Culture Vultures

Culture seekers have plenty to accomplish in a short time frame.

Intrepid Travel and Tours by locals offer many historical and food-focused tours around the city. Cooking Alaturka provides a window into Turkish cuisine, with an opportunity to learn to prepare your favorite mouthwatering delicacies. For the ultimate experiential involvement, Mealsharing.com allows guests to dine in the home of a local.

Catch a whirling dervish spiritual ceremony ($ 25-$ 30) at the Galata Mevlevi Museum. Once done for religious and meditative reasons, this ceremony is now a cultural main event. For more information on performances and workshops in other locations, contact Les Arts Turcs.

No trip to Istanbul would be complete without a visit to a Turkish sauna, or hammam, an integral part of Turkish life that descends from the luxurious spas of the ancient Ottoman sultans. One of the best is the meticulous Kiliç Ali Pasa Hamami, which dates back to the 16th century.

The Pera Palace Hotel, the history- laden grand dame of Istanbul, opened its doors during the genesis of modern Turkey at the end of the 19th century and has been restored to its original elegance. Agatha Christie wrote parts of Murder on the Orient Express in Room 411, and you can sit on the barstool where Ernest Hemingway sat when he visited Istanbul. English High Tea at the Pera Palace ($25) is a splendid distraction from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

You will not want to miss a visit to the distinguished Çiragan Palace. The 17th- century palace is now a five- star Kempinski hotel where you can experience a classic Sultan's Dinner while overlooking the Bosphorus.