses are double deckered and have toilets and all are non-smoking and offer tea and snack service.

PRIVATEBUS STATION INFORMATION
(Esenler) 0212 658 00 36
(Harem) 0216 333 37 63

HEALTH
There are no serious health risks associated with travel to Turkey. No vaccinations are required for entry. Tap water is heavily chlorinated. Bottled water, bottled sparkling mineral water or carbonated mineral water are also abundant.In the hospitals mentioned below, you are offered an excellent service and consultation with English speaking doctors.
AMERICAN HOSPITAL 0212 231 40 50 (20 Line)
AUSTRIAN SAINT GEORGE HOSPITAL 0212 243 25 90
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE HOSPITAL 0212 224 49 50 (15 Line)
GERMAN HOSPITAL 0212 293 21 50
INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL 0212 663 00 00 (30 Line)
ITALIAN HOSPITAL 0212 249 97 51-52
MIDDLE EAST HOSPITAL 0216 37139 90-91
TAKSIM HOSPITAL 0212 252 43 00
VATAN HOSPITAL 0212 534 86 00 (10 Line)

INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY
Istanbul embraces two continents, one arm reaching out to Asia, the other to Europe. Through the city's heart, the Bosphorus strait, courses the waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. The former capital of three successive empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman - today Istanbul honors and preserves the legacy of its past while looking forward to its modern future. Indeed, it is Istanbul's variety that fascinates its visitors. The museums, churches, palaces, great mosques, bazaars and sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible. As you recline on the shores of the Bosphorus at sunset, contemplating the red twilight reflected in the windows on the opposite shore, you understand, suddenly and profoundly, why so many centuries ago settlers chose to build on this remarkable site. At times such as these, you feel that Istanbul is truly one of the most glorious cities in the world.
On a spot of land at the confluence of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea, stands Topkapı Palace, a maze of buildings at the center of the Ottoman Empire between the l5th and l9th centuries. In these opulent surroundings the sultans and their court lived and governed. A magnificent wooded garden fills the outer, or first, court. To the right of the second court, shaded by cypress and plane trees, stand the palace kitchens, now galleries exhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain. To the left, the Harem, the secluded quarters of the wives, concubines and children of the sultan, charms visitors with echoes of a centuries old intrigue. Today, the third court holds the Hall of Audience, the Library of Ahmet III, an exhibition of imperial costumes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the treasury and a priceless collection of miniatures from medieval manuscripts. In the center of this innermost sanctuary, the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle enshrines the relics of the Prophet Mohammed brought to Istanbul when the Ottomans assumed the caliphate of Islam. (Open every day except Tuesday.)
Built in the mid-l9th century by Sultan Abdülmecit I, the facade of Dolmabahçe Palace stretches for 600 meters along the European shore of the Bosphorus. The vast reception salon, with 56 columns, and a huge crystal chandelier weighing four and a half tons and lit by 750 lights never fails to astonish visitors: At one time, birds from all over the world were kept in the Bird Pavilion for the delight of the palace's privileged residents. Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, died in Dolmabahçe on November 10,1938. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday)
In the 19th century, Sultan Abdülaziz built the Beylerbeyi Palace, a fantasy in white marble amid magnolia filled gardens, on the Bosphorus's Aegean Shore. Used as the Sultan's summer residence, it was offered to the most distinguished foreign dignitaries during their visits. Empress Eugenie of France was among its residents. (open everyday except Monday and Thursday.)
In addition to the State Pavilions at Yıldız Palace, the compound includes a series of pavilions and a mosque. It was completed by Abdülhamit II at the end of the 19th century. The Şale, the largest and most exquisite of the buildings, reveals the luxury in which the sultans lived and entertained. Set in a huge park of flowers, shrubs and trees gathered from every part of the world, the palace grounds offer one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Bosphorus. Because of restoration work, only the Şale and park are open to the public. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday.)
The Göksu Palace, also known as Küçüksu, takes its name from the streams which empty into the Bosphorus near the tiny palace. Built by Abdülmecit I in the middle of the l9th century, it was used as a summer residence. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday)
Originally built in the l8th century and later restored by various sultans, the Aynalı Kavak Summer Pavilion assumed its name, Mirrored Poplar, when its famed mirrors, a gift from some of the Venetian, were installed in 1718. This palace on the Golden Horn is one of the most beautiful examples of traditional Turkish architecture. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday.)
The 19th century Ihlamur Pavilion is named after the linden trees that grow in its gardens. Now in the heart of metropolitan Istanbul, when it was originally constructed, the pavilion lay in the rolling countryside that surrounded the city. The Merasim Pavilion was used for official ceremonies while the Maiyet Pavilion sheltered the sultan's entourage and on occasions, his harem during their excursions out of the palace confines. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday.)
The Maslak Pavilion on a shady green hill was conceived by Sultan Abdülaziz as hunting lodges and are superb examples of the late l9th century Ottoman decorative style. These are particularly noteworthy. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday.)
The Florya Atatürk Sea Pavilion served as a summer residence for Turkish presidents. Situated in a T-shaped design jutting out onto the Marmara Sea, this building constructed in 1935, serves as a showcase for some of the loveliest examples of early 20th century furnishings. Atatürk was the first president to stay here. (Open weekdays except Monday and Thursday.)

