Sultanahmet / Cankurtaran: The Traveler's Hub in Istanbul

The part of Old Istanbul where travelers, particularly the backpacker sort, like to congregate is often referred to as Sultanahmet, after the name of the Blue Mosque, which is the area's most famous landmark. However, most of the inns, cafes and souvenir shops actually occupy the area adjoining Sultanahmet, called Cankurtaran.

It only struck me while perusing our photos of the trip how fond of the color yellow the folks at Cankurtaran are. A good number of the inns in the area sport the color in various shades, something that no doubt adds to the bright and vibrant aura of the place.

Terraces with Bosphorus views are de rigeur for inns and restaurants in the area. They are delightful spots to have a leisurely breakfast or to watch the setting sun with drink in hand.

The night life in the area is pretty mild and mellow. You can take your pick from the many little cafes and cay bahcesi (teahouses), like Cafe Mesale in Arasta Bazaar, shown here, where you can smoke a nargileh (hookah or waterpipe) and catch a whirling dervish performance (don't expect real dervishes though -- this is purely geared for tourists).