Istanbul by Night: a handy guidebook for exploring the city's nightlife

There is so much to see and do in Istanbul, and I know that many times when we are planning a trip, we concentrate on booking tickets to the most unique attractions, consulting maps, asking for recommendations and worrying only about the day's activities. But what about the night?

Don't worry; I want to leave you with some night options that will take you through the unique landscape illuminated with coloured lamps, sounds of drums or violins, the smell of spices and the most diverse dances of this cultural bridge between two continents.

One of the favourite plans for travellers to Istanbul is to embark on a dinner and music cruise on the Bosphorus. You will sail for about four hours through the Bosphorus strait, which connects Europe with Asia, and you will see the Bosphorus Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge or the Beylerbey Palace -

. In addition, you will enjoy a varied menu of Turkish dishes with unlimited drinks. First of all, you will be served some cold appetizers typical of the country, such as thick yoghurt with garlic and dill. And for your main course, you can choose fish or meat cooked with many of Turkey's own spices. Of course, if you are vegetarian or gluten intolerant, you will also have a specific option for you, although you will have to let us know in advance.

During the cruise, you'll see the country's main shows: a Bosphorus folk band with regional Turkish dances, a belly dancer, a Mevlevi Sema and Dervish show and the folk dance of the sword and shield. And there will also be a live international DJ - the most original way to experience Istanbul's nightlife!

Undoubtedly the liveliest and most festive street in the city. This pedestrianised avenue concentrates a large part of the nightlife you are looking for. Shops, cinemas, theatres, restaurants and cafés. Ideal for strolling along at night and enjoying a drink or a good dinner with live music and other activities.

The avenue is located in the Beyoğlu district and is one of the most popular with locals and visitors alike. In Byzantine times it was known as Grande Rue de Péra. In the past, merchants arriving from Venice and Genoa used to meet here.

Sufi dance, also known as Sema, is a ceremony of a religious current widely spread in Arab countries, in which its devotees seek spirituality and the path of truth, freed from ego and material goods.

The dancers meditate while turning on themselves, with their arms outstretched, their hands on the right open towards the sky and the left towards the earth, in order to channel the sacred energy between the two worlds. A hypnotic experience for the viewer.

While dances open to the public last approximately 45 minutes, Sufi devotees can spin for hours. Many of the tours available include a tasting of local food and drink in addition to the show.

After a hard day's work, there's nothing better than a 45-minute Turkish bath to relax you and dedicate it all to yourself. These spaces are better known in the country as Hammam, which in Arabic means "that which expels heat".

The entrance to this building of unique architecture, with more than five centuries of history, includes an exfoliation treatment and a massage. In addition, you'll also have free time to tour the hammam on your own and soak in the steam room.

If you're wondering about the best Turkish baths in Istanbul, I recommend the Suleymaniye Hammam or the Ağa Hamami which has mixed rooms to share the moment together. If you are going to visit either of these two places, you have to keep in mind that the last entrance is at 9pm. However, there are many more options, so I recommend you learn more about the best Turkish baths in Istanbul and choose which one you want to visit.

Day or night, this is one of the must-see places in the city. However, I think it is in the dark that it offers the best atmosphere.

Sultnanahmet Park is one of the busiest during the day, as it is surrounded by important monuments and tourist attractions such as the Roman Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, the Cistern Basilica, the Blue Mosque and the Egyptian Obelisk. At night the place is lit up for a light show you won't want to miss, ideal for a leisurely stroll.

There are good places to dine and if you're lucky you might catch a concert or street art exhibition. On a side note, this is one of the places where you will find many and varied accommodation options.

At 61 metres high, the Galata Tower is considered one of the oldest viewpoints in the city and a symbol of Istanbul.

From the top of the tower, you can see the Bosphorus Strait, the Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara and the Beyoğlu district, located around the building, where cafes, monuments and galleries abound and are open all year round, making it one of the favourite areas for night-time tourists.

