Istanbul by Night: a handy guidebook for exploring the city's nightlife

There is so much to see and do in Istanbul, and I know that many times when we are planning a trip, we focus on booking tickets to the most unique attractions, consulting maps, asking for recommendations and worrying only about the day's activities. But what about the night?

Don't worry; I want to leave you with some night options that will take you through the unique landscape illuminated with colorful lamps, sounds of drums or violins, the smell of spices and the most diverse dances of this cultural bridge between two continents.

One of the favorite plans of travelers to Istanbul, is to embark and take a cruise with dinner and music on the Bosphorus. You will sail for about four hours on the Bosphorus Strait, which connects Europe with Asia, and you will see the Bosphorus Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge or the Beylerbey Palace -

. In addition, you will enjoy a varied menu of Turkish dishes with unlimited drinks. First of all, you will be served some cold appetizers typical of the country, such as thick yogurt with garlic and dill. And for the main course, you can choose fish or meat cooked with many spices typical of Turkey. Of course, if you are vegetarian or gluten intolerant, you will also have a specific option for you, although you will have to let us know in advance.

During the cruise, you will see the country's main shows: a Bosphorus folk band with regional Turkish dances, a belly dancer, a Mevlevi Sema and Dervishes show and the folk dance of the sword and shield. And a live international DJ will also perform - the most original way to experience Istanbul's nightlife!

Undoubtedly the most lively and festive street of the city. Through this pedestrian avenue is concentrated much of the nightlife you are looking for. Stores, cinemas, theaters, restaurants and cafes. Ideal for walking around at night and enjoy a drink or a good dinner with live music and other activities.

The avenue is located in the Beyoğlu neighborhood and is one of the most popular among locals and visitors. In Byzantine times it was known as Grande Rue de Péra. In the past, merchants arriving from Venice and Genoa used to meet here.

Sufi dance, also known as Sema, is a ceremony typical of a religious current widely spread in Arab countries, in which its devotees seek spirituality and the path of truth, freed from ego and material goods.

The dancers meditate while turning on themselves, with their arms outstretched, the hands on the right open towards the sky and the left towards the earth, in order to channel the sacred energy between the two worlds. A hypnotic experience for the viewer.

While the dances open to the public last approximately 45 minutes, Sufi devotees can spin for hours. Many of the tours available include in addition to the show, a tasting of local foods and drinks.

After an intense day, there is nothing better than enjoying a 45-minute Turkish bath to relax and dedicate it all to yourself. These spaces are better known in the country as Hammam, whose meaning in Arabic is "that which expels heat".

The entrance to this building of unique architecture, with more than five centuries of history, includes an exfoliation treatment and a massage. In addition, you'll also have free time to tour the hammam on your own and soak in the steam room.

If you are wondering about the best Turkish baths in Istanbul, I recommend the Suleymaniye Hammam or the Ağa Hamami which has mixed rooms to share the moment together. If you are going to visit either of these two spaces, you have to keep in mind that the last entrance is at 9 pm. However, there are many more options, so I recommend you to know a little more about the best Turkish baths in Istanbul and choose which one you want to visit.

Day or night, this is one of the must-see places in the city. However, I think it is in the dark when it offers the best atmosphere.

Sultnanahmet Park is one of the busiest during the day, as in its vicinity are located important monuments and tourist attractions of the city such as the Roman Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, the Cistern Basilica, the Blue Mosque and the Egyptian Obelisk. At night the place is illuminated offering a light show that you will not want to miss, ideal for a leisurely walk.

There are good places to dine and if you are lucky you can catch a concert or street art exhibition. As a tip, this is one of the places where you will find many and varied accommodation options.

At 61 meters high, the Galata Tower is considered one of the oldest viewpoints in the city and a symbol of Istanbul.

From the top of the tower, you can see the Bosphorus Strait, the Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara and the Beyoğlu district, located around the building, where cafes, monuments and galleries abound, open all year round, constituting one of the favorite areas for night tourists.

