İstanbul 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 at the Atatürk Cultural Center. The İstanbul Science
Center (Bilim Merkezi), founded by the Science Center Foundation and
located on the campus of İstanbul Technical University, has hands-on
experimental and theoretical opportunities for adults and children
of various educational levels. In March and April you can lake in
the International Film Festival. Those who enjoy classical music can
hear it at the Cemal Reşit Rey Hall. Operas, operettas, ballets,
films, concerts, exhibitions and conferences all contribute to the
cultural palette of the city.
İstanbul also has a rich program of light entertainment. Nightclubs
provide splendid entertainment throughout dinner, ranging from a
selection of Turkish songs to belly-dancing. 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 at
Çicek Pasajı in the district of Beyoğlu for snacks and seafood
specialties. Also in the area near Çiçek Pasajı is the narrow
Nevizade Street, which is the best place in İstanbul for eating
Turkish specialties and drinking rakı, the special Turkish drink.
On the Bosphorus, Ortaköy is the best place for nightlife in
İstanbul, with its nightclubs, jazz clubs, line seafood restaurants
and bars.
At Eminönü do not miss the opportunity of seeing the fishermen
dressed in traditional Ottoman dollies and their Ottoman-style boats
on which you may board to sample their delicious fried fish.
You may also want to visit Tatilya Cumhuriyeti, a large amusement
park in Beylikdüzü past Haramidere on the road to the Atatürk
International Airport. |
FETHIYE
BODRUM
MARMARIS
ANTALYA