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It’s hardly surprising that Istanbul, a city of some 15m inhabitants, straddling two continents and with a fascinating past stretching back into prehistory, should have more than its fair share of offbeat things to do.

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Visits to the iconic Hagia Sophia cathedral and the monumental Blue Mosque are obligatory, as is exploring the magnificent Topkapı Palace complex. But do make time between the big-hitters to revel in Istanbul’s more idiosyncratic offerings: pigeons tumbling by a Byzantine palace, dervishes whirling in the Orient Express station, dawn sculling on the Golden Horn and Trotsky’s old home on the picturesque Princes’ Islands. Terry Richardson, author of the Rough Guide to Istanbul, lists his favourite unusual things to do in the city and we pick out some incredible experiences you can book yourself right now.

Watch dervishes whirl in the terminal station of the Orient Express

Founded by the Mevlana (AKA Rumi) in the 13th century, the followers of the Mevlevi branch of Sufi Islam are better known in the West as whirling dervishes. Watching them spin in synchronised unison to focus more clearly on God is a mesmerising experience, especially with hypnotic traditional Sufi music playing in the background. The incongruous venue, the waiting room of the late 19th-century Sirkeci Station, once the terminus of the fabled Paris-Constantinople Orient Express, only adds to the quirky charm. Terry Richardson

Row on the Golden Horn

Few visitors leave Istanbul without a ride across to Asia or up the continent-dividing Bosphorus Strait on one of the city’s iconic ferries, but only a handful get more intimate with the waters running through its historic heart. Sculling a lightweight rowboat along the calm waters of one of the world’s greatest natural harbours, and watching the domes and minarets of the city’s skyline emerge from darkness into the pink light of dawn is a magical experience. Go to Istanbul Tour Studio to find out how to do it. Terry Richardson

Istanbul Hodjapasha Rhythm of The Dance Show

Historical Landmark

Experience an electrifying evening at the “Rhythm of the Dance” show at Istanbul’s Hodjapasha Culture Center. This vibrant performance features belly dancers, harem dances, folklore acts, and stunning costumes, all enhanced by live music and 360-degree video projections. Held in a 15th-century hamam transformed into a cultural venue, it’s a delightful experience for the entire family, blending rich history with dynamic entertainment. Prebooking your tickets ensures you won’t miss this captivating display.

Istanbul Turkish Bath in Ottoman Style at Hammam with Drinks

Historical Landmark

Experience a traditional Turkish bath in a 600-year-old hammam, designed by the renowned architect of the Topkapi Palace. Enjoy the luxury of a private room, disinfected for your safety, with options for steam and scrub services. Enhance your relaxation with optional massages, and benefit from convenient round-trip private transfers. This setting is ideal for architecture enthusiasts and offers a customizable schedule for a stress-free, historic spa experience.

Go underground in Istanbul’s Byzantine cisterns

Of all Istanbul’s surviving Byzantine-era (330–1453AD) cisterns, the cavernous, atmospherically lit Basilica Cistern, in the heart of touristy Sultanahmet, is the most special. After visiting it, and for a different experience, head to the recently renovated Serefiye Cistern. This veritable forest of beautifully carved marble columns is exquisitely lit and free to enter. Even further off the beaten track, in the ultra-conservative district of Fatih, is the Sultan Sarnıçı. Its brick vaults, marble columns and intricately carved capitals come to life at weekends, when it hosts various events. Entry is also free, and just opposite is the massive Aspar Cistern, once a reservoir for the city but today a busy park. Terry Richardson

Sample a fresh-fish sandwich by the Galata Bridge

Spanning the Golden Horn and linking the tourist heartlands on the historic peninsula with the bustling entertainment districts of Karaköy and Beyoğlu, the Galata Bridge and its surroundings are so busy they form a microcosm of the city itself. Read Dutch writer Geert Mak’s The Bridge to find out all about the colourful characters to whom the bridge is home. No visit is complete without sampling a street-food fish sandwich, a charcoal-grilled fillet of mackerel slapped into a half loaf of fresh white spread and garnished with onion, tomato, rocket and sumac. They’re sold from boats or stalls on both the Eminönü and Karaköy sides of the bridge for around €2. Terry Richardson

Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop with a Mosaic Lamp Artist

Historical Landmark

Craft your own Turkish mosaic lamp in this creative workshop in Istanbul. Enjoy the support of an instructor as you choose from over 50 colors of glass. The experience includes unlimited tea and Turkish delight, adding a cultural touch as you create. Select from various time slots to suit your schedule, and take home a unique, self-made lamp, beautifully packaged for transport.

Pigeons, not walls, come tumbling down

We doubt there’s a pigeon market in the world that has a better backdrop than the one in Istanbul’s Fatih district, where pigeon fanciers congregate each Saturday on a dusty lot next to the 5th-century Walls of Theodosius, arguably the greatest and most successful city walls ever built, and the once-grandiose Byzantine Palace of Porphyrogenitus. Prospective customers inspect a bird that takes their fancy with great care – not surprisingly, for these are mainly working-class men and the birds sometimes fetch hundreds of dollars. If you’re lucky, you may get to see one do its stuff, which is not racing but mid-air tumbling and other aerial acrobatics accompanied by claps of the owner’s hands. Terry Richardson

Cigarette butts and a Nobel Prize winner

He’s run foul of the Turkish authorities for his outspoken views on Armenians and Kurds and faced death threats from ultra-nationalists for his views; in 2006, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. What the mild-mannered Istanbulite intellectual Orhan Pamuk makes of all this is uncertain, but he certainly maintained his record for controversy when he opened the bizarre Museum of Innocence in the trendy Cukurcuma district of Beyoğlu in 2012. Based on objects that featured in his page-heavy Museum of Innocence novel, including hundreds of cigarette ends smoked by its star-crossed lovers, it’s a bold statement in a city that is far more conformist than might first appear. Terry Richardson

Two Markets, Two Continents with Culinary Backstreets

Historical Landmark

Embark on a full-day culinary journey through Istanbul, exploring hidden gems and local favorites across both the European and Asian sides of the city, including Karakoy, Kadikoy, and Moda. This intimate small-group tour is capped at 7 people, ensuring a personalized experience. Enjoy two meals, various snacks, and unlimited tea and coffee, discovering a diverse array of flavors that define Istanbul’s rich food culture.Embark on a full-day culinary journey through Istanbul, exploring hidden gems and local favorites across both the European and Asian sides of the city, including Karakoy, Kadikoy, and Moda. This intimate small-group tour is capped at 7 people, ensuring a personalized experience. Enjoy two meals, various snacks, and unlimited tea and coffee, discovering a diverse array of flavors that define Istanbul’s rich food culture.

Turkish coffee Making and Fortune Telling Workshop

Historical Landmark

Immerse yourself in the rich tradition of Turkish coffee on this interactive experience in Istanbul. Starting with a cultural presentation on coffee’s history, you’ll participate in a hands-on workshop to grind beans and brew your own coffee using a cezve. Enjoy a session of coffee talk and fortune telling from your cup’s grounds. You’ll conclude the session by taking home a Turkish Coffee set, complete with all the essentials to recreate the experience.

Seek out Trotsky’s house on the ‘Big Island’

That Marxist revolutionary Leon Trotsky spent years in exile (and was eventually assassinated) in Mexico is well known to many, in no small part owing to his association with the artist Frida Kahlo. Fewer, though, know that he spent four years on Büyük Ada (literally ‘Big Island’) in the Sea of Marmara, today just an hour’s ferry ride from Istanbul. It’s a pine-covered, hilly island famed for its fin de siècle houses, horse-drawn carriages and swimming spots. The Yanaros mansion where he wrote A History of the Russian Revolution is currently empty, crumbling and awaiting a buyer – and may one day become a museum. Identifying the house is an adventure in itself. Terry Richardson

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