Mosques
Facing St. Sophia stands the supremely elegant, six-minaret, imperial Sultanahmet Mosque. Built between 1609 and 1616 by the architect Mehmet, the building is more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque because its interior gleams with a magnificent paneling of blue and white Iznik tiles. During the summer months an evening light and sound show both entertain and inform.
The cascading domes and four slender minarets of Süleymaniye Mosque dominate the skyline on the Golden Horn's west bank. Considered the most beautiful of all imperial mosques in Istanbul, it was built between 1550 and 1557 by Sinan, the renowned architect of the Ottoman golden age. On the crest of a hill, the building is conspicuous by its great size, which the four minarets that rise from each corner of the courtyard emphasize. Inside, the mihrab (prayer niche) and the mimber (pulpit) are of finely carved white marble; fine stained glass windows color the incoming streams of light. It was in the gardens of this complex that Süleyman and his wife Hürrem Sultan, Roxelane, had their mausolea built, and near here also that Sinan built his own tomb. The mosque complex also includes four medrese, or theological schools, a school of medicine, a caravanserai, a Turkish bath, and a kitchen and hospice for the poor.
Another skillful accomplishment of the architect Sinan, the Rüstem Paşa Mosque was built in 1561 on the orders of Rüstem Paşa, Grand Vizier and son-in-law of Süleyman the Magnificent. Exquisite Iznik tiles panel the small and superbly proportioned interior.
The imperial Fatih Mosque, constructed between 1463 and 1470, bears the name of the Ottoman conqueror of Istanbul, Fatih Sultan Mehmet, and is the site of his mausoleum. Standing atop another of Istanbul's hills, its vast size and great complex of religious buildings; medreses, hospices, baths, a hospital, a caravanserai and a library, make it well worth a visit. The great Mosque of Eyüp lies outside the city walls, near the Golden Horn, at the supposed place where Eyüp, the standard bearer of the Prophet Mohammed, died in the Islamic assault on Constantinople in 670 A.D. The first mosque built after the Ottoman conquest of the city, this greatly venerated shrine attracts many pilgrims.Built between 1597 and 1663, the Yeni (New) Mosque hovers over the harbor at Eminönü, greeting the incoming ferryboats and welcoming tourists to the old city. Today, its graceful domes and arches shelter hundreds of pigeons who make this area their home. Marvelous Iznik tiles decorate the sultan's balcony.The l6th century Sokollu Mehmet Pasa Mosque built in an awkwardly shaped plot on a steeply sloping hill near Sultanahmet is one of the most beautiful examples of classical Turkish architecture and a masterpiece of the architect Sinan. Inside, breathtaking blues, greens, purples and reds color the elegant designs of the Iznik tiles.Walls of glass fill the four immense arches that support the central dome at the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque inside the Edirne gate of the old city walls. One hundred and sixty-one windows illuminate this mosque, built by Sinan for Mihrimah Sultana, the daughter of Süleyman the Magnificent in 1555.

