Experience cosmopolitan Istanbul as a local in the know. The first W Hotel in Europe is the center of the historic Akaretler Row Houses, a hip and trendy district.Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul . . . an empire by any name and still as historical, beautiful, glorious, triumphant and architecturally stunning. From the labyrinthine passages of the ancient and bustling Grand Bazaar to the trendy and restored Akaretler Row houses and boutiques, traditional Turkish hamams to stunning Bosphorus, cozy hookah lounges to modern rooftop bars, fascinating mosques to avant-garde nightlife hot spots, the W Istanbul holds court in the heart of it all. A modern and stylish iconic landmark, most sights, shopping and supping are minutes from the hotel, by two feet or four wheels. Old World, meet New World.

Lose yourself in the Bazaar Quarter's maze of interconnecting vaults and walkways, the world's oldest shopping malls for connoisseurs of retail therapy featuring lush fabrics, fascinating spices, artisanal crafts and antique trinkets. Or browse exclusive boutiques by Paul Smith, Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo, Fred Perry, Lanvin and others in the Akaretler Row, where you'll discover another of the city's empires—fashion. Soak in more history in the Sultanahmet district, from the wondrous Hippodrome to the old imperial Topkapı and Dolmabahçe palaces, underground Yerebatan Cistern, Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia. Intersperse your explorations with cultural respites at institutions such as the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, Istanbul Modern, Archaeology Museum, Rahmi M Koç Museum and yes, even the UFO Museum.

Not only will you experience worlds and centuries in a day, you'll cross continents, too. The Bosphorus Bridge spans Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus and is one of the best vantage points from which to take in the spectacular cityscape of cascading domes, glittering minarets and sparkling skyscrapers aglow in golden Mediterranean sunshine or magical night lights. Find romance on the magical Galata Bridge, a protagonist in the most famous Turkish literature, theater and poetry.

As fairy lights strung above tea gardens bestow a magical glow, raise a glass of raki as you savor the mysterious aroma of hookah or be entranced by the exuberant shimmy of belly dancing. Fall under the spell of exotic mysticism, and stay for the crusade to fill your senses with the legacy of Old World wonderment.

Getting Here

By Bus

A variety of airport shuttle buses run regularly from both Ataturk (IST) and Sabiha (SAW) airports regularly throughout the day and evening (frequency may be lower after 7pm for certain services), starting at €5 per passenger, depending on service and type of shuttle – for example, door-to-door service will cost more than a general drop-off in the Taksim downtown area. It takes approximately 50 minutes to get to the city from the airport.

By Train

Take the M1 Aksaray-Havalimani line to Aksaray. Transfer to the T1 Zeytinburnu-Kabatas line and get off at the Kabatas stop, the last on the line. The hotel is five minutes by taxi or a 15-minute walk from Kabatas. The entire journey should take between 20 to 35 minutes.* Besiktas - 0.5 km

* Sirkeci Station - 5 km

* Aiport - 25 km

* Dolmabahce Palace - 0.2 km

* Lutfi Kirdar - 1.6 km

* Nisantasi - 1.5 km