All About Istanbul

Intercontinental Istanbul Marathon, 26 Oct

2008-10-08T12:37:00.004+03:00

30th edition of the Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon will be run on two continents on 26 October 2008, Sunday. It starts from the Asian side of Istanbul, and ends on the European side of the city.

Besides the 42km marathon, there is also a 10km public run with the participation of hundreds of thousands of people.

Formula 1 Istanbul in 2009, 5-7 June

2008-10-08T12:30:00.003+03:00

In 2009 Istanbul Formula 1 race will be held between June 5-7 at Istanbul Park race circuit. This is one of the most popular motor sport events around the world.

Ottoman Janissary Band in Topkapi palace

2008-08-04T18:40:00.002+03:00

The Ottoman Janissary Band will perform in Topkapi palace 5 days a week (except Tuesdays & Sundays) during the busy summer period in 2008 to entertain visitors. They already used to do it on irregular basis but now it will be more frequent. The performance will start at 14:30 in front of the 3rd gate of the palace (known as Babussaade or Gate of Felicity).

Normally, these Jannissary bands are organized at the Military museum in Istanbul, and sometimes local tourism authorities organize it in Dolmabahce or Topkapi palaces for the visitors.

Formula 1 Istanbul, May 9-11

2008-04-27T11:50:00.003+03:00

5th leg of 2008 Formula 1 race will be held at Istanbul Park race circuit in Istanbul between May 9th - 11th, 2008. Alonso, Raikonen, Massa and many other pilots will be competing for the checker flag. 110 thousand spectators are expected on stage, and about 3 billion people will be seeing it on TV around the world. Don't miss this great international motor sports event.

Salvador Dali's works in Istanbul until 2009

2008-04-04T18:44:00.003+03:00

Sabanci University - Sakip Sabanci Museum (SSM) will be hosting oil paintings of the great Spanish painter Salvador Dali in Istanbul. Besides 270 of his works, his photographs and hand writings will be exhibited as well. The exhibitions will be on display from 19th of September 2008 until 19th January of 2009.

Tulip Festival in Istanbul, April 5-13

2008-04-04T18:40:00.002+03:00

3rd edition of the International Istanbul Tulip Festival will be held in various parks of Istanbul with millions of tulips poping up around between April 5th - 13th, 2008. Especially the Emirgan Park will be the center of the festivities.

For those who doesn't know, Tulips are originated from Turkey, not from Holland !!

Astoria Shopping Mall opened

2008-01-26T12:55:00.000+02:00

Another luxury shopping mall has opened in Istanbul: Astoria. It's located at Esentepe neighborhood. There are several luxury shops and famous brand names, food courts, restaurants, and a huge movie theater.

With the existence of many modern shopping malls, Istanbul is the right place to shop.

New shopping malls

2007-12-03T15:48:00.000+02:00

Istanbul has several ultra modern shopping malls that don't exist even in Europe. These are modern shopping centers containing many international and local brand names, movie theaters, food courts and other facilities.

Istinye Park shopping center was opened in September 2007 with around 300 shops. Another big mall, Capacity, is opened in December in Bakirkoy district. Another opening in December 2007 is The City's in Nisantasi neighborhood.

So, you can not only find history and culture in Istanbul, but lots of shopping opportunities as well.

Istanbul Boat Show

2007-12-03T15:45:00.000+02:00

27th edition of International Istanbul Boat Show will be open between 8-16 December 2007 at Istanbul Fair Center in Yesilkoy district.

New Cultural Center - Santralistanbul

2007-10-03T13:48:00.000+03:00

The Silahtaraga Power Plant was the first power station built in Istanbul during the late Ottoman period in 1911. Today, it has been renovated by Bilgi University and opened as a culture and arts center near the Golden Horn.

International Istanbul Biennial, Sep 8 - Nov 4

2007-08-22T16:05:00.000+03:00

The 10th International Istanbul Biennial, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSEV), will be open in the city from September 8th until November 4th, 2007. This years Biennial will be under the curatorship of Hou Hanru, currently Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs at San Francisco Art Institute.

The title of The 10th International Istanbul Biennial is “Not Only Possible, But Also Necessary - Optimism in the age of global war”. The venues of the Biennial will be Antrepo 3 in Karakoy, IMC (Istanbul Textile Traders' Market) in Unkapani near the Golden Horn, AKM (Ataturk Cultural Center) in Taksim Square, and Santralistanbul in Sutluce - Eyup.

Cow Parade in Istanbul until October 31st

2007-08-22T15:53:00.000+03:00

190 cow sculptures, designed by artists under sponsorship of Turkish dairy company SUTAS, were introduced at the "CowParade Istanbul" festival, organized by Sisli Municipality.

Many Turkish celebrities have designed cow sculptures for the CowParade, the 55th of which will be held in Istanbul. Earlier the event took place in several cities including Paris, New York and Monaco. The sculptures will be on display at Ataturk Airport, and in several neighborhoods as Ortakoy, Bebek and Sultanahmet till October 31st, 2007.

After the exhibition is over, the cow sculptures will be auctioned and the income will be donated to Mother Child Education Foundation (ACEV), and Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA).

