World City Guide

Further Distractions

Further Distractions
Eyp
This religious district, about 8km (5 miles) from Sultanahmet, is best known for its huge Ottoman cemetery with stunning views over the Golden Horn. It is crowned with the famous Pierre Loti Caf (tel: (0212) 616 2344) – best enjoyed for alfresco tea. The walk from the village is delightful, from the highly revered Eyup Mosque, past market stalls selling religious books and headscarves, and up the hill through the ancient tombstones.

Dolmabahe Palace
The Ottomans built Dolmabahe Palace in the mid-19th with kitsch extravagance. Although it is poor condition, highlights include the crystal staircase, royal bathroom and the alleged world’s heaviest chandelier. Entrance (with high ticket price) is only by guided tour, either through the ceremonial chambers (recommended) or through the harem and concubine’s quarters.

Dolmabahe Palace, Besiktas
Tel: (0212) 236 9000.
Opening hours: Tues, Wed and Fri-Sun; 0900-1500 (winter), 0900-1800 (summer).
Admission charge.

Divan Edebiyati Mzesi (Whirling Dervish Monastery)
The whirling dervishes, a mystic sect only nominally connected to Islam were banned in the early days of the Republic, so this monastery is officially the Museum of Classical Ottoman Poetry and Musical Instruments. Dervishes still perform their ritual dance (sema) on the last Sunday of each month and more often in summer, for a small charge.
Galip Dede Sokak 15
Tel: (0212) 243 5045 or 245 4141.
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0930-1630.
Admission charge.

Kariye Muzesi (Kariye Museum)
Originally an 11th-century church, this contains Istanbul’s finest Byzantine mosaics, as well as superb 14th-century religious frescoes. Although converted to a mosque after the Conquest, the mosaics were merely whitewashed over, and been preserved for display in what is now a secular museum.

Kariye Camii Sokak, Edirnekapi
Tel: (0212) 631 9241.
Opening hours: Thurs-Tues 0930-1630.
Admission charge.