From the unique SPA to the best restaurants: 6 reasons to spend your vacation in Istanbul

You can find a basic route to Istanbul’s historical places in any tourist guide. We’ll tell you what else you can do in the former capital of the Ottoman Empire to make your trip truly unforgettable!

To make your vacation as comfortable as possible, it is important to first choose accommodation that is advantageously located in relation to the city’s main attractions.

One of these successful accommodation options is the five-star CVK Park Bosphorus, which surprisingly combines the luxury of the past, the privileges of the present and the speed of the future. It is ideally located in the center of the European part of historical Istanbul, in the Taksim-Gumushsuyu district, from where you can easily reach the most must-see places in Istanbul, even on foot.

The history of CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel Istanbul began in the late 19th century, when Italian ambassador Baron Blanc built a mansion for his country’s embassy. A little later, the mansion was purchased by Abdulhamid II and transformed into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ottoman Empire, and then only into a hotel.

In addition to a magnificent view of the Bosphorus, elegant rooms in pastel colors and marble, as well as delicious cuisine, the hotel has another atmospheric feature. Each floor here is named after the wives of the sultans, who left a significant mark on the history of the Ottoman Empire, and the halls on the floors are decorated with their luxurious costumes of that era. You can start discovering the history of the city before you even leave the hotel!

The energy of the famous Istiklal Street is literally off the charts, so if you want to experience Istanbul in all its colors, then this is definitely the place for you. This world-famous shopping avenue is always noisy and crowded, no matter what season of the year or time of day it is. Most of the shops here are open until late at night, so you can easily combine walking and shopping.

Prime: The recognizable red retro-trauma carriage runs down the street every 7 minutes from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., so you’ll definitely have time to take a colorful photo or video with it for social media.

It is one thing to explore the city from the inside, walking through its streets, and another to enjoy it from the height of the flight of the seagulls, which are the main symbol of Istanbul after cats.

In a budget option, you can simply go to the observation deck, but it is much cooler to spend one of the evenings at the panoramic restaurant Izaka Terrace. It is located on the largest hotel terrace in Turkey, accommodating up to a thousand people, owned by CVK Park Bosphorus.

At the restaurant, you can not only watch the sunset, admire the Bosphorus at night and the city’s main attractions, but also get a taste of Istanbul itself. The chef here is Serhat Elisora, winner of the prestigious Bocuse d’Or Turkey gastronomic competition, who has developed his own menu, inspired by the city’s rich history. This is how everything appeared there: from hearty Turkish kebabs to dishes and snacks based on the freshest Mediterranean fish and seafood.

Perhaps even those who in ordinary life do not consider themselves to be gourmands cannot help but eat oriental delicacies in Istanbul. And it’s definitely worth trying them, because here they are the freshest and most natural.

You can find baklava generously soaked in syrup and aromatic Turkish delight in almost every point of the city, but we recommend not experimenting and trusting trusted places.

One of them is the Park Patisserie confectionery at CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel. Here you can not only enjoy desserts with a cup of Turkish coffee, but also buy oriental treats to bring to your loved ones as a delicious souvenir.

Recently, a new gastronomic point has appeared on the city map, which will certainly be appreciated by all lovers of authentic Far Eastern cuisine. This is the premium restaurant Kumiko Sushi & More, located on the ground floor of the CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel.

The authors of the project were inspired by the philosophy of ancient Japanese wood craftsmanship, where each piece is skillfully fastened together without the use of nails. The interior of the restaurant is designed in a minimalist style using natural wood and marble.

The menu is also thought out to the smallest detail, and special attention is paid to the combination of products and unusual presentation. Therefore, if during your trip you get a little tired of Turkish cuisine, then you know exactly where to soothe your soul with fresh rolls and hearty Asian noodles.

The best trip is one that combines active walks around the city with a relaxing vacation. Be prepared, you will definitely have to walk a lot in Istanbul, so recovery will definitely not be an unnecessary part of the program.

You can do it quickly and pleasantly in the largest spa center in the city, Safira Spa & Fitness, located in the five-star CVK Park Bosphorus Istanbul hotel. It is unique not only in its size, but also in the VIP Spa concept, implemented for the first time in Turkey. We are talking about the presence of water areas and a fitness center for both men and women, and only for women.

Here you can enjoy a relaxing or healing massage, visit a real Turkish bath and, on particularly hot days, swim in the large swimming pool. Moreover, it is equipped with a canopy that opens and closes depending on the season, so the swimsuit will be useful at any time of the year!

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