Istanbul is Europe's 3rd best city

2007-08-22T15:50:00.000+03:00

According to U.S. Travel & Leisure review, Istanbul is ranked the third best city of Europe. The review has carried out a survey in its last issue about the best cities and hotels in the world and Europe, and Florence was chosen as the best city of Europe, than Rome the second, and Istanbul the 3rd in the poll. Istanbul has also been chosen as the 8th among the best cities of the world, and it also obtained the most exotic city title among world's best 10 cities as well.

According to the same survey, Four Seasons Hotel at Istanbul's old Sultanahmet neighborhood was chosen as the best hotel in Europe. The hotel was converted from an old prison into a luxurious hotel right in the heart of the old city.

Candidate for 2010 World Indoor Athletics Championship

2007-08-22T15:49:00.000+03:00

Istanbul becomes a candidae to host 2010 World Indoor Championships in Athletics. Another candidate is Qatar's capital Doha and both cities will make presentations in November 2007 in Monaco for the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations).

Sabiha Gokcen Airport privatised

2007-08-22T15:47:00.000+03:00

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul's second international airport located on the Asian part of the city, is privatised. New buildings and annexxes are planned to be built to raise its passenger capacity.

Glass blowing courses, August 12 - 25

2007-08-22T15:44:00.000+03:00

You can learn glass making in Istanbul. The two-week intensive courses between August 12-25 will be held at the Glass Furnace (Cam Ocagi in Turkish) for the glassblowing, beadmaking and fusing & kilncasting.

Bosphorus swimming race on July 15th

2007-07-16T13:56:00.000+03:00

International Bosphorus swimming and sailing race took place on July 15th for the 19th time this year. Over 400 swimmers from all ages raced from Asia to Europe. Berkay Polat, a 14 year old swimmer, became the first in the overall.

World Kiteboard Cup in Istanbul, July 23-29

2007-07-16T13:51:00.000+03:00

One of the Kiteboard World Cup legs will be held in Istanbul between July 23rd - 29th. The races will be organized at the Burc beach in Kilyos on the Black Sea. There will be also a special race on the Bosphorus in front of Kurucesme Arena venue on July 26th, and another special race at Dragos in the Sea of Marmara on July 27th. Fourtyfour sportsmen will join the races which are organized by Jim Beam.

Istanbul Jazz Festival, July 3-18

2007-06-25T18:07:00.000+03:00

14th International Istanbul Jazz Festival will take place in this magical city between July 3-18, 2007. There will be about 40 concerts at various venues, such as Archaelogical Museum, Hagia Irene, Kemer Golf and Country Club, Sepetciler Kiosk, etc. This year the festival embraces both jazz and other styles like pop, classic & alternative rock, world music, Latin and more.

Some of the world famous artists participating in this Jazz Festival are: Norah Jones, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, Michael Bolton, Bryan Ferry, and many others.

International Istanbul Horse Show, July 5-8

2007-06-22T17:48:00.000+03:00

International Istanbul Horse Show will attract thousands of equestrian enthusiasts to Kemer Golf & Country Club between July 5th-8th, 2007. This year, 60 riders from 12 different countries will perform their skills on the track, meanwhile spectators can also join several other on-site activities during the weekend.

Gloria Gaynor on concert in Istanbul, June 30

2007-06-08T00:40:00.000+03:00

Gloria Gaynor will be on stage for a concert at Istanbul Parkorman venue with her world-famous hit songs. The concert will be held on June 30th, 2007, and will be a great opportunity for her fans to see the singer live on stage.

Shakira live in Istanbul, July 9

2007-06-08T00:39:00.000+03:00

World famous pop singer Shakira will give a concert in Istanbul on July 9th, besides of a couple of advertisement campains of some Turkish companies for a few days. She will be on stage at the Kurucesme Arena on the Bosphorus to sing from her latest release and her other popular songs.

Radar Live 2007 music festival, June 29

2007-06-08T00:33:00.000+03:00

Radar Live Festival will be held between June 29th and July 2nd, 2007 in Kilyos Solar Beach, on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul. The campers will be able to watch nearly 100 performances in three different stages. The festival will be screened live from MTV Turkey.

Some of the important names to perform during the festival are; Marilyn Manson, James, The Rapture, Juliette and The Licks, Cocorosie, Beirut and Nouvelle Vague.

Combined ticket prices vary between 130-155 YTL.

Redbull Air Race in Istanbul, June 2

2007-05-07T15:20:00.000+03:00

The Red Bull Air Race will be taking place in Istanbul for the second time this year on June 2nd, 2007. This fantastic activity will be held over the Golden Horn next to the old city, between the two bridges of Eski Galata Koprusu and Ataturk Koprusu.

The Red Bull Air Race is a competition in which the world’s most talented pilots are up against each other in a race based on speed, precision and skill. Last year about 1 million spectators gathered in Istanbul to watch this exciting air race, this was a new record in the history of the race.

Moto GP at Istanbul Park, Apr 20-22

2007-04-04T23:08:00.000+03:00

The 3rd leg of this years Moto GP will run at Istanbul Park between April 20th-22nd. This will be also the third time that this race is organized in Turkey. Moto GP is one of the most popular motorsports in the world and the Istanbul Park racing track is one of the most impressive circuits in the world.

If you're a speed and bike fan, don't miss this spectacular event.