In this issue

Having settled in our comfort zones during the colder months, we tend to welcome spring with a blend of excitement as well as uncertainty. It’s the time of the year—this year even more so—when nothing should be taken for granted: the weather, local election results, whether you can reach the new airport in time to make your flight, among other things.

As human nature has it, witnessing and participating in so many new experiences at once tends to make us uncomfortable, and therefore we question the times when “new” actually equals “better.” This endless pros and cons of change are debated by Istanbulites in every corner of the city; over a glass of rakı, as well as a glass of tea. In the meantime, between those “what-ifs” and “should-haves,” the seasons soon change again, bringing summer to our doorstep.

In the course of a lively debate it is easy to let this season slip between the fingers. We might even forget that spring is the most beautiful time of the year to explore Istanbul, and too precious to waste on wondering how we feel about a change that’s already happened. Instead of talking about it—embrace it. The new, just like the seasons, has its mysterious way of working in everyone’s favor.

The Guide Istanbul Magazine Description:

The Guide Istanbul, founded in November 1991 and published bimonthly by Apa Uniprint, is an essential guide to the city, offering candid recommendations and expert advice on restaurants and cafés, nightlife, the arts and entertainment scene, as well as design, fashion, touristic sites, and undiscovered places. We are a publication based on the principles of unwavering honesty and an insistence upon quality. Our goal is to simplify choices and make life easier for travelers as well as locals by providing information on select venues and events. All of our writers are locally based and offer insider advice on what to see and do in the city.

The official website of The Guide Istanbul magazine, theguideistanbul.com is a sharp, sophisticated, and trustworthy filter for the city’s happenings, and offers comprehensive listings of restaurants, bars, hotels, and more. The locally sourced information is written and edited by experienced writers who are in the know and dedicated to offering their wisdom impartially. We value quality over quantity and we are selective when it comes to our recommendations: we scour all the corners of Istanbul with a critical eye and recommend only what we rate positively amongst ourselves. The first of its kind, theguideistanbul.com aims to enrich your Istanbul experience and share its wealth of information to bring you the true essence of Istanbul and those gems that might otherwise get overlooked.