Bodrum★★★★★
Mandarin Oriental Bodrum
A polished beachfront resort set above its own bay on the Aegean, with two private beaches, olive-clad gardens and a long infinity pool looking out to sea.
- Private beaches
- Infinity pool
- Spa
- Dining
- Marina
Why we love it
Istanbul straddles two continents, with great bazaars, mosques and the Bosphorus.
We shape the journey around the season, the right places to stay and the way you like to travel, pairing it beautifully with the Turquoise Coast where it suits.
the city, slowly
Best for
Culture, bazaars, food
Best time
April to June, September to November
Style
Historic, vibrant, atmospheric
Pair with
the Turquoise Coast
Atlas note
We tailor the routing, the stays and the pace entirely around you.
the city, slowly
The galleries, the tables and the quiet corners only locals know.
Where to stay
The hotels we recommend in Istanbul.
A handful of stays we would book first, each arranged as part of a bespoke itinerary shaped around you.
Swipe to explore · the stays we would book first
Bodrum★★★★★
Scorpios Bodrum
A design-led beach club and retreat on a quiet stone-clad cove, bohemian and social by day, with stylish villas and sun-decks set right above the clear water.
- Beach club
- Sea swimming
- Wellness
- Dining
- Villas
Bodrum★★★★★
Lujo Bodrum
An all-inclusive luxury resort tumbling down to its own bay, with lagoon pools, a sandy beach lined with cabanas and a sweeping infinity pool over the water.
- Private beach
- Pools
- Spa
- Dining
- All-inclusive
Cappadocia★★★★★
Avantgarde Refined Caves of Cappadocia
Refined cave suites carved into the fairy-chimney landscape, with honey-stone courtyards and terraces made for the sunrise balloons that drift over the valley.
- Cave suites
- Balloon views
- Spa
- Dining
- Terraces
Antalya★★★★★
Regnum The Crown
A grand resort on the Mediterranean coast, with a vast sand-edged pool above the beach, soaring interiors and sea-view suites just along from the old town.
- Beachfront
- Pools
- Spa
- Dining
- Sea-view suites
The places
Where to go in Turkey.
The corners of Turkey we know best, what to see in each, when to go and how we would shape the days. Swipe each card for more, and open the panels for the detail.
Swipe to explore · the places worth knowing
Istanbul · the historic heart
Sultanahmet
The old city, where the great monuments stand within a short walk of one another. Sultanahmet pairs Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque with Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern and the lanes of the Grand Bazaar.
Don't miss
- Hagia Sophia
- The Blue Mosque
- Topkapi Palace
- The Basilica Cistern
- The Grand Bazaar
- The Hippodrome
Istanbul · the strait between continents
The Bosphorus
The waterway that divides Europe from Asia, lined with palaces, waterfront mansions and long views. The Bosphorus is best seen from the water, by ferry or private boat, with fish lunches and tea on the shore.
Don't miss
- Dolmabahce Palace
- A Bosphorus cruise
- The waterfront yali
- Ortakoy
- Rumeli Fortress
- Sunset on the strait
Istanbul · the modern quarter
Beyoglu & Galata
The contemporary side of the city, all design hotels, galleries and rooftop bars. Beyoglu and Galata gather the Galata Tower, the boutiques of Karakoy and the long pedestrian sweep of Istiklal Avenue.
Don't miss
- The Galata Tower
- Istiklal Avenue
- Karakoy's tables
- The meyhane dinners
- Rooftop bars
- The design galleries
The Sea of Marmara · a car-free escape
Princes' Islands
A cluster of car-free islands a short ferry from the city, all pine woods and wooden mansions. The Princes' Islands offer horse-drawn calm, sea-swept bays and long, unhurried lunches well away from the crowds.
Don't miss
- Buyukada
- The wooden mansions
- Bicycle days
- Pine-shaded coves
- Heybeliada
- Seafront lunches
Signature experiences
Once in a lifetime.
The rare days we open up across Turkey, from the famous to the few-ever-see. Each one arranged privately, as part of your journey.
Swipe to explore · rare days out
Sultanahmet · before the gates open
A private Hagia Sophia and Topkapi visit
An expert historian leads you through the great monuments out of hours, all but to yourselves.
Cappadocia · at first light
A dawn balloon over Cappadocia
Lift off as the sun rises over the fairy chimneys, then a Champagne breakfast on landing.
The Bosphorus · after dark
A private Bosphorus yacht evening
Your own crewed yacht along the strait at dusk, the palaces and bridges lit up on both shores.
The Turquoise Coast · under sail
A private gulet along the Turquoise Coast
A crewed wooden gulet to drift the southern bays at your own pace, anchoring in coves few ever reach.
The Aegean · with an archaeologist
A private morning at ancient Ephesus
Walk the marble streets of the great Roman city with a classicist, ahead of the day's crowds.
Istanbul · an Ottoman ritual
A private hammam ritual
The full bathing ceremony reserved for you alone, in a beautifully restored Ottoman hammam.
Istanbul · from market to table
A market and rooftop feast with a chef
Shop the spice market with a celebrated cook, then a long dinner on a rooftop above the old city.
Pamukkale · the cotton castle
A quiet morning on the Pamukkale terraces
The white travertine pools and the ruins of Hierapolis above, arranged for the calm of early light.
Things to do
What to do in Istanbul.
The icons worth seeing, and the rare, one-off experiences we can quietly open up for you.
Not to be missed
- Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
- Haggle in the Grand Bazaar
- A Bosphorus ferry at sunset
- A traditional hammam
Rare & remarkable · by private arrangement
Beyond the obvious.
The experiences we quietly open up for travellers who want something few others will ever have.
- A private yacht dinner on the Bosphorus
- An after-hours tour of Topkapi Palace
- A private rooftop feast with a Turkish chef
In frames
Istanbul, in frames.
A few moments to set the mood. Click any image to view it larger.
Good to know
Istanbul, answered.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
April to June, September to November. We will refine the timing around your dates, the weather and the wider journey.
Who is Istanbul best suited to?
Culture, bazaars, food. Tell us how you like to travel and we will tell you, honestly, whether it is the one.
Can Atlas&Co. arrange the full Istanbul itinerary?
Yes. We shape the whole journey, including the stays, transfers, guides and the details, and can pair it beautifully with the Turquoise Coast.
shall we?
Every Istanbul journey we plan is private and made to measure.
Tell us your dates and how you like to travel, and we will shape the stays, the routing and the details around you.