Where to Shop in Istanbul as the City Spills Over With Creative Delights

Once seen, never forgotten. Croatia’s fabulously beautiful coast and islands (1,246 to be precise) – with their rocky coves, iconic beaches, historic towns and gorgeous sunsets, all surrounded by some of the most breathtakingly blue waters imaginable – are places that stay in the mind, and they have a habit of luring you back.

Saturday morning, 10am, and I’m sitting at a café table on a cobbled street in the Beşiktaş neighbourhood of Istanbul, sipping a glass of çay (Turkish tea) and waiting for breakfast. By the café entrance, a plump, grey-haired man in a crisp white apron is sharpening a knife, before slicing through what is generally acknowledged to be the largest doner kebab in Turkey. The kebab weighs 100kg, a meaty monster slowly cooking from the outside in. Our guide, Sinan, tells us that Black Sea (Karadeniz) doners from this area are always the best – all of it will be gone by mid-afternoon.

Istanbul has one of the most beautiful skylines in the world—there’s no denying it. The sky itself seems to be in a permanent state of golden hour periwinkle blue while the mosques and monuments that dot the landscape offer endless picture-perfect sights to soak in.

Recent data from global research companies indicates a bright future for the GCC hospitality industry, with insights from Deloitte and STR demonstrating sustained growth as tourism continues to be a key priority for regional governments. The upcoming edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), a premier global event in travel and tourism, will serve as a pivotal gathering for hospitality stakeholders when it takes place from 6 to 9 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Finding a great bookstore while traveling can be just as satisfying as spending the day at a beloved museum or sacred monument—and that’s certainly the case in Istanbul. The city is packed with hidden second-hand bookstores and flea market-style book alleys. The thing is—the majority of these places sell books written in Turkish, which, while beautiful to look at, mightn’t be the most practical if you’re looking for something to bring back to your hotel and read (unless of course, you speak Turkish).

Türkiye has become the latest country to launch a digital nomad visa for foreign remote workers.

A cooking class booked in the first few days of your trip is the best way to get acquainted with a new destination. 

There are plenty of great spots to eat all across Istanbul—it’s arguably one of the best food cities in the world. You could spend your entire trip eating your way across Turkish cuisine, both modern and traditional, but we all know that sometimes a good slice of pizza calls… especially after a couple of glasses of rakı or Turkish wine.

Skytrax has released its annual ranking of the world's best airports — and if you're a frequent flyer it may come as little surprise that none in the US made the top 20.

Turkey is one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world—so it only makes sense that its largest city would be home to some pretty decent wine bars and wine-focused restaurants with great local wine.

International travel is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, according to the just-released list of the world's busiest airports in 2023.

Istanbul probably doesn’t immediately come to mind when thinking up vegetarian- and vegan-friendly cities—and that’s fair. The city isn’t the most vegetarian friendly in Europe or Asia but certain neighborhoods are going to be a lot more progressive in the plant-based department than others. Kadıköy on the Asian city of the city is one of those residential parts of town with a relatively young population. Here you’ll find a lot of great bars, pubs, trendy cafes, and, you guessed it, vegetarian restaurants.