Arts, Culture & History

We raced against the sun to reach the spring before all light had gone, Seçkin at the wheel and me biting my nails with...

As you walk down the streets of Istanbul, the air swirls with color and unfamiliar smells. Occasionally, you stop and peer into shop windows,...

I am fascinated by hamams. Their architecture (those gorgeous holed domes), their history (the ancient ritual of public bathing) and the leisure (they provide...

When my husband and I first visited Istanbul as tourists several years ago, we got the requisite blurry shots of the Hagia Sophia and...

Home of the Design Biennial and a (gradually) increasing number of design and architectural gems, Turkey is finally becoming a name on the design...

Vendors and commuters criss-cross in front of the gates of the dock. My friend and I use the akbil dangles with the circular buttons...

What comes to your mind, when you hear the word Istanbul? After living here for almost four years, there are many words and associations which...

A friend of mine from the Czech Republic once told me her feelings while she visited Istanbul one year ago. She said that it...

Mohammad Zaza is an accidental convert to the life of a travelling artist. Born in Saudi Arabia to Syrian parents, Zaza moved to Aleppo in 2005...

The 27th Istanbul Theatre Festival hosted by IKSV proudly presents one of the most anticipated events of the year: Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch's mesmerizing...

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl with shiny blonde hair that ran down her shoulders and sweet hazel eyes which sparkled...

In late 1881, the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin received a strange letter from the German Consul of Izmir, mentioning some mysterious statues...

Istanbul arguably doesn’t really have one central district, like a downtown or a city center. It is a city of many centers, each with...

When one thinks of shopping in Istanbul, there’s one particular place that usually springs to mind. The city’s most famous market, the Grand Bazaar,...

When I was about 12, I was bored to tears by rock music. My brother was in a band and practiced for hours. If...

2021 marked the first official season of legal excavations in Amos Ancient City near Marmaris, Muğla. This ancient settlement dates back to roughly 3,000...

Back home in India, the part of the newspaper I really looked forward to was the comics section. And I guess this is probably...

By Bairma Kihoro People have always been crossing borders. Not just geographical, but social, cultural and psychological ones as well. Everyone has their own dramas,...

Guest Post by Sheldon Heyes. This post first appeared on Sheldon Heyes' website, Istanbul in Ink.  What do you get when a Brazilian diplomat, a Syrian...

Someone recently described Istanbul to me as a city where you can "have the best day of your life, followed by the worst day”,...

In this megacity, which delivers stress in seemingly increasing dosages year by year, I’m realizing that it is essential to wear a different pair...

In Istanbul, when December arrives, you might observe a sudden change in the streets. Decorations hung up on the poles in the shape of...

Zorlu Center recently opened its doors to the world as an international center for business, shopping, and, above all, culture and art. It is...

In this month’s ‘Famous Turk’ article, we’re looking at Mevlana – known more popularly in the English-speaking world as ‘Rumi’ – the Anatolian philosopher...