Escape the throngs of tourists at this charming traditional restaurant near Topkapi Palace that’s good for lunch or dinner. The fish here is first-rate and in the nice weather, the outdoor tables are a real treat.  If you’re staying at the Four Seasons in the Old City, this is definitely the place to eat.

An exotic market with vendors who sell a wide variety of spices and herbs (cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme, etc.) and also pistachios, almonds, candy, dried apricots, figs, and dates.

An exotic market selling a wide variety of spices and herbs (cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme, etc.) and also wonderful pistachios, almonds, dried apricots figs and dates.

The cascading domes and four slender minarets of this mosque dominate the skyline on the Golden Horn’s west bank.  Considered the most beautiful of all imperial mosques in Istanbul, it was built between 1550 and 1557 during the Ottoman Empire’s golden age.

This modern small café located in the Grand Bazaar is a convenient choice for a sandwich or salad or just a rejuvenating cup of coffee.

This lively restaurant with it’s blue-tiled interior is a remnant of old Istanbul. Located upstairs from the Spice Bazaar in the Old City, it’s a very convenient spot to enjoy meze and other traditional Turkish dishes. The focus is on meat dishes.