2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide - (Page 50)

TURKEY GRENADA UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Istanbul FACTS April to November Part of Turkey (about 3 percent) lies in Europe; the rest is in Asia GETTING THERE: Delta flies to Istanbul from New York (JFK) ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: Turkish Lira LOCAL FOODS: Iskender kebabi, thin slices of spit-roasted lamb, served on a layer of pide (thin bread), tomatoes and yogurt, covered with melted butter; damat dolmasi (squash or green peppers) stuffed with ground lamb and nuts; fish is the favorite dish at waterfront restaurants BEST BUYS: Woven rugs called kilims; antique copperware; meerschaum pipes; brass samovars; jewelry galore; and Turkish carpets. INFORMATION PLEASE: goturkey.com BEST TIME TO GO: FUN FACT: A city that straddles Europe and Asia at the crossroads of commerce between two continents, Istanbul is the custodian of the monuments and traditions of two empires- the Byzantine and the Ottoman-in its churches, palaces, bazaars, grand mosques and museums. Istanbul is split down the middle by the Bosphorus Strait, placing its modern heart of business, fashionable shops, high-rise hotels, restaurants, cafes and art galleries on one shore, its most historic sites on the other. SEE: An Istanbul Museum Pass treats its holder to bypass ticket queues and access more easily Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque Aya Sofya, the Kariya Museum (Chora Church), the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, and the Great Palace Mosaics Museum. Then leave time to get lost in the Grand Bazaar and to meet thoroughly modern Turkey when browsing the contemporary art gallery scene and its Istanbul Modern Museum, with an extensive collection of Turkish 20th century art. SAVOR: Turks have been weaving rugs since the 11th century, and rugs are part of the visual, historic and cultural panorama of Turkish life. Take time to learn about them, then experience the "ceremony" of buying a Turkish carpet: it always starts with hot mint tea. STAY: Soho House Istanbul is among the newest and most interesting hotel openings. Spanning three buildings in the Beyoglu neighborhood, with the palatial Palazzo Corpi (a former U.S. consulate) at its core, Soho House features 87 rooms, two rooftop pools, a fitness center and a spa. SIGNATURE EVENT: Events not to miss include the 43rd Istanbul Music Festival, May 31 to June 29, 2016. CRUISE: Istanbul is a favorite port of call on Greek Islands cruises and longer Mediterranean cruises. Dubai One of the seven United Arab Emirates, Dubai is also the name of this thoroughly modern city and resort, which only a half-century ago was a sleepy pearl-divers' fishing village. Oil wealth, in part, fueled a booming economy and financed today's attractions-from lavish hotels and pristine beaches fringing man-made islands to sybaritic spas and mega-malls devoted to retail therapy. SEE: For the Dubai leisure visitor, there's no shortage of sightseeing attractions. One can walk the historic quarter of Bastakiya; work one's way to the excellent Dubai Museum, located in an 18th century fort; take an abra (water taxi) across the Creek that divides the city to the famous Gold Souk; visit the Jumeirah Mosque (open to non-Muslims); and cruise for a day- and snorkel along the way-aboard a traditional dhow along the Musandam Peninsula. SAVOR: Respond to the Arabian desert call and book an adults-only stay at the romantic oasis of Al Maha, a collection of 42 private villas-each with a private deck and pool-nestled among the dunes and pines of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Each guest has a private guide to arrange camel treks or dune-bashing drives. SIGNATURE EVENT: The month-long Dubai Shopping Festival, held midJanuary to mid-February. STAY: Dubai's luxury hotel choices are dazzling. Debuting in 2017 is the 234room and -suite St. Regis Dubai, located within Al Habtoor City, the Emirate's first fully integrated urban resort. CRUISE: Dubai hosts two cruise terminals, both welcoming ships sailing on the Arabian Gulf or round-the-world itineraries. 50 FACTS October to April It's all about numbers in Dubai: Burj Khalifa, the 164-floor behemoth, is the tallest manmade structure in the world-one of the fastest lifts in the world goes to the 124th floor; at 5,400,000 sq. ft., the Dubai Mall is the largest retail space in the world; and 400,000 was the number of fireworks used in Dubai's 6-minute, New Year's Eve display to welcome in 2014, a record that rocketed it into the Guinness World Records GETTING THERE: Delta flies to Dubai connecting through Amsterdam and Paris ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport; proof of roundtrip ticket transportation. A 30-day tourist visa (free) is stamped in passport upon arrival CURRENCY: The United Arab Emirates Dirham LOCAL FOODS: Dubai's local food is international food, including excellent Lebanese and Egyptian restaurants; excellent dining on Vietnamese and Indochinese specialties; and deliciously informal Indian and Pakistani curry houses in the Bur Dubai and Deira districts. Note: Because hotels have a near-monopoly on liquor licenses, they are the ever-popular dinner spots BEST BUYS: Go to the specialized souks for gold jewelry, carpets and spices; go to the massive malls for European designer clothing and accessories INFORMATION PLEASE: definitelydubai.com BEST TIME TO GO: FUN FACTS: http://www.goturkey.com http://www.definitelydubai.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide

Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Ghana
Kenya
Morocco
Nigeria
South Africa
Senegal
Tanzania
Egypt
India
Israel
Turkey
United Arab Emirates

2016 Europe, Middle East, and Africa Travel Guide