Culture & Travel
Selected stories on archaeology, culture, history, and travel
Istanbul’s Plan to Save its Cultural Soul
An extensive culture and heritage restoration campaign is revealing previously overlooked layers of the world's most visited city. (BBC Travel)
How Istanbul’s Street Dogs Have Found a Place in Society
A new documentary highlights the long relationship between the Turkish metropolis and its many strays. (Washington Post)
Istanbul Church Reopens as Mosque With Medieval Mosaics and Frescoes Intact
The Chora Church reopened as the Kariye Mosque with its treasured works of Christian art open to public view. (Hyperallergic)
The Forgotten Stones That Still Inspire Turks to Help Their Neighbors
A tradition of anonymous charity lives on in the age of COVID-19. (Atlas Obscura)
Sacred Waters
Between the big city bustle of Istanbul and the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea lies another Turkey — one of tradition, history, and divine landscapes. (Travel + Leisure)
Once an Istanbul Soup Kitchen, Now One of the World’s Most Beautiful Libraries
The Beyazıt Library has a story to rival any of the rare volumes in its collection. (Daily Beast)
I Ran a 10K Through the World’s Largest Wine Cellar
The Moldovan race has underground tunnels, traditional dance troupes—and plenty of wine. (Runner’s World)
A Local’s Guide to Istanbul
In high and low times alike, Istanbul remains rich in both historic sights and contemporary life. Each neighborhood in this sprawling city is nearly a world unto itself. (Washington Post)
Destination: Istanbul
No stranger to turbulent times, the ever-resilient city straddling Europe and Asia is primed to reinvent itself once again. (Surface)
More stories on archaeology and history
>> A New Museum in Turkey Lets Visitors Experience the Ancient Legendary City of Troy (Lonely Planet)
Four thousand years of history have been made more accessible to visitors at the archaeological site best known as the setting for The Iliad.
>> How Engineers Move Massive Structures Without Breaking Them (Discover)
Relocating historic structures can be tricky business.
>> The Secrets Beneath a Suburb (Discover)
Experts are uncovering millennia of history under a Turkish megacity’s outskirts.
>> Experience a Neolithic Archaeological Dig at New Istanbul Exhibit (Lonely Planet)
Visitors to a new Istanbul exhibit can step into the shoes of archaeologists working at a Neolithic site in central Turkey — and into the 9000-year-old homes they’re excavating, thanks to an immersive virtual reality re-creation of the ancient settlement.
>> Fathers of Invention: What Muslims Gave the Scientific World (Wired)
In the Middle Ages, while Europeans were busy warring, plundering, and burning heretics at the stake, Muslim scholars were inventing the most advanced devices of the day.
More culture and travel stories about Istanbul
>> Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia has new rules for visitors: here's what you need to know (Lonely Planet)
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has reopened its upper gallery for the first time since 2020 – but with new rules and a hefty entrance fee.
>> Best Day Trips from Istanbul (Lonely Planet)
A day trip to nearby beaches, forests and sleepier towns at the edges of the city and around the Marmara and Black Seas serves as a welcome break from the concrete jungle. History buffs will especially enjoy venturing further afield to Edirne, a border city with a rich architectural heritage.
>> Exploring Istanbul’s Hip, Historical Fener and Balat Neighbourhoods (Lonely Planet)
The intertwined neighbourhoods of Fener and Balat have a rich history dating back to Byzantine times. These days, past and present mingle in colourful, maze-like streets, where third-wave coffee shops and design boutiques sit next to traditional tea gardens and tradesmen’s workshops.
>> My City: Istanbul (Lonely Planet)
A local’s guide to a city full of rich history and kinetic energy.
>> Palace Life to Pub Nights: A Day Out in Istanbul’s Bustling Beşiktaş (Lonely Planet)
With a busy central marketplace full of cafes, bars and cheap eats, and lingering Ottoman splendour on its waterfront, Beşiktaş gives visitors a slice of modern Turkish life alongside a dive into history.
>> 10 Places to Soak Up the Vibe of Istanbul's Kadıköy Neighbourhood (Lonely Planet)
Artsy, eclectic Istanbullus flock to the city’s once-sleepy Asian side and its lively cafes, galleries, bars, shops, and restaurants. For visitors staying near the historic sights of Sultanahmet, a scenic ferry ride across continents is all it takes to join them.
