Istanbul - Besiktas, Ortakoy & Kurucesme (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet
This part of town has the largest concentration of Ottoman palaces and pavilions in Istanbul, so history and architecture buffs will find it satisfying to spend a day or two exploring. The waterside suburb of Ortaköy has considerable charm, particularly on warm summer nights when its main square is crowded with locals dining at its waterside restaurants or enjoying an after-dinner coffee and ice cream by the water.
getting an insight into the public and private life of one of the last Ottoman sultans, Abdül Mecit I, at his ostentatious creation, Dolmabahçe Palace.
maps
partying into the early hours at one of the sybaritic nightclubs on the Golden Mile.
transport
indulging in a personalised hamam treatment a Bosphorus spa.
restaurants & bars
Coverage includes: Neighbourhood Top Five, Local Life, Getting There & Away, Sights, Eating, Sleeping, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment and Shopping.