Istanbul Attractions

Babylon, designed as a multipurpose performance space, is a top-quality, award-winning live music venue. Top international names from jazz, latin, reggae, world music, and electornica perform on weekends. DJ sessions are held once a month. Local bands hit the stage on weekdays. Several bands booked for Babylon include Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Chicks On Speed, Mad Professor, and many more. This place has a capacity of 450 (standing) or 300 (tables and standing).

Roxy is a well-established live music venue, located just a short walk from the rest of Beyoğlu's bustling nightlife scene. There are always long queues of people waiting to get in snaking their way around the corner. Once inside, you will find industrial décor and an innovative music program. The place often features live concerts by excellent local musicians and popular international rock and pop bands. The likes of Ben Harper, John Zorn, TransGlobal Underground, and the Zydeco Twisters have all performed here in the past. It's also one of the venues for the city's Jazz Festival. The highlight of the week is Wednesday night, when resident DJ Fuchs rocks the house.

The monthly music program at Switch was designed to please just about every kind of electronica enthusiast. DJ Murat Uncuoğlu is popular for deep trance while DJ Turgay woos fans with uplifting trance on Friday nights. On Saturday nights, the building's ancient vaults echo to DJ UFUK's garage, house and techno. Special guest DJs from Holland, the UK, France and Israel come and hypnotise the colorful crowd every three weeks, and live electronic bands perform on Wednesdays. Switch is also popular with Istanbul's gay and transgendered populations.

Aging rockers Bulutsuzluk Özlemi have made this their home base, so if they're on the bill, go have a look. Otherwise, you can expect lots of posturing as Aerosmith wannabes take to the stage and play semi-audible covers. Live music starts after 11p in a basic no-frills, bare-brick bar-room with a raised stage at the far end. The high cover charge keeps much of the riff-raff out. There's lots of elbow jostling around the bar at weekends when the place fills to capacity with rock-loving twenty-somethings. There's another branch of the club in Cubuklu. Call ahead for latest schedules and registrations.

Contrary to the name, it's not actually a jazz bar at all. Drummer extraordinaire Engin Yorukoğlu owns the place, and his band Mogollar, a longhaired bunch of near-pensionable rockers, are the most regular act playing here. A few other Turkish rock legends like Cem Karaca drop in sometimes to join in impromptu jam sessions. The sound system is high quality and tall tables give punters a great view of the stage. Cover charge applies.

Located near Galata Tower, Nardis is one of best clubs in Istanbul. A Jazz lover's delight, you can find locals tuning into the latest Jazz beats at this popular venue. Artists performing at Nardis are mostly Turkish and they play some of the best in jazz. All kinds of jazz including classic, modern, fusion, mainstream and ethnic can be heard here. With interiors done by Gün Beken and Cengiz Cennetoğlu, the technical aspects are state-of-the-art with great acoustics. Along with good music, you can also have your fill from an array of finger foods, pasta, steak, fillets or desserts.

This popular club has a reputation for fostering some of the best up and coming bands in the city.  Expect a hip, indie crowds and loads of devoted fans.  Cover charge varies according to who is playing that night.  All types of music is played here including pop, rock, jazz and evelctronica.  

Indigo is the justified nucleus of DJ music. With an electrifying atmosphere, this nightclub has lot to offer from the start till the end. The state-of-the-art technology which includes amazing laser-lighting, gives a boost to the vibrant feature of the club. The music being great is just an understatement, as it's more like a religion at this club which everyone enjoys following. After all, the DJs always give the people the right music to shake a leg. Moreover, they have quite a few local bands coming in and performing some brilliant music, live. To sum it up, it's a great place to go along with your friends and have a ball of a night.

What better place than Lokal, exists for delicious Thai food? Well, this restaurant by far, is the best when it comes to serving authentic Thai dishes. Whether you're a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian, you're certainly in for a stomach-filling treat. That's right folks, with mouth-watering dishes like Thai Green Chicken and Tandoori Lamb Chops, this restaurant has a lot more to offer at great prices. Moreover, it also plays the role of a nightclub, where famous local DJs like Ali Kuru and Agentorange drop by pretty often to do their bit on the turn-table. Lokal is quite the show-stopper, in terms of DJ music and Thai food, to say the least.

Topkapı Sarayı, on the Seraglio Peninsula, became a museum in 1924. The Harem, Baghdat Pavilion, Revan Pavilion, Sofa Pavilion, and Audience Chamber distinguish themselves with their architectural assets, while other artifacts on display reflect palace life. Gülhane Park is located on the slopes below the palace extending to the seashore, and is popular among Istanbul residents for picnicking and open-air concerts. In the park is the Gothic Column (courtesy of Claudius II), known to have been one of the main obelisks of the Byzantines. One of the most interesting parts of the palace is the Harem, so be sure to get here early to sign up for a complete tour of it.

Enjoy a guided tour of Istanbul and the Turquoise Coast unlike any other! After exploring the sights of Istanbul, you'll be whisked away to the Aegean coast, where you'll set sail on an unforgettable journey in crystal-blue waters. Then, follow the legendary Silk Road to the historical city of Cappadocia and discover amazing underground civilizations. You'll be dazzled by one of the best-preserved ancient towns in the Mediterranean region, Ephesus. Check the website for the exact itinerary, dates, and prices.

If you thought caviar was only meant to be eaten, you'd probably be surprised to know that it is a rich nutrient used to moisturize the skin too. Moreover, it is used in one of the many signature treatments that the Laveda Spa atThe Ritz-Carlton Istanbul . The famous Turkish Hamams and the royal Turkish four and six hand massages are sure to de-stress you. Holistic healing is what the spa offers in its 9 treatment rooms, a pool, jacuzzi and sauna. You might have the luxury of being treated in the Open Air Spa along the Bosphorus shores if you happen to visit the place in the summer months. The fitness regime is part of the customized treatment packages created by experts to suit your health requirements.

Imagine a home with 285 rooms, 6 baths (hamam), 68 toilets and a ceiling made of 14 tonnes of gold! Dolmabahçe Palace is one such marvelous structure, built by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid between 1853-1922. A guided tour to this splendid palace will be an experience, checking out the modern approach to architecture with an essentially French influence. The rich tastes and splendor of the era is evident in every corner and artifact in the decor. You just can't miss the Bohemian crystal chandelier, the Crystal Staircase or the original bearskin rugs.

Mimar Sinan is a name synonymous with Turkish architecture, and some would argue he reached his peak upon completion of the Süleymaniye Mosque, considered by many to be the most beautiful mosque in Istanbul. It's also one of the most structurally sound, not having incurred any recognizable damage from earthquakes in 450 years of sitting proudly in the heart of seismically-prone Istanbul. The mosque's most unique characteristics are its bright red and white striped archways, which, rather than lending a candy-cane feel to the place, actually add an aire of elegance to the mosque's interior with their subtlety and symmetry.

Love your body and looking to treat it ?? Then head to Taylife Spa located atThe Sofa Hotel and Residence . This top-notch spa offers, a fitness centre, a spa as well as a wellness centre. Under the ownership of Taylan Kumeli a renowned expert,a variety of treatments like yoga, cardio, massages, detoxification treatments are on the menu. At Taylife each masseur is specially trained to make your visit here special using the best oils and creams. Also at the spa one can indulge in aesthetics and beautification services like ayurveda, hydrotherapy,ballneotherapy & body scrubs.