>> The Extraordinary Lives of Istanbul's Street Cats (CityLab)
A new documentary follows some of the city’s famous felines as they navigate the ever-changing urban environment.
>> Green City Guide: Istanbul (Planet Green) [pdf]
Enjoy vegetarian food, take a walking tour, or sign up for a cooking class in Turkey’s bustling metropolis.
More culture and travel stories about Turkey
>> An Aegean Island Idyll: Bozcaada (Lonely Planet)
If you've ever wondered how to holiday like a local in Türkiye, let three of our experts show you the spots you can bookmark for next year's summer trip.
>> Cappadocia Travel Guide: What to Do and Where to Stay in Turkey's Beautiful, Otherworldly Region (The Independent)
Discover rose-tinted valleys, towering ‘fairy chimneys’ and entire underground cities on a visit to this spectacular area of central Turkey.
>> Turkey’s Best Beaches, as Chosen by a Local (The Independent)
With 5,000 miles of coastline, the country has holiday options to suit everyone.
>> Turkey Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go (The Independent)
From multi-cultural Istanbul to the beautiful biodiversity of the Black Sea coast, discover Turkey’s wide-ranging charms
>> Water Colors (Morning Calm) [pdf]
The Turkish marbling art of ebru is a delicate dance between paint and water, requiring both speed and skill from the artist. Today, a mix of tradition and innovation is helping to keep this centuries-old art alive.
>> Why this underrated Turkish city should be on your radar (Lonely Planet)
Its name may literally mean "Old City" but Eskişehir has put on a bright new face in recent years. The opening of a much-touted contemporary art museum in September 2019 has helped draw renewed attention to this north-western Turkish city and its pedestrian-friendly green spaces, colourful historic district and photogenic network of canals.
>> 25 Ultimate Things to Do in Turkey (Fodor's)
Whether your idea of a great vacation is touring archaeological sites, swimming and sunbathing at a coastal resort, hiking into remote mountains, or savoring gourmet meals, this historical crossroads has a lifetime’s worth of experiences to offer.
>> 15 Things You Need to Know Before You Go to Turkey (Fodor's)
Visited by nearly 38 million people a year, Turkey is one of the world’s top 10 tourism destinations, and for good reason. Actually, make that many reasons: history, nature, food, culture, hospitality… With so much to explore, it can be hard to know where to start. These tips will help make your trip as rewarding as it can be.
>> Road-Tripping Through Anatolia (Lonely Planet)
Off the beaten path in Anatolia, touring magnificent monuments and tasting local life via the country’s extensive bus system.
>> Turkish Trekking Trails Expand to Connect with Pilgrimage Footpaths in Europe (Lonely Planet)
Since Turkey’s first long-distance trekking route was mapped and waymarked in 1999, more than a dozen other trails have been blazed, traversing ancient historical sites and dramatic landscapes all across the country.
>> Into the Wild (Time Out Istanbul) [pdf]
The spectacular landscapes around Kars beckon birdwatchers, nature-lovers and history buffs.
>> Hiking Amidst History in the Southeast (Time Out Istanbul) [pdf]
Explore the abundant natural beauty and archaeological richness of Hasankeyf.
>> Good Going: Cappadocia, Turkey (Sierra)
Witty locals call this part of central Turkey the "Love Valley," but both its human and geologic history are fraught with violence.
More culture and travel stories from other places
>> Fodor’s Go List 2018 - No. 7: Armenia (Fodor's)
This tiny Caucasus country has an outsize wealth of history, culture, and hospitality.
>> What It’s Like to Trek Across Two Countries on a Trail that Doesn’t Yet Exist (Lonely Planet)
University of Bristol student Val Ismaili initially planned to spend his summer break hiking an established long-distance trail. Instead, he ended up becoming the first person to hike the Transcaucasian Trail across Georgia and Armenia — long before the route is even completed.
>> What Is It Really Like To Run In Iran? (Women’s Running)
Despite restrictions, sports offer some freedoms to Iranian women.
>> All My Little Illusions of Safety (Salon)
After a close call with a suicide bomber in Turkey, I wondered if I was safe living abroad. But home had danger too.
>> An Independent Existence (California)
Recalling Harriet Lane Levy’s unusual, eclectic life.
>> Good Going: Waitomo, New Zealand (Sierra)
The Waitomo Caves have been a tourist draw since 1889, when the local Maori chief Ta-ne Tinorau began escorting guests through by tallow candlelight.