Istanbul Entertainment Guide

A one-stop resource for Istanbul's culture scene

Lack of editorial comment can leave you feeling that you're wading through the Yellow Pages at times, but this site is jammed with information about services and entertainment in Istanbul, including some real What's happening is a comprehensive list of everything you'd want to do, with how, when and where to do it, and features up to date music listings, ranging from pop to opera with downloadable sound files so you can actually hear what's on offer.

Equally informative is the Exhibition section with thumbnail previews from each gallery. It's worth remembering that figurative art has traditionally been banned in the Muslim world - they have mastered geometric designs, just look at their tiles and carpets - but the notion of creating figures(thus competing with their god) is the product of a more liberal Islam and gives you some insight into what makes modern Turkey tick. Getting your head around the various influences that have shaped the fabric of this eclectic cultural crossroads is a difficult task, especially for the first time visitor, so History/Culture which tracks the development of the city from prehistory to the republic is also well worth a visit. More history, this time in bite-sized portions, is to be found in guides to the Houses of Worship and Museums.

Dotted with pictures, some of the pages are slow to load. To avoid web-rage much of the rest of the site works as a directory, useful if you are staying for a while, but otherwise fairly dry.

www.istanbulcityguide.com

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