What we’d plan today
Take inspiration from the couple’s reported sightseeing and tick off the city’s most impressive historical sites. Spend a morning admiring the world-famous floral tiles and expansive domes of the Blue Mosque, or while away a day shopping for textiles, jewellery or other treasures at the Grand Bazaar, where haggling is part of the fun.
Book a table at Aheste in Beyoğlu to sample their incredible tasting menu. For cocktails, it has to be Wolfgang Puck’s Spago Istanbul - situated on top of the St Regis Hotel, its rooftop patio is the ideal setting for a memorable date night. For late-night DJ sets and a buzzy atmosphere, Tone is the new opening that’s fast becoming an insider favourite.
Make time for a traditional Turkish massage at Hürrem Sultan Hammam, a 16th-century bathhouse originally commissioned by Hürrem Sultan, the consort and wife of the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. The two-hour experience balances relaxation and detoxification, with hot, warm and cold rooms all designed to work in harmony. You’ll emerge feeling impossibly fresh and rejuvenated.
If you’re on the hunt for antiques, you’d better make some room in your itinerary for a trip to Çukurcuma, a neighbourhood that is known for its vintage treasures. Head here to peruse everything from furniture and paintings to little trinkets – there is a great mix of serious antiques and more bohemian arty bits.
The 374 verdict
History by day, dinners worth dressing up for and a former Ottoman palace to sleep in - Carolyn and John had the right idea by choosing Istanbul - and you don’t need a Kennedy-sized entourage to borrow it. Take your cue from the couple and give the city a few days of your undivided attention before slipping away somewhere quieter, preferably with a sea view and very few plans.