Museums
The Basilica of St. Sophia, now called the Ayasofya Museum, is unquestionably one of the finest buildings of all time. Built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, its immense dome rises 55 meters above the ground and its diameter spans 31 meters. You should linger here to absorb the building's majestic serenity and to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics. (Open every day except Monday.)
The Archaeological Museums are found just inside the first court of Topkapı Palace. Included among the displays are the celebrated Alexander Sarcophagus among its treasures of antiquity. The Museum of the Ancient Orient displays artifacts from the Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Hatti and Hittite civilisations. (Open every day except Monday.)
Originally built as a köşk or pavilion by Mehmet the Conqueror in the l5th century, the Çinili Köşk, which houses the Museum of Turkish Ceramics, contains beautiful Iznik wares from the l6th century and fine examples of Seljuk and Ottoman pottery and tiles. (Open every day except Monday.)
Like the Ayasofya Museum, the St. Irene Museum was originally a church. It ranks, in fact, as the first church built in Istanbul. Constantine commissioned it in the fourth century and Justinian later had the church restored. Reputedly the building stands on the site of a pre-Christian temple. (Open every day except Monday.)
The dark stone building that houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art was built in 1524 by Ibrahim Paşa; Grand Vizier to Süleyman the Magnificent, as his residence. It was the grandest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire . Today, it houses a superb collection of ceramics, metalwork miniatures, calligraphy, textiles, and woodwork as well as some of the oldest carpets in the world. (Open every day except Monday.)
Across the street from the Ibrahim Paşa Palace is the Museum of Turkish Carpets which contains exquisite antique carpets and kilims gathered from all over Turkey. (Open every day except Sunday and Monday.)
Near St. Sophia is the sixth century Byzantine cistem known as the Yerebatan Sarnıcı. Three hundred and thirty-six massive Corinthian columns support the immense chamber's fine brick vaulting. (Open every day except Tuesday.)
The Mosaic Museum preserves in situ exceptionally fine mosaic pavements of the fifth and sixth centuries which remain from the Great Palace of the Byzantine emperors. (Open every day except Monday.)
The Kariye Museum, the 11th century church of "St. Savior" in Chora, is, after St. Sophia, the most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul. Unremarkable in its architecture, inside, the walls are decorated with superb l4th century frescoes and mosaics. Illustrating scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary, these brilliantly colored paintings embody the vigor of Byzantine art. Restored wooden houses in the area surrounding the church offer tea and coffee in a relaxed , atmosphere far removed from the city's hectic pace. (Open every day except Tuesday.)
The Aviation Museum in Yeşilköy traces the development of air flight in Turkey. (Open every day except Monday.)
The great field tents used by the Ottoman armies on campaigns are displayed in the Military Museum. Other exhibits include Ottoman weapons and the accoutrements of war. The Mehter Takımı (Ottoman military band) perform Ottoman martial music between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. (Open every day except Monday and Tuesday.)
The house in which Atatürk lived in Şişli now serves as the Atatürk Museum and displays his personal effects. (Open every day except Saturday and Sunday.)
In the Beşiktaş district the Naval Museum displays the great imperial caiques in which the sultans were rowed across the Bosphorus, as well as many other interesting exhibits of Ottoman naval history (Open every day except Monday and Thursday.)
Also in Beşiktaş, the Museum of Fine Arts displays Turkish paintings and sculptures from the end of the l9th century to the present day. (Open every day except Monday and Tuesday.)
Located within the gardens of Yıldız Palace, the City Museum preserves and documents the history of Istanbul since the Ottoman conquest. (Open every day except Thursday.)
Also within the gardens are the Yıldız Palace, Theatre and the Historic Stage Costumes Museum, with its richly decorated scenery and stage, and its exquisite costumes.
Rahmi Koç Industry Museum, in the suburb of Hasköy on the coast of the Golden Horn, an Ottoman-period iron- and steel-works building formerly called Lengerhane, it houses industrial development exhibits. (Open every day except Monday).
Up the Bosphorus in the picturesque suburb of Büyükdere, the collections of the Sadberk Hanım Museum fill two charming l9th century wooden villas. A private museum which originally displayed Turkish decorative arts, it has recently been expanded with a new collection of archaeological finds. (Open every day except Wednesday.)

