Enchanting Istanbul

Spread between the two continents of Asia and Europe, Istanbul, Turkiye is the magical meeting place for East and West. Over the centuries, Istanbul has been the centre of various empires, the most prominent of which were the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. The unmatched gastronomy, hospitality, and architecture peacefully amalgamate the past and the future in the ancient city of Istanbul, which is an enthralling experience for a traveller.

Our three-and-a-half-day Istanbul trip started on February 20. Our flight from Antalya Airport took 1.30 hours to reach Istanbul Airport. Our first encounter with Istanbul Airport was impressive with its distinct architecture, strong substructure, and superior technology. Our Istanbul package included inspections of the top hotels and enjoying the mesmerising sights and sounds of renowned historical sites like Hagia Sofia, Grand Bazaar, and Galata Tower, among other activities.

 Hotels

•  CVR Park Bosphorus

This is 45 kilometres from the new Istanbul International Airport. The big, aesthetically designed lobby grabbed our attention as we reached the hotel. The hotel flaunts 382 spacious rooms, luxury suites, and 68 well-established sites ranging from studio to four-bedroom alternatives.

• Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

The 65-key boutique yet beautiful heritage hotel is a stone's throw away from the Mosque at Sultanhmet. This property has distinct elements, from the yellow burst of the facade to the Turkish textiles and motifs in each guest room.

• Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus

It holds a special place in history as the first Hilton hotel built outside of America and the first modern hotel built in Europe after the Second World War. The 500-key hotel offers stunning views over the Bosphorus Strait and 36 meeting rooms for approximately 4,392 people.

• The Peninsula Istanbul

Occupying four adjacent buildings along the Bosphorus. The Peninsula Istanbul provides guests with a diverse of accommodation choices. Many of the hotel's 177 rooms include 138 guest rooms and 39 lavish suites, which provide beautiful water views from floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces.

• Ciragan Palace Kempinski

This luxury is the only Ottoman imperial palace and hotel on the Bosphorus. The 310 rooms provide a resort atmosphere in the city. 29 meeting rooms accommodate 10 to 1000 people. Each venue offers true luxury, and the hotel features fine-dining restaurants such as Tugra or Bellini Pasta and More.

• Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar International Convention and Exhibition Centre-ICEC

ICEC, Istanbul's first and leading convention and exhibition centre, has been the force of the Turkish meeting industry for almost a quarter of a century. Situated at the city's heart with its vast halls and inspiring meeting rooms, it can host various events simultaneously. The main structure and the Rumeli Hall, with its stunning view of the Bosphorous technological structure and innovative services, can host many events, from congresses to meetings, exhibit cocktails to gala dinners, film premiers to cultural events at the national and international level.

• Halic Congress Center

The 1,02,000-square-meter Halic Congress Center boasts 16,000 square meters of outdoor space with seating capacity ranging from 219 to 3004 people, five state-of-the-art auditoriums, connecting gallery areas totalling 9172 square metres, and multi-purpose halls with seating capacity ranging from 50 to 850.

Sightseeing

• Hagia Sophia

It was later converted into a mosque and a museum and then reconverted to a working mosque. Byzantine influences can be seen in the hold mosaics that cover the choiring interior walls. In Istanbul, Hagia Sophia became a crucial place in the Ottoman Empire for the worship of top-ranked families.

• Grand Bazaar

Like a massive maze, the Grand Bazaar's aesthetic relays archaism and grandiosity in certain aspects. A covered market with more than 60 streets and 4000 shops, the labyrinth attracts visitors worldwide due to its architectural value.

• Yacht Ride

Our lavish yacht ride was scheduled on the second day at the Carpetsrus. The 2.5-hour round trip on the luxury yacht cruise down the Bosphorus was a dream. The 90-minute group tour is usually designed to help travellers spend time away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities.

• Galata Tower

Galata Tower, one of the most essential structures in Istanbul's silhouette, was used as a long-term fire watchtower and was named Gaklata Fire Tower. The Byzantine Emperor Justinian built the Galata Tower in 507-508 AD. The tower provides a 360-degree view of Istanbul and is a must-visit.

Food

• Izaya Terrece Restaurant

We reached this fantastic place to attend a gala dinner hosted by the hotel team. The enthralling evening view from the restaurant, the gorgeous location by the Phosphate, and the immaculate service welcomed us into Istanbul. We had lamb shish kebab and bread, similar to naan.

• Avlu Restaurant  

The next day, we had lunch at the Avlu Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet. We started with freshly baked bread and homemade herbed butter. Then, along the way, we had Turkish Muhammara, Hummus, Dolma, Fitters, and Turkish Cracik. The main course had many options for fish and meat. The delicious meal concluded with a dessert.

• Dub Indian Restaurant

Situated on the ninth floor of Hilton Bosphorus, the site offers a beautiful view and excellent food choices for Indians. We ordered and gorged on almost all our favourite dishes, such as Paneer Tikka, Fish Tikka, Butter Chicken, Jeera Rice, Dal, and  Roti. We ended the soulful meal with a hot milk tea at home.

• Tugra Restaurant

Located on the first floor of the historical Ciragan Palace, with a breathtaking view of the Bosphorus, Tugra offers a luxury fine dining experience. We had different kinds of Ottoman Sherbet made with fruits and freshly baked bread served piping hot. The bread, hummus, and various dips served us were truly amazing. In our main course, the lamb was prepared, and the meat was finished with flavorful Baklava.

• Madera Instabul

Located at the side of ICEC Madera, we had cheese-pliable vegetarian pizza, Tzatziki, hummus, and muhammara, as well as many mouth-watering dishes and sweet lemon soda.

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