Before embarking for Istanbul to attend MPI’s European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) in mid-February, I had a grasp of the monumental history of the city that is literally divided between the European and Asian continents and as such has served as a crossroads of cultures and seat of empires, Roman and Ottoman.
But what I wasn’t expecting was the sheer cosmopolitan allure of the destination, a city of more than 15 million that boasts all of the requisite arts, culture and elevated dining experiences offered by the premier cities of the world.
[Related: MPI EMEC Celebrates Istanbul's Crossroads of Culture]
It’s a city that reveals itself on its own terms for travelers who invest the time and energy to unpeel its many layers. Thankfully, a pre-EMEC fam tour helped expedite this process, allowed me to touch base with key Turkish tourism leaders and served as a launching pad for further explorations on my own.
Istanbul Incentives Allure
In addition to its leisure tourism enticements and infrastructure conducive to conferences and conventions, Istanbul excels as an incentive travel destination.
“Incentive travel programs in İstanbul offer a mix of luxury, culture and exclusive experiences tailored to reward and inspire participants,” said Dr. Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu, Türkiye Tourism Promotion & Development Agency vice general manager-Tourism Operations & Development. “A highlight of these programs is private Bosphorus cruises, often complemented by gourmet dining, live entertainment and fireworks.
“Groups also enjoy exclusive access to iconic landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern, with private guided tours and behind-the-scenes experiences,” she added. “Gala dinners in historic Ottoman palaces or waterfront mansions provide an unforgettable atmosphere, enhanced by traditional music and dance performances.”
According to Fisunoğlu, other top Istanbul experiences include luxurious soaks in traditional Turkish hamams (baths) —really a must for any traveler visiting the country—spa and wellness treatments in the city’s top luxe hotels, private shopping tours in the Grand Bazaar and upscale Nişantaşı residential quarter, Turkish coffee and baklava-making workshops, and artisanal craftsmanship experiences such as ebru (marbling) or calligraphy sessions.
Some programs even incorporate themed teambuilding activities, including treasure hunts through the city’s labyrinthine historic districts or culinary challenges in local markets.
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The Big Historic Draws
Iconic historic venues such as Hagia Sophia, first constructed as a Christian cathedral by Byzantine emperor Justinian in the 530s and then rebuilt in grand fashion after an earthquake, and finally turned into a mosque by the conquering Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire, are truly a must-see for any visitor.
Indeed, Hagia Sophia is Istanbul’s prime attraction. An active mosque, the ground floor is reserved for worship but the upper level serves as an ideal vantage point to check out the monumental structure that also pays homage to its Christian past by displaying some of the earlier layers of its history via frescos peeled back by time.
The Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum is a great place to start one’s journey, as it presents an immersion into the 1,700-year history of the site through cutting-edge audiovisual technology and a self-guided audio tour.
Other historic must-sees include the Egyptian Market and Topkapi Palace, the former seat of the Ottoman Empire that is now a museum showpiece of that era’s opulence and grandeur.
A very interesting accommodations option set right in the heart of the Old City that houses Hagia Sophia and Topkapi is Hagia Sofia Mansions, a Curio Collection by Hilton. These 17 mansions offer up a total of 78 rooms that seamlessly blend modern comforts with design that celebrates the Turkish esthetic. Sarnic Restaurant, set in a 1,500-year-old Roman cistern, is a particularly stunning special event or dinner option here.
The Modern Side of Istanbul
More-modern Istanbul draws include the city’s new Galataport Istanbul cruise terminal, a more than 4.3 million-square-foot, $2 billion mixed-use development that includes a massive underground customs and passenger transit facility accessed by long doors that pop up from the dock as ships arrive.
Our group also enjoyed a lunch and Turkish cuisine workshop (and a sumptuous lunch!) at Octo restaurant at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus, which shares a prime location at Galataport near The Peninsula Istanbul.
Also at Galataport, the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art is another testament to the city’s cosmopolitan bona fides via showcasing the work of leading contemporary Turkish artists as well as major international exhibitions.
Venturing back into the city, Atatürk Cultural Centre exemplifies the hip, contemporary side of Istanbul, with a location across from fashionable Taksim Square. The cultural center is the home of the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra as well as AKM Library, an architectural showpiece that will leave bibliophiles speechless via its focus on fine press music, arts, architecture and design books.
[Read more of our onsite destination and industry event reporting: On the Scene]
Istanbul’s Cuisine Scene
Istanbul is forking its way to a foodie future via a thriving, Michelin-recognized gastronomic scene, with eight Michelin Star restaurants currently gracing in the city.
Our fam visited two Michelin standouts: Neolokal (which boasts a Michelin Green Star along with its primary star) and Ruby, which has been included in the 2025 as well as 2024 MICHELIN Guide Türkiye.
Neolokal
Perhaps the most impressive meal I’ve ever enjoyed was our multicourse dive into the highly curated cuisine of Neolokal, located in the Galata District, the former Genoese trading colony from 1273-1453 that was steps from our accommodations at Galata Istanbul Hotel.
Offering views drinking in the fabled Golden Horn (the primary inlet of the Bosphorus) and also on the top floor of the events-ready SALT Galata cultural complex, Neolokal’s chef-owner Maksut Aşkar is on a mission to protect the cuisine heritage of Turkey and also pass on this culture to his young team.
I stopped counting after the exquisitely plated sixth course on the tasting menu. Maybe it was the impressive pairings of Turkish wine talking, but I left firmly believing any visitor to Istanbul with the means should seize the opportunity to experience what chef Maksut describes as dishes a Turkish grandmother would create, but which are taken to a level of taste interplay and presentation that baffle the senses.
Ruby
With jaw-dropping views of the Bosphorus and the uplit Ortaköy Mosque, Ruby is a great introduction into Istanbul.
Presenting traditional Turkish fare along with international dishes, Ruby also doubles as a hot nightspot after dinner hours on weekends, with a rooftop terrace complete with outdoor fireplaces that provides a quintessential opportunity to immediately immerse attendees in this fascinating city.
BİZ Istanbul Restaurant
Foodies visiting the Atatürk Cultural Centre will savor the refinement of BİZ Istanbul Restaurant, which excels in presenting elevated, culturally relevant Istanbul and Turkish cuisine paired with the nation’s celebrated wines and accompanied by panoramic views of the Bosphorus Strait.
With sophisticated, ultra-modern design, BİZ unveils the contemporary side of Istanbul with an expansive deck primed for events.
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