Monuments
The ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life, stood in the open space in front of the Blue Mosque, an area now called Sultanahmet. Of the monuments which once decorated it, only three remain: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Remains from the curved-end section of the Hippodrome's wall can be seen on the southwest side of these three monuments. Today, the square forms the center of Istanbul's historical, cultural and tourism activities. You should take particular note of the surrounding wooden houses, particularly the l8th century ones on Sogukçesme Street. Delightfully restored, they have new life as small hotels and one houses a fascinating library of books on Istanbul.
The Ahmet III Fountain, built in 1729, stands at the entrance to Topkapı Palace. Deep overhanging eaves shade the water spouts where the parched could stop for a cup of refreshing water. This highly ornate, free-standing fountain is a superb example of the late Ottoman style.
Mahmut II built the Beyazıt Tower (85 meters high) in 1828 as a fire tower. Today it stands within the grounds of Istanbul University.
The Bozdoğan-Valens Aqueduct, built in 368 A.D., supplied the Byzantine and later the Ottoman palaces with water. Today part of the remaining 900 meters of double-tiered arches straddle the major highway that runs through the old part of town.
The Istanbul land walls, once an impenetrable fortification, stretch seven kilometers from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn. Restored recently, and many times previously, these walls date from the fifth century and the reign of Emperor Theodosius II. UNESCO has declared the land walls and the area which they enclose to be one of the cultural heritages of the world.
The Galata Tower, a Genoese construction of 1348, rises 62 meters high over the Golden Horn. From the top, you see a marvelous panorama of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. In the evening, tourists enjoy its popular restaurant, nightclub and bar.
Rumeli Hisarı, or the European Fortress, was built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to his capture of Istanbul. Completed in only four months, it is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture in the world. (Open every day except Mondays.)
Known as Leander's Tower, Kız Kulesi is one of the romantic symbols of Istanbul. First constructed in the l2th century on a tiny island at the entrance to Istanbul's harbor, the present building dates from the l8th century

Istanbul Boğazı (Bosphorus)
A stay in Istanbul is not complete without the traditional and unforgettable boat excursion up the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia. Its shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present, grand splendor and simple beauty. Modern hotels stand next to yalı (shorefront wooden villas), marble palaces abut rustic stone fortresses, and elegant compounds neighbor small fishing villages. The best way to see the Bosphorus is to board one of the passenger boats that regularly zigzag along the shores. You embark in
Eminönü and stop alternately on the Asian and European sides of the strait. The round-trip excursion, at a very reasonable cost, takes about six hours. If you wish a private voyage, you can contact one of the agencies which specialize in organizing day or night mini-cruises.
During the journey, you pass in front of the magnificent Dolmabahçe Palace; farther along rise the green parks and imperial pavilions of Yıldız Palace. On the edge of this park, on the coast, stands Çırağan Palace ,now restored as a grand hotel. Refurbished in 1874 by Sultan Abdülaziz, it stretches for 300 meters along the Bosphorus shore, its ornate marble facades reflecting the swiftly moving water. In Ortaköy, the next stop, artists gather every Sunday to exhibit their works in a streetside gallery. The variety of people create a lively scene; sample a delicious bite from one of the street vendors. In Ortaköy, there is a church, mosque and a synagogue that have existed side by side for hundreds of years - a tribute to Turkish secularism and tolerance. Overshadowing Istanbul's traditional architecture is the Bosphorus Bridge, one of the world's largest suspension bridges linking Europe and Asia.
The beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace lies just past the bridge on the Asian side. Behind the palace rises Çamlıca Hill, the highest point of Istanbul. You can drive here to admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul as well as the beautiful landscaped gardens. On the opposite shore, the wooden Ottoman villas of Arnavutköy contrast with the luxurious modern apartments of neighboring Bebek. A few kilometers farther out, facing each other across the straits like sentries guarding the city, stand the fortresses of Rumeli Hisarı and Anadolu Hisarı. The Göksu Palace, sometimes known as Küçüksu Palace graces the Asian shore, next to Anadolu Hisari. The second link between the two continents; the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge straddles the waterway just past the two fortresses.
From Duatepe Hill, on the European side, you can admire the magnificent panorama of the bridge and the Bosphorus. Below Duatepe, beautiful Emirgan Park bursts with color when the tulips bloom in spring. Opposite, on the Asian shore is Kanlıca, a fishing village now a favored suburb for wealthy Istanbulites. Crowds gather in the restaurants and cafes along its shores to sample its famous yogurt. Shortly after Kanlıca and Çubuklu is the Beykoz Korusu (Abraham Paşa Woods), a popular retreat. In the cafes and restaurants you can enjoy the delightful views and clear fresh air. On the European side, at Tarabya Bay, yachts seem to dance at their moorings. The coast road bustles with taverns and fish restaurants from Tarabya to the charming suburbs of Sarıyer and Büyükdere. Sarıyer has one of the largest fish markets in Istanbul and is also famous for its delicious varieties of milk puddings and börek (pastries). A little further on past Sarıyer, the narrow strait widens and disappears into the Black Sea.

