Istanbul: Neighborhoods

Sultanahmet/Cankurtaran Old Istanbul is chock-a-block with old mosques, ancient churches, historic palaces, atmospheric Turkish baths, and bazaars begging to be shopped – and all within walking distance of each other.

Beyoglu In the nineteenth-century, Europeans set up across the Golden Horn in this vibrant district, still the heart of modern Istanbul with many of the best restaurants, bars, clubs and shops.

Dolmabahce This waterside suburb is dominated by the Baroque chandelier and carpet-filled Dolmabahce Palace, where the Ottoman sultans lived in the 19th century and Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, died in 1938.

Fener/Balat Nestled inside the walls of Old Istanbul on the shores of the Golden Horn, these twin residential suburbs are packed with old churches and restaurants.

Kadikoy Across the Bosphorus on the Asian side of the city, Kadikoy is home to a growing student population and, consequently, a growing number of bars, independent cinemas, and shops.

The Bosphorus The waterway that divides Istanbul between Europe and Asia is lined with wooden mansions and picturesque suburbs – ferry-hop between Arnavutkoy, Rumeli Hisar, and Emirgan for fortresses, parks, and seafood.