A general overview of Istanbul and its beauty. The most visited area in town is Sultanahmet, a peninsula (known as Sarayburnu) overlooking the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. Rich in history, it is the home of Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia), the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque), Yerebatan Basilica Cistern, and the Hippodrome.
It’s the opening party of the first W in Europe. Everyone is here to celebrate the debut of Istanbul’s newest, hippest hostelry. The hotel is part of the stately Akaretler Row Houses, built by a 19th-century sultan to house his workers. After a big conversion study it now boasts sleek storefronts bearing tony international brands — Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo, Alberta Ferretti — along with upscale private residences and, as its centerpiece, the ultra-hip W.