Haliç - The Golden Horn
This horn-shaped estuary, divides European Istanbul. One of the best natural harbors in the world, the Byzantine and Ottoman navies and commercial shipping interests were centered here. Today, lovely parks and promenades line the shores where the setting sun dyes the water a golden color. In Fener and Balat, neighbourhoods midway up the Golden Horn, whole streets of old wooden houses, churches, and synagogues date from Byzantine and Ottoman times. The Orthodox Patriarchy resides here at Fener. Eyüp, a little further up, reflects the Ottoman style of vermicular architecture. Cemeteries sprinkled with dark cypress trees cover the hillsides. Many pilgrims come to the tomb of Eyüp in the hope that their prayers will be granted. The Pierre Loti Cafe, atop the hill overlooking the shrine is a wonderful place to enjoy the tranquility of the view.

Yachting - Golf
Yachting is a popular activity in Istanbul. This is the only place in the world where you can enjoy the beauty of a mystical landscape while sailing back through history to Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman times, and view magnificent castles, palaces and mosques. From the North Sea through the European interior, yachters can sail down the European channel system and the Rhine and Danube Rivers into the Black Sea harbors and to the Istanbul-Boğazı and Istanbul marinas - a safe and short way to get there. Sail on the Istanbul Boğazı under the enormous bridges spanning two continents and around the Princes' Islands to their beautiful bays. You may anchor and enjoy the serenity of this area. After enjoying all of the sights return to one of the two large marinas in the area. Ataköy Marina is on the European side and Kalamış Marina is on the Asian side. Both offer 24-hour service. International Offshore Yacht races are held in Istanbul every summer.
The Istanbul region offers lovely opportunities for golfing enthusiasts: The Klassis Golf and Country Club, 65 km from Istanbul in Silivri, is the area's second-largest golf club, with an 18-hole course and a 9-hole course. The Kemer Golf and Country Club,18 km from Istanbul in the Belgrad Forest near the town of Kemerburgaz, offers a formidable test of golf skill on its 9-hole course. The Istanbul Golf Club in the Ayazağa district of Istanbul has a 9-hole course.
Art, Culture and Entertainment
Istanbul is an international art and cultural center. The International Arts and Cultural Festival is held each year in June and July with famous artists coming from all over the world. These performances are held mostly in the Atatürk Cultural Center. Those enjoying classical music can hear it at Cemal Reşit Rey Hall. Operas, operettas, ballets, film, concerts, exhibitions and conferences all share the cultural palette of the city. Istanbul also has a rich program of light entertainment. Nightclubs provide splendid entertainment throughout dinner, ranging from a selection of Turkish songs to the famous bellydance. Istanbul is an international gambling city with many casinos.
Alongside these are modern discos, cabarets, and jazz clubs in the Taksim-Harbiye district.
In Sultanahmet, there are a number of restaurants in restored Byzantine and Ottoman buildings which offer a unique setting for an evening out.
Kumkapı, with its many taverns, bars and fish restaurants, is another attractive district. People have been meeting for years in Beyoğlu district's Çiçek Pasajı for snacks and seafood specialties. Also in this district, the narrow Nevizede street, near Çiçek Pasajı, is the best place in Istanbul for eating Turkish specialties and drinking rakı.
On the Bosphorus, Ortaköy is the best place for nightlife in Istanbul, with its nightclubs, jazz clubs, fine seafood restaurants and bars.
In Eminönü ,don't miss an opportunity to see the fishermen dressed in traditional Ottoman clothes on their Ottoman-style boats where you may board and taste their famous delicious fried fish.

