A bit to the east of fashionable Taksim, in the shadow of the Bosphorous Bridge, lies one of modern Istanbul's most charming neighborhoods. Ortaköy is abuzz with art galleries and cafés, including several that front on the Bosphorous and offer beautiful views of the park across the water on the Asian side, as well as the endless procession of boats plying between the Mediterranean and Caspian seas.

You'll also find a square full of vendors cooking local snacks, as well as a bounty of artists and craftspeople selling their creations.

Getting there

Take the funicular (if coming from Taksim Square) or tram to Kabataş. From there, take a bus to Ortaköy.