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Istanbul

Doing business in Turkey can be fraught with misunderstandings and bureaucracy but it's a burgeoning destination that is becoming an important hub for East/West deals. Istanbul also remains the imperial capital built on Seven Hills - that means pack a sturdy pair of trainers. Traverse the old city within the ruined walls built by the Romans. At night, treat yourself to a cold Efes beer at the Tünel neighbourhood of Beyoglu.

 

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Essentials

01 Ask a local to tell you the story of where the country got its name.
02 On each weekday a different neighbourhood features its fresh produce in the open markets.
03 Take a ferry ride to the Asian side with a brief stop at the breathtaking Haydarpasa station, then on to Kadiköy.
04 Walk on the Ottoman city walls at the Yedikule For tress Museum.
05 Take a cooking course at the Istanbul Culinary Institute.

Hotels

Independent and easy
Istanbul Suites
Harbiye Çayiri Sokak 111,
Harbiye
+ 90 212 224 53 10
istanbulsuites.com

Dependable chain
Park Hyatt - Maçka Palas
Tesvikiye, Bronz Sokak 4
Sisli
+ 90 212 315 12 34
istanbul.park.hyatt.com

Premium
Sumahan
Kuleli Caddesi,
51, Çengelköy
+ 90 216 422 80 00
sumahan.com

Dining
Fast breakfast
Namli Gurme
Katli Otopark Alti
1, Karaköy
+ 90 212 293 68 80
namligida.com.tr

Business breakfast
Happily Ever After
Cevdetpasa Caddesi 24/a,
Bebek
+ 90 212 263 41 38

Mid-morning coffee
Hotel Empress Zoe
Schwarzenbach
Akbiyik Caddesi
4/1 Sultanahmet
+ 90 212 518 25 04
emzoe.com

Working lunch with colleagues
Dükkan
Fatih Sultan Mehmet
Mahallesi V/
Atatürk Cad
6 Küçükarmutlu
+ 90 212 277 88 60

dukkanistanbul.com

Lunch on your own
Kantin
Akkavak Sokak 16/2
Nisantasi
+ 90 212 219 31 14
kantin.biz

Afternoon tea
Leb-i-der ya
Kumbaraci Yokusu 57/6,
Tünel
+ 90 212 293 49 89
lebiderya.com

Private dinner
Vogue
Spor Caddesi,
bJk Plaza, a Block,
13F Akaretler, Besiktas
+ 90 212 227 44 04

Dinner with colleagues
Asmali Cavit
Asmalimescit Caddesi
16/D, Asmalimescit
+ 90 212 292 49 50

Big dinner with partners/clients:
Sunset Grill & Bar
Adnan Saygun Caddesi,
Yol Sokak 2, Ulus Parki
+ 90 212 287 03 57
sunsetgrillbar.com

Drink after dinner
Lucca
Cevdetpasa Caddesi 51/b
Bebek
+ 90 212 257 12 55
luccastyle.com

On the tiles
Hotel Les Ottomans
29 Adnan Saygun Cad, Ulus
Parki Içi 1, Ulus
+ 90 212 358 29 29

Reading
Newsstand

Robinson Crusoe Kitabevi
Istiklal Caddesi
389 Taksim
+ 90 212 293 69 68

Thank yous
Turkish Sweets
Ali Muhiddin Haci Bekir
Hamidiye Caddesi 83,
Eminönü
+ 90 212 522 85 43

Shopping

Something you can't get anywhere else
Hand-printed fabrics from Sivasli Yazmaci
Yaglikçilar Caddesi 57,
The Covered Bazaar
+ 90 212 526 77 48

Lost luggage - where to buy shir ts, socks and underwear
YkM Cevahir
Cevahir Alisveris Merkezi
Büyükdere Caddesi 22,
Sisli
+ 90 212 380 03 42
ykm.com.tr

Something for the kids
Custom-drawn car toons from Yalvaç Abi Kitabevi
Kanyon
AlisverisVM
Kat: b2 Levent
+ 90 212 353 07 98
yalvacabikitabevi.com

Something for someone you love
Jewellery by Özlem Tuna
Design Zone
Alibaba Türbe Sokak 21/4,
Nuruosmaniye
+ 90 212 527 92 85
designzone.com.tr

Two-hour tour

01
The Hagia Sophia, Sultanahment ("Blue") Mosque, Covered Bazaar, and Yerebatan Cistern
The Covered Bazaar is closed on Sundays and the others are closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly.

02
Head for one of the Princes' islands to escape from the traffic, as these are car-free isles.

03
Climb the for tress rampar ts at Rumeli Hisari.

04
Take in an exhibition at the Sakip Sabanci Museum (Muzedechanga café for lunch).
Sakip Sabanci addesi 22,
Emirgan
+ 90 212 323 09 01
muze.sabanciuniv.edu
changa-istanbul.com

Limousine/car
Travelium
+ 90 212 240 88 20
travelium.com.tr

Transport
Get akbil - an all-access pass for every mode of public transport in the city (there is an akbil kiosk in Taksim Square).

Fitness
Good gym
Mars Athletic Club
Harbiye Kadirgalar
3, GMall, Maçka
+ 90 212 232 44 40
marsathletic.com