Time Out Shortlist: Instanbul

<div>Visually stunning and spanning two continents, Istanbul lies on a cultural fault line. Evidence of its pivotal historical role &#151; from the Byzantine era, through the glories of the Ottoman period, to age of Ataturk&#8217;s distinctive modernity &#151; is reflected in the city&#8217;s architecture. Those in search of the old Orient don&#8217;t have to look far: the minarets of the curvaceous Blue Mosque, the Topkap&#305; Palace, old men drinking tea in the recesses of the Grand Bazaar are all here, and respected by the modern city. But there is another side to the city. The Istanbul of today manages the trick of combining age-old, much-appreciated glories with modern worldwide cultural trends. <i>Time Out Shortlist Istanbul&#8217;s</i> locally based writers are ideally placed to guide readers through the fashionable restaurants, innovative music and lively bar and nightlife scenes that are an integral part of modern Istanbul, a city that not only survives, but thrives, as a synthesis of cultures.</div>

Founded in 1968, Time Out has grown from humble beginnings into the leading resource for anyone wanting to know what's happening in the world's greatest cities. Alongside our influential weeklies in London, New York, Chicago and Dubai, we publish more than 20 magazines in cities as varied as Beijing and Beirut; a range of travel books, with City Guides now joined by pocket-sized Shortlist series; and an information-packed website. The company remains proudly independent, still owned by Tony Elliott four decades after he launched Time Out London. Written by local experts, and illustrated with original photography, our books also retain their independence. No business has been featured because it has advertised, and all restaurants and bars are visited and reviewed anonymously.