Useful information

• Price: general admission for about €6 (100 Turkish Liras)
• Opening hours: daily from 08:30 to 24:00.
• Address: Bereketzade, Galata kulesi, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul

I recommend you to move to the Taksim neighborhood where the Independence Monument is located and the starting point of the Istiklal Caddesi, the most emblematic avenue of the city, for its luxurious hotels and European stores. In this square you will also find the Atatürk Cultural Center, where you can see an exhibition or a ballet show.

The neighborhood has a colorful gastronomic route through the most famous restaurants, cafes and bars in the country, as well as several popular nightclubs in the city.

Another classic of the Istanbul night, perfect to take a break from a busy day and have a good tea or coffee. Smoking shisha or hookah is one of the most popular rituals in Turkey. The tobacco used in these water pipes is special, a rarity to get and it is worth telling you that it is different from a cigarette or a cigar.

It is usually composed of tobacco leaves very well processed and mixed with caramel, vanilla or honey, to which additives are added to give the smoke a fruity and spicy flavor according to the combination that each person wants to experience. The menu is quite extensive.

If smoking is definitely not your thing, you can also enjoy the variety of teas available or a Turkish coffee, while participating in one of the most traditional and intimate spaces of Arab culture.

I start by telling you that maybe this is not a city where you will find every day parties until dawn like in other big cities, but that does not mean that the city does not have places where you can go to have a good cocktail, listen to music or dance.

Among the classic and most famous clubs in the city is Babylon Istanbul, which operates in the building of a former brewery, and is famous for its theme parties, live concerts and nights dedicated to musical genres from all over the world such as jazz, reggae, Brazilian music, electronica and rock.

Another cult club in Istanbul is the Peyote Nevizade, which offers concerts and DJ sets almost every day, recognized for being one of the most important places for the promotion and diffusion of emerging artists in Turkey.

In the commercial heart is the legendary Sapphire Tower, a 54-story skyscraper (the third tallest in the city) with one of the most imposing viewpoints in Istanbul.

From its top floor, you have a 360-degree view of the city. The terrace is open to the public until ten o'clock at night and offers a genuine virtual reality show called Istanbul 4D SkyRide in which you will experience the simulation of being in a helicopter watching from above the main points of the city.

The space also has a restaurant bar, perfect for enjoying a snack or a drink on the heights with a panoramic view over the Bosphorus. And on the second floors of the building operates a modern shopping mall, with fashion and variety stores, as well as a multiplex cinema with a varied portfolio of Turkish and international cinema.

Useful information

• Opening hours: monday to sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Address: Emniyetevleri, Eski Büyükdere Cd. No:1, 34415 Kâğıthane/İstanbul

The Balat neighborhood, is by tradition the place of the Jewish residents in Istanbul since the old Byzantium and one of the proposals to see and do on your trip to Istanbul.

Between Yildirim and Vodina streets, near the waterfront, the night activity of the neighborhood is concentrated. It is famous for its colorful houses, antique stores, synagogues, cafes and restaurants, where you can learn about the Jewish heritage of the city. Visit the Merdivenli ramp with its houses and discover why this place was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

If you start your visit at sunset, you can also enjoy the Cifit Bazaar, name given to the Jews during the Ottoman period, where you can get souvenirs and curious objects to take as souvenirs. Some days one of the best flea markets in the city is available. Be prepared to bargain, though. Here are some of Istanbul's other must-see neighborhoods.

Accompanied by friendly guides and after a short induction to drive this friendly personal transporter, a Segway tour can be a good idea if you have little time in the city.

This is a way to see the most attractive points of the city in an agile way and to enjoy the night of Istanbul.

I suggest you book in advance as these tours are limited to groups of maximum 9 people and last between three and four hours. The tour includes the rental of a mandatory helmet, a raincoat in case of rain and stops at the most representative sites.