The Environs of Istanbul
The Princes' Islands, an archipelago of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara, were places of exile for Byzantine princes. Today, during the summer months, Istanbul's wealthy, escape to their cool sea breezes, and elegant l9th century houses. Büyükada is the largest of the islands. Here you can enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn phaeton (carriage) among the pine trees, or relax on a beach in one of the numerous coves that ring the island. The other popular islands are Kınalı, Sedef, Burgaz and Heybeliada. Regular ferry boats connect the islands with both the European and Asian shores. A faster sea bus service operates from Kabatas in the summer.
On the European side of the Black Sea coast, 25 km from the outskirts of Istanbul, Kilyos's long, broad sandy beaches draw crowds of Istanbul residents in the summer months.
The Belgrad Forest, inland from the Black Sea on the European side, is the largest forest around Istanbul . On weekends, Istanbulites drive out to its shade for family picnics and barbecues. Seven ancient reservoirs and a number of natural springs refresh the air. The Ottoman aqueducts, of which the l6th Century Moglova Aqueduct built by Sinan is the most splendid, lend a majesty to the natural surroundings. Overshadowing the entrance to Kemer Golf and Country Club is the 800-meter-long Sultan Süleyman Aqueduct, also built by Sinan; it is one of the longest in Turkey. The 500-stable Equestrian Center offers trail riding.
On the Asian side, Polonezköy, 25 km from Istanbul, was founded in the l9th century by Polish immigrants. Istanbul residents come to its pastoral landscape for walks, horseback riding and to enjoy the traditional Polish food served by descendants of the original settlers. On the Black Sea, 70 km from Üsküdar, Şile's sandy beaches, fish restaurants and hotels make it one of the most delightful holiday places near Istanbul. Şile bezi, cool cotton clothing, popular with tourists, is fashioned here.
The Bayramoğlu-Darica Bird's Paradise and Botanic Park, 38 km from Istanbul, is a unique rest area; many species of birds and plants from all over the world can be seen in this huge park, which also has restaurants and a promenade for pedestrians.
The charming fishing town of Eskihisar, southeast of Istanbul, boasts a marina where yachtsmen can moor their boats after a day out in the Sea of Marmara. In town, the house of Osman Hamdi Bey, Turkey's great l9th century painter, has been converted into a museum. Neighboring sites include the tomb of Hannibal between Eskihisar and Gebze, and a Byzantine castle.
Many Istanbulites have summer homes near Silivri, the popular vacation area about 65 km from Istanbul. A large holiday resort, it offers everything from casinos to sporting, health and fitness facilities, including the Klassis Country and Golf Club, to excellent dining. The conference center attracts business people who escape the city's fast pace for a working holiday. A regular sea bus service connects Istanbul to Silivri.

FOOD
The Turkish cuisine, which is one of the richest in the world, appeals to the eye as well as the palate. Turkish food that is found today in Istanbul is truly a living synthesis of Eastern and Western cultures. In addition to the many restaurants that serve traditional and international menus to satisfy the varied tastes of their guests, many nightclubs, cafes and bars offer fine menus along with a wide range of entertainment choices.
Kebab is a typical South Eastern Turkish food. It is a kind of a food group which means; meat down wit charcoal or wood fire. The recepies can be with vegetables or very hot pepper, again depending on the region. Raki is a traditional alcoholic beverage made wit anise and grapes. It is called "Lion's Milk" by the locals, so give this combination a try in one of the many kebab houses in Istanbul.
You may finalize this feast, with the unique taste of Turkish coffee" Afiyet olsun" (Good Apetite)..

