10 Things to Do in Istanbul at Christmas

With a large part of the country's population of Muslim faith, I want to tell you that Turkey doesn't celebrate Christmas as you may know it, so you may be surprised to see everything running as normal on 25 December. But that's not to say that the city isn't decked out and lit up for the season.

You'll also be pleased to know that this is a very peaceful time of year to leisurely visit the architectural and historical wonders, as the tourist crowds have passed and you can get a special view of the transcontinental night in old Constantinople, adorned with snow. An ideal time then to enjoy all there is to see and do in Istanbul.

One of the first things you'll notice is that 24 and 25 December are normal working days. With a predominantly Muslim population, the birth of Jesus is not celebrated.

However, many neighbourhoods in Istanbul, with Christian or more European populations, decorate their facades with Christmas decorations. So you can see large decorated trees, and meet Father Christmas on the street handing out sweets and taking photos with children. The most recommended plan is to visit some of the city's shopping centres, which follow the tradition of the season with large Christmas trees inside, decorations, Christmas lights and a programme to celebrate with the family. Some of the most renowned are:

• Vadistanbul
• Cevhair
• Akaysha
• Kanyon

As a curiosity, the legend of the Father Christmas character is inspired by Nicholas of Myra, a Christian bishop born in the southern Turkish city of Patara, famous for throwing gold coins into the chimneys of the houses of the needy.

This saint's feast is celebrated on 6 December and in his honour people would give each other gifts and share a meal, which inspired centuries later the image of the red-robed, bearded and good-natured man we know today. Another particularity is that you won't hear a single Christmas Eve carol.

When it comes to Christmas shopping, I recommend that you take part in one of the most outstanding events that take place at this time of year in Istanbul. This is the Christmas Bazaar, organised by Istanbul International Women (IWI), a social organisation that offers support to foreign women living in the city.

While most of the fundraising events organised by this organisation are closed to the public, during the Christmas season, the Bazaar is open to everyone in an event that includes gift stalls, international food and a lottery with prizes for attendees. The event is held annually and one of its venues is the İstanbul Yelken Kulübü Yacht Club located in Kalamış. A good opportunity to enjoy a very festive night, while collaborating for a social cause.

A very Christmassy plan that Istanbul offers you several alternatives to enjoy with your family. One of them is the outdoor ice rink at the Uniq Istanbul event centre, which is available throughout the winter and during the Christmas season offers a rink decorated for the occasion with lights, Christmas music in the background and decorations.

The venue also has professional coaches who offer private skating lessons. It is open at night and, if you're lucky, you can also enjoy one of their themed parties. This event hall has an adventure playground, children's workshops and an area where you can see temporary exhibitions.

Useful information

• Price: Approximately €2.50 (40 Turkish Lira) for a 40-minute skating session.
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 09:00 to 23:00 hours
• Address: Huzur Mah. Maslak Ayazağa Cad. No.4 Sarıyer/İstanbul

Christmas and the end-of-year season in general, brings with it certain seasonal dishes and what better plan than to enjoy some drinks and food from Istanbul's bountiful menu.

One of the traditional meals served in the city's restaurants are meze, which, although considered a starter in Turkish cuisine, can be a whole night's dinner due to their remarkable variety. The most common meze usually feature aubergines, tomatoes, chickpeas, peppers, olives, seafood, lamb and much more.

Typically, up to 20 or more of these dishes may be served on a menu, in two groups, first the cold ones, which usually have fresh vegetables and cheeses, and then the hot ones. All are traditionally accompanied by raki, which is Turkey's national drink.

The most popular drink at Christmas time is Salep, a mixture of milk or boiling water, cinnamon and a special flour that comes out after processing the tubers of two typical Anatolian orchids.

Another winter classic is Boza, a drink made by fermenting the seeds of breadfruit, a cereal widely consumed in Asian countries, and served with a sprinkling of cinnamon powder on top.

Remember that spices are the order of the day in Turkish food and many preparations tend to be spicy, so if you're not used to it, I recommend asking for those preparations with less spice. Don't miss out on a gastronomic tour of Istanbul, because the variety of flavours will surprise you and it's no secret that at Christmas we want to try everything.

And if what you want is a gastronomic experience with all the tradition of Christmas, I recommend you check the programme of the city's hotels, which at this time of year organise special events, including musical shows and Christmas dinners for the whole family.

One of the most renowned is the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, located on the banks of the Bosphorus. It is housed in a 19th century Ottoman palace that has been restored without losing any of the details of classic Istanbul architecture. During Christmas, the hotel's terrace is illuminated with Christmas lights and you can enjoy a drink in a more private and romantic atmosphere.

