Entertainment
Whatever the season or the weather there is always something to do and see in Istanbul 24 hours a day. In spring and summer time, festivals follow closely on each other’s heels, starting with the International Istanbul Film Festival in April. The International Istanbul Theatre Festival, Fujifilm World Music Days, the International Istanbul Puppet Festival, and Conquest Week Celebrations are held in May, and the International Istanbul Music Festival and the International Bosphorus Festival kick off in June. The three-day H2000 Festival is also held in June. The International Istanbul Jazz Festival and the Rumeli Hisarı Concerts liven up July and August, and the J&B Dance & Techno Festival rounds off the season in September. The coming of autumn brings the Istanbul International Biennial, Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon supported by the Hash House Harriers, Akbank Jazz Festival, ARTIST: Istanbul Art Fair, and the Efes Pilsen Blues Festival.
Tickets are easily found at the Atatürk Cultural Centre (Atatürk Kültür Merkezi or simply "AKM"), Vakko or Raksotek for most cultural events. Biletix and Mydonose sell tickets for most performances over the phone and on the Internet. Bar and café windows carry fliers and posters of coming events, and there are always plenty of posters plastered all over the streets. Daily cinema listings in Turkish can be found in the newspapers.
Cinema
Although there are almost 100 movie theaters in Istanbul, Beyoğlu is the most popular place to catch a film. Fitas is the largest of eleven cinemas in the area, Emek the most elegant, and Alkazar is great for alternative films. Lale and Sinepop are newer, more modern buildings, and Beyoğlu, Atlas, and Pera cinemas are hidden in bustling shopping arcades. For arty films try Yeşilcam, Akademi İstanbul, or the Tarık Zafer Tunaya Kültür Merkezi (Tarık Zafer Tunaya Cultural Centre). Many of the cultural centers also have their own private screens, and program listings can be found in the press.
Theater
The attitude toward theater has undergone a radical transformation in recent years, and the number of theaters in the city is increasing constantly. The Istanbul State Theatre Company offers a broad program of classic and contemporary productions (including Turkish works) which are performed regularly in five theaters: try Taksim Sahnesi and the AKM for starters. More alternative performances can be found at the Istanbul Sanat Merkezi, where the co-operation of five different theater companies makes for some interesting entertainment. Look out for performances by Kum Pan Ya, Orta Oyuncular, Stüdyo Theatre, Tiyatro Oyunevi, and Oyuncular.
Art Galleries
The main street in Beyoğlu, İstiklal Caddesi, is packed with art galleries, most displaying contemporary works. International artists and mixed exhibitions feature regularly. Every bank has an art gallery or cultural center open to the public. Some of the better ones are the Aksanat Art Centre, Borusan Culture & Art Centre, Platform Garanti Contemporary Art Center, and Yapı Kredi Kazım. Check out Galatea Art Gallery, Dulcinea and Galeri Apel (all private galleries) in the winding backstreets. The Maçka, Tesvikiye Nişantaşı area is also rich in modern art with Gallery Baraz, Gallery Nev, Kas Art Gallery, Milli Insurance Art Gallery, the Pamukbank Photo Gallery, Tem Art Gallery, and the Tesvikiye Art Gallery.
Live Music
Istanbulites flock in droves to live concerts at open-air venues such as the Cemal Toplu Open Air Amphitheatre in Harbiye, Park Orman in Maslak, and various sporting arenas where live international concerts are held. Local rock and metal bands perform live in bars like Hayal Kahvesi, Jazz Stop, Kemanci, and Mojo. Roxy hosts a wide variety of live music, and for world music head to Shaman. Jazz fans will love Gramofon, Kerem Görsev Jazz Bar, and the opulent Q Jazz Club at Çırağan Palace.
Ballet and Opera
Turkey has no long tradition of Western performing arts, and opera and ballet remain the preserve of the upper classes or educated elite. The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Company do their best to provide a full program every month despite a severe lack of funds and public support. Classics such as The Nutcracker Suite, Swan Lake, and Carmen are performed regularly. You can afford to miss them.
Classical Music
Classical music remains an alien art form in Istanbul. While the International Istanbul Music Festival brings together internationally acclaimed musicians and local musicians, large audiences are still hard to come by. For a decent dose of classical culture try the Atatürk Cultural Centre, Hacı Ömer Hall, and the Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall where regular performances by the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Akbank Chamber Orchestra, and Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra take place. The Aya İrini is also a magical location for local and international classical music performances.
Museums
Planning to visit all the museums in Istanbul can be a monumental task. Some of the best ones include the fascinating Archaeology Museum and the intriguing Rahmi M Koç Industrial Museum with all its interactive displays. For history buffs, the Kariye Müzesi (Chora Church), the Mosaic Museum, the Calligraphy Museum, and the Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts would be the places to start. For modern and military history try the Atatürk Museum, the Naval Museum, and the Military Museum. The Sabanci Collection houses a magnificent display of Ottoman art, and the Vakiflar Carpet Museum is perfect for rug enthusiasts!
Sightseeing
Pretty much everywhere you turn in the city, historical sites abound. It’s impossible to see all of them, but some that shouldn’t be missed are the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), Topkapı Palace, Yerebatan Basilica Cistern, and the Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia). The Bosphorus cruise to Anadolu Kavaği is fabulously relaxing. Çırağan Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace are both in Beşiktaş. Some of the most beautiful mosques are the Süleymaniye Mosque, Fatih Mosque, and the picturesque Ortaköy Mosque under the Bosphorus Bridge. Stroll around the At Meydanı (Hippodrome), Soğukçeşme Street, and Gülhane, or picnic in the enormous Yıldız Parkı (Yıldız Park). Visit the great fortress of Rumeli Hisarı overlooking the Bosphorus, or shop until you drop in the Grand Bazaar. Kız Kulesi and Beylerbeyi Palace can be found on the Asian side.
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