Fraser Place Antasya

Located on the upper storeys of the Antasya Residence in the Umraniye area of Istanbul, Fraser Place Antasya Istanbul offers guests stunning views of the Bosphorus Strait and the verdant woods of the nearby Ümraniye Municipality Recreation Area. More than a hotel in Istanbul, the property's chic, open-plan serviced apartments offer light and elegant spaces sure to make you feel at home. Ideal for long-stay business and leisure travellers, guests will enjoy each apartment's well-equipped kitchenette and 24/7 room service.

Staying in Istanbul

Straddling two continents and over 3,000 years of continuous habitation, Istanbul is a unique place in the world. While there's plenty of reminders of the city's role in some of the most important and defining events of the last three millennia, it is modern Istanbul that genuinely impresses, especially in the way it manages to embrace modernity without sacrificing its soul. Travel around the Golden Horn and down to the hyperactive harbourside borough of Karaköy; you'll see how the area's 16th-century mosques and thermal baths rub shoulders with avant-garde art galleries and the houses of boutique fashion labels. Far from being awkward or garish, the effect is seamless.

When it comes to culture and the arts, Istanbul has plenty to offer. The city's fifteen million residents fuel a lively art and culture scene admired the world over. World-class venues like the Istanbul Modern, Arter, and the integrated arts and entertainment precinct of Bomontiada should be on any Istanbul bucket list, while historical sites the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya and the Topkapi Palace will leave you breathless with their grandeur.

Matching Istanbul's flair for culture is its flair for food. While traditional flavours and ingredients still play a big role on the plate, increasingly Istanbul is calling to a new generation of exciting culinary talent.

City of ages

While other cities have history locked away in museums, Istanbul lives it. The best place to check out Istanbul's most important historical sites is in Istanbul's old city, located in Sultanahmet. To get to Sultanahmet from your hotel in Şişli, take the Şişli - Eminönü bus from Bomonti bus stop to the Tophane tram station, then ride it all the way to Sultanahmet station.

The capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, the city’s history fairly well rises from the ground. Two must-see sights are the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Easily two of the grandest and most awe-inspiring ancient buildings in the world, their minarets rise above Sultanahmet, as if they are holding up the sky. The Hagia Sophia dates back to the 6th Century CE, and is an important site to both the Christian and Muslim faiths, having been both cathedral and mosque over its 1500 year existence. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque - colloquially known as the Blue Mosque, is considered one of the premier mosques in the world, built in the 1600s by Sultan Ahmet to reassert Ottoman power. Likewise, the nearby Topkapi Palace is a visible expression of the power of the Ottoman sultans, and a testament to Ottoman-era art and architecture.

Afternoon Delight

There are a lot of shopfronts serving traditional Turkish sweets and pastries in Istanbul, and discovering which ones are the best is a delight all in itself. In the Küçük Pazarı area - an Ottoman-era warren of market streets - you'll find Altan Şekerleme, a traditional sweets shop that sells what is quite possibly Istanbul's best Turkish Delight. A kaleidoscope of sweets are stacked floor-to-ceiling in time-worn wooden display cupboards and on the marble counter in large jars. Buy by the weight and then head out for a wander through the caravanserai. Closer to your hotel in Istanbul you'll find stalwart Turkish pastanesi, Nazar. Don't let the low key look fool you - the profiteroles are divine.  

At home in Şişli  

Step outside the doors of your hotel in Istanbul's Şişli area, and you're in one of Istanbul's most upscale and delightfully contemporary boroughs. Şişli is known for the 5-star life it affords its residents, but you'll also find plenty of historical wonders, leafy parks, boutique shops and tasty Turkish dining. At the top end of town, Istanbul Cevahir is the grandest shopping mall in Europe and the second-largest mall in the world. The venue offers everything international from high-street brands to dining, as well as fitness and indoor play areas for the kids. For something more peaceful, enjoy a stroll through Maçka Park and then take a ride on the Maçka Gondola cable car, which connects the park to Taksim Square. Need a feed? Head to popular cafe Van Kahvalti Evi, which serves up traditional Turkish fare like gözleme and oh-so-strong Turkish Coffee.