Traditional seasonal drinks and the option to book a place for a Christmas Eve dinner on 24 December, a Christmas lunch on 25 December, and even a New Year's Eve gala dinner on 31 December. If you're looking for a less sophisticated plan, you won't have to look far as most restaurants and bars in the city will be offering menus and plans to celebrate the season.

An alternative way to experience Christmas in a Western style. Throughout history, Istanbul has been inhabited by Jews, Armenians, Christians and Greeks. Cultures that have shaped the city's historical heritage. In the city, you can find some Catholic churches to attend the traditional Christmas mass on the night of 24 December.

Two of these churches, the Church of St. Anthony of Padua and the Maria Draperis Church, are on the pedestrianised Istiklal Street, an area I invite you to explore, where you will also find places to have a drink and a bite to eat. An ideal place to enjoya night out in Istanbul.

It's always a good time to enjoy a cruise, and if it's one along the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey, the experience is guaranteed to be a good one. If you're in Istanbul on Christmas Eve, you can experience this on private boats that offer sunset cruises for incredible views, as a prelude to your Christmas Eve celebration.

These private yacht and cruise options are designed for travel groups of up to 12 people, and include hotel pick-up, a Christmas cruise lasting approximately 2.5 hours, welcome cocktail, Turkish wine and beer, selection of traditional snacks and return to your hotel or venue.

If you are travelling alone, you can also find a variety of tours and excursions on the Bosphorus, so you can enjoy a Christmas evening as it should be. Incredible views, a good drink and the company of other travellers who, like you, have chosen Istanbul to experience a different kind of Christmas.

Many of these Bosphorus tours take you on a tour of the following:

• Bosphorus Bridge, border of the European and Asian part of the city.
• Rumeli Fortress.
• Beylerbeyi Palace.
• Balat Jewish Quarter.
• Yildiz Palace.
• Walls of Constantinople.
• Eyup Quarter.

I don't know about you, but for me the Christmas season sky and the atmosphere in general becomes different. So there is nothing better than having a hot drink on a terrace, to appreciate the Christmas lights that adorn the city. The Pierre Loti café is a good option, as it is considered to be the city's great lookout point.

After an afternoon of Christmas shopping in shopping malls or in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, or after exploring some of the city's neighbourhoods, head to this place located on a hill in the Eyüp cemetery, which offers incredible views of the city.

The place is decorated with 19th century furniture and the waiters are dressed in 19th century costumes. On the terrace, decorated for the Christmas season, you can enjoy a hot Christmas drink and have a panoramic view of Istanbul, from where you can take some photos to remember, as you can see from above the Christmas lights that decorate the whole of Istanbul. To get to this place you can walk or take the cable car, one of the city's public means of transport.

If you're looking for a more festive atmosphere at Christmas, I recommend you check the schedule of nightclubs in Istanbul, as they usually organise themed parties to celebrate this date.

If you're on the Asian side of the city, I recommend the Groundy Club in Kadıköy, a nightclub well known for its parties and DJs. For Christmas Eve they usually organise a party with a paid entrance fee, which usually includes a drink.

Towards the European side, a visit to Beşiktaş is highly recommended, where you'll find plenty of bars and clubs to celebrate Christmas. One of the most striking is the Kafepi pub, which also hosts a Christmas party, with guest DJs and a fun Christmas jumper competition.

I told you that Christmas is not as popular as in the West, but the celebration of the New Year is something else. If you decide to travel to Istanbul for 7 days or more and you happen to catch both celebrations, you will be able to enjoy yourself a lot.

First of all, don't miss the impressive fireworks display that welcomes in the new year, which can be seen throughout the many sites along the Bosphorus. It is on 31 December that families gather and share gifts, prepare dinners at home or celebrate in style at a good old-fashioned restaurant in the city.

Turks also enjoy performing certain rituals every New Year's Eve to ensure that the coming year arrives with prosperity and abundance. One such tradition is to throw a pomegranate fruit on the ground- the redder it is and the more pieces it breaks into, the better the omen of luck for the coming year.

Some interesting facts about Christmas in Istanbul

• The pomegranate fruit is a symbol of abundance and prosperity in Turkish idiosyncrasy and it is common to find pomegranate-shaped amulets adorned with ribbons and nazar boncuğu (Turkish eye) pebbles, which according to the locals ward off the evil eye and negative energies.
• Another local practice on New Year's Day is that when the clock strikes midnight, it is customary to turn on a tap for a few minutes, so that health and fortune will not fail in the new year. They also wear red clothes to attract abundance.
• In ancient Turkey, it was customary to put up decorated trees for the New Year, and it is from there that the Christmas tree custom in Western countries was taken.