RESTAURANTS
TURKISH FOOD
AGA RESTAURANT
Adress : Sakizagaci St. 5/1 Beyoglu Tel : 212-249 39 24
BABANE
Adress: Istiklal Ave Sadri Alisik St 2 Beyoglu Tel : 212-251 40 68
BEYTI
Adress : Orman St 8 Florya Tel : 212-663 29 90 / 91 / 92
DARULZIYAFE
Adress : sifahane St 6 Süleymaniye Tel : 212-511 84 14
HACI BABA RESTAURANT
Adress : Istiklal Ave 49 Beyoglu Tel : 212-244 18 86
HUNKAR
Adress : Akdeniz St 21 Fatih Tel : 212-631 59 44
PAFULI RESTAURANT
Adress : Kurucesme St 116 Kurucesme Tel : 212-263 66 38
TASLIK TURK RESTAURANT
Adress : Swissotel The Bosphorus Macka Tel : 212-259 01 01
TURKISTAN ASEVI
Adress : Tavukhane St 36 Sultanahmet Tel : 212-638 65 25
BUHARA RESTAURANT
Adress :
KEBAP & MEATS
DEVELI
Adress : Balık Pazarı Square Samatya
GELIK
Adress : Sahil Yolu Ataköy Tel : 212-560 72 82
HE DE OCAKBASI
Adress : Nisbetiye St 49 Etiler Tel : 212-263 67 74
KASIBEYAZ
Adress : Catal St 10 senlikköy Florya Tel : 212-663 28 90
NAMLI KEBAP
Adress : Nisbetiye St 11 Levent Tel : 212-246 10 49
SEA FOOD
OKYANUS BALIK RESTAURANT
Adress : Kumkapi Tel : 212-517 02 28
AFRODIT RESTAURANT
Adress : Kumkapi Tel : 212-516 08 35
BALIKCI SABAHATTIN
Adress : Cankurtaran Sultanahmet Tel : 212-458 18 24
ÇINAR RESTAURANT
Adress : Iskele Square 44-46 Ortaköy Tel : 212-261 46 16
FENER RESTAURANT Adress :
Telli Odalar St 5 Kumkapi Tel :212-516 40 02
GARAJ RESTAURANT
Adress : Kefeliköy St 30 Tarabya Tel : 212-262 04 74
GELIK BALIK
Adress : Sahilyolu Zeytinburnu Tel : 212-547 13 20
IZMIRLI BALIKCI
Adress : Köybası St 107/109 Yeniköy Tel : 212-262 94 90
LE PECHEUR
Adress : Yeniköy St 8 Tarabya Tel : 212-262 70 70
MAVI YESIL
Adress : Muallim Naci St 170 Kurucesme Tel : 212-265 54 80
MILANO RESTAURANT
Adress : Gülistan St 8 Büyükada Tel : 216-382 63 52
İNTERNATİONAL CUSİNE
AGORA
Adress : Hyatt Regency Hotel Elmadag Tel : 212-225 70 00
AYAZPASA RUSSIAN
Adress : Inönü St 77 A Gümüssuyu Tel : 212-243 48 92
CALIFORNIAN BRASSERIE
Adress : Ceylan Inter-Continental Elmadag Tel : 212-231 21 21
CANTINA
Adress : Zambak St 19 Beyoglu Tel : 212-252 48 03
CHINA CITY RESTAURANT
Adress : Aytar St 10/A Levent Tel : 212-284 19 77
CONFICIUS CHINESE RESTAURANT
Adress : Receppasa St 5 Taksim Tel : 212-256 36 45
DA MARIO (OSTERIA)
Adress : Dilhayat St. 7 Etiler Tel : 212-265 51 86
KURUCESME DIVAN
Adress : Kurucesme St.36 Kurucesme Tel : 212-257 71 50
MEXICAN CANTINA
Adress : Cevdet Pasa St 22 Bebek Tel : 212-287 57 21 - 22
NEW YORKER
Adress : Cevdet Pasa St MaNrlya St 244 Bebek Tel : 212-263 60 80
RISRORANTE ITALIANO D'ARGENTO
Adress : Cumhuriyet St 6/B Elmadag Tel : 212-247 86 40
VEGETARİAN
NATURE & PEACE
Adress : Büyükparmakkapı St Nr:21 Beyoglu Tel : 212-252 86 09
SEMSIYE
Adress : Asmalımescit Jurnal St 6 Tünel Tel : 212-292 51 27
TEL DOLAP
Adress : Kücük Bebek St 13 Bebek Tel : 212-257 77 67
SAFRAN
Adress : Istiklal Ave Balo St 1/1 Beyoglu Tel : 212-243 40 37

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