Useful information about Beyoğlu

• Price: general admission for approx. 6 Euro (100 Turkish Lira)
• Opening hours: daily from 8.30am to midnight.
• Address: Bereketzade, Galata kulesi, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul

I recommend you to move to the Taksim neighbourhood where you will find the Independence Monument and the starting point of the Istiklal Caddesi, the most emblematic avenue of the city, with its luxurious hotels and European shops. The square is also home to the Atatürk Cultural Centre, where you can see an exhibition or a ballet performance.

The neighbourhood has a colourful gastronomic trail of the country's best-known restaurants, cafés and bars, as well as several of the city's popular nightclubs.

Another classic of the Istanbul nightlife, perfect for a break from a busy day and a good cup of tea or coffee. Smoking shisha or hookahs is one of the most popular rituals in Turkey. The tobacco used in these water pipes is special, a rarity to obtain and it is worth telling you that it is different from a cigarette or a cigar.

It is usually made up of tobacco leaves that are very well processed and mixed with caramel, vanilla or honey, to which additives are added to give the smoke a fruity and spicy flavour depending on the combination that each person wants to experience. The menu is quite extensive.

If smoking is definitely not your thing, you can also enjoy the variety of teas available or a Turkish coffee, while participating in one of the most traditional and intimate spaces of Arab culture.

I'll start by saying that this may not be a city where you'll find parties until dawn every day like in other big cities, but that doesn't mean that the city doesn't have places where you can go for cocktails, music and dancing.

Among the city's classic and most famous clubs is Babylon Istanbul, housed in a former brewery building, which is famous for its theme parties, live concerts and nights dedicated to musical genres from all over the world such as jazz, reggae, Brazilian music, electronica and rock.

Another cult club in Istanbul is the Peyote Nevizade, which offers concerts and DJ sets almost every day and is recognised as one of the most important venues for the promotion and dissemination of emerging artists in Turkey.

In the commercial heart of the city is the legendary Sapphire Tower, a 54-storey skyscraper (the third tallest in the city) with one of the most imposing observation decks in Istanbul.

From its top floor, you have a 360-degree view of the city. The terrace is open to the public until 10 p.m. and offers a genuine virtual reality show called Istanbul 4D SkyRide in which you can experience the simulation of being in a helicopter and see the main points of the city from above.

The space also has a restaurant bar, perfect for enjoying a snack or a drink on high with a panoramic view over the Bosphorus. And on the first floors of the building there is a modern shopping centre, with fashion and variety shops, as well as a multiplex cinema with a varied portfolio of Turkish and international films.

Useful information

• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.
• Address: Emniyetevleri, Eski Büyükdere Cd. No:1, 34415 Kâğıthane/İstanbul

The Balat quarter, traditionally the home of the Jewish residents of Istanbul since the old Byzantium, is one of the things to see and do on your trip to Istanbul.

Between Yildirim and Vodina Streets, close to the waterfront, the quarter's nightlife is concentrated. It is famous for its colourful houses, antique shops, synagogues, cafes and restaurants, where you can learn about the city's Jewish heritage. Visit the Merdivenli ramp with its houses and discover why this place was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you start your visit at sunset, you can also enjoy the Cifit Bazaar, the name given to the Jews during the Ottoman period, where you can pick up souvenirs and curios to take home as a souvenir. One of the city's best flea markets is available on some days. Be prepared to haggle, though. Here are some of Istanbul's other must-see neighbourhoods.

Accompanied by friendly guides and after a short induction on how to operate this friendly personal transporter, a Segway tour can be a good idea if you are short on time in the city.

This is a great way to see the most attractive sights of the city in an agile way and to enjoy Istanbul's nightlife.

I suggest you book in advance as these tours are limited to groups of maximum 9 people and last between three and four hours. The tour includes a compulsory helmet rental, a mackintosh in case of rain and stops at the most representative sites.