Social Events

Open Time – Ortakoy District: 18:30

Ortakoy is probably a district envied by other districts in the Bosphorus. It is located in such a beautiful spot near the Conference venue.

With its cafes stretching along the coasts, the bars in just one street from the back, street bazaars, the famous Ortakoy Mosque on its side, sellers of kumpir, gozleme and mussels side by side, Ortakoy is a popular place not only with Turkish and foreign tourists but also with its own residents ......

(*Kumpir is a word used in Istanbul for "baked potatoes". Gozleme is a type of fast-food made by placing minced meat, cheese, potato between thin home made bread and cooking it on sheet metal oven).

The history of Ortakoy is as old as sultans' using this region as their summer residence. Ortakoy has one of the best views of the Bosphorus.

Ortakoy, means literally "the village in the middle" (orta) of the European Bosphorus shore, is now among Istanbul's coolest, chicest, most artsy neighborhoods, with trendy boutiques, atmospheric cafes and bistros, and crowds of young, sophisticated residents and visitors.

It's a good place to stop for tea or coffee, a snack or a meal, a stroll, some boutique window-shopping or a rest, particularly if you've spent the morning on a Bosphorus cruise north to Sariyer. If it's a Sunday, expect an impromptu street market of artists displaying their wares for admiration and (they hope) sale.

Ortakoy has a lot of history. If you walk through Osmanzade Sokak, you're right near the Etz Ahayim Synagogue, with the steeple and bell tower of a small Orthodox church not far away. Walk east on Osmanzade to get to the Bosphorus shore and Ortaköy's most famous landmark: the Büyük Mecidiye Camii (Grand Imperial Mosque of Sultan Abdülmecid), usually called simply the Ortaköy Camii (Ortakoy Mosque), almost in the water on the Bosphorus European shore.

The eclectic-Baroque mosque (c. 1854) is the work of architect Nikogos Balyan, the designer of Dolmabahçe Palace, a scion of the famous Armenian family of imperial architects. Within the mosque hang several masterful examples of Arabic calligraphy executed by Sultan Abdulmecid (1839-1861) himself, who was an accomplished calligrapher.

Coffeehouses and tea terraces overlooking the water fill the seaside next to the mosque now as they have for decades, perhaps centuries, and are one of Ortakoy's prime attractions.

HPCS 2011 Reception

HPCS 2011 Banquet Dinner

A City Tour: TBA

Full Day Excursions

Event 1: Old City Tour (US$105 per person) Highly Recommended

Explore the main cultural highlights of Istanbul's opulent past - the grandiose Topkapi Palace, the glittering Grand Bazaar, the magnificent Hagia Sophia Church, the elegant Blue Mosque and ancient Hippodrome, set among the cobbled streets of the old Imperial quarter and heart of ancient Byzantium & Constantinople...

The tour starts after breakfast, with pick up from the hotels. Begin with a visit to Topkapi Palace, the main residence of the Ottoman Sultans, with its jewel encrusted treasury and elegant four courts. After a lunch break, visit the main sights around Sultanahmet Square, including the famous Hagia Sophia Museum, once the largest church in the world for 1000 years, and decorated with stunning 6th century golden mosaics. Then visit the Blue Mosque, designed with 6 delicate minarets and a striking blue Iznik tiled interior. Nearby, take a stroll through the site of the ancient Hippodrome, once the sporting ground of chariots and political riots, and see the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column and Fountain of Wilhelm II. Finally, visit the Grand Bazaar, where you can shop or haggle with local merchants over unusual antiques, colorful spices, beautiful jewelry and richly textured fabrics. Drop off to hotel.

Including:

• Hotel pick up and drop off

• Transportation by AC non smoking bus

• English speaking guide

• Entrance fees

• Lunch

• Local taxes

Event 2: Bosphorus Cruise Tour (US$95 per person)

Discover the wealth of impressive sights all along the shores in a Bosphorus boat trip along Istanbul's famous waterway dividing Europe and Asia - take in the colors and aromas of the Spice Market, the tiny Rustem Pasha Mosque, a Bosphorus Cruise Sightseeing Tour , the sumptuously decorated Ottoman Beylerbeyi Palace and the small picturesque fishermen's village of Ortakoy ...

The tour starts after breakfast, with pick up from the hotels. Proceed to the mouth of the Golden Horn, to explore the bustling Egyptian Spice Market of 17th century origin - a colorful bazaar heaped with spices, Turkish sweets, dried foods and much more. Then visit the beautifully tiled tiny Rustem Pasha Mosque hidden among the narrow cobbled market streets nearby. Next we take a Bosphorus Cruise Sightseeing Boat Trip (2 hr boat ride) up Istanbul's winding straits for a chance to relax and admire the shoreline of beautiful mosques, lavish palaces and decadent villas - you'll see Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, Ottoman summer mansions and Ortakoy mosque, the defensive Rumeli Fortress and Bosphorus Bridge - one of the world's largest suspension bridges, all alongside passing fishing boats, yachts, huge cargo ships and tankers. After a lunch break back on shore, we will visit the interior of the sumptuously decorated Beylerbeyi Palace, a lavish Ottoman residence on the Bosphorus. Finally, the last stop on this Bosphorus river tour will be at the picturesque fishermen's village of Ortakoy, where you can enjoy a coffee and panoramic view of the passing boats on today's tour route from the beautiful cobbled square overlooking the Bosphorus. Drop off to hotels.

Including:

• Hotel pick up and drop off

• Transportation by AC non smoking bus

• English speaking guide

• Entrance fees

• Lunch

• Local taxes

Event 3: Pera and Golden Tour (US$100 per person)

Stroll the classical old quarters where Greek, Italian and Jewish communities flourished along the Golden Horn - admire the great Suleymaniye Mosque, the beautiful Byzantine mosaics of the Church of Chora, the vibrant streets of the French influenced Pera - Beyoglu area and the Genoese Galata Tower with stunning views across the Golden Horn, Marmara Sea and Princess Islands.

The tour starts after breakfast, with pick up from the hotels. Overlooking the sweet waters of the Golden Horn, visit the giant 16th century Suleymaniye Mosque, which crowns one of Istanbul's seven hills - a massive complex of Sinan's skillful architecture. Then proceed to the Church of St. Savior in Chora of 14th century origin, famous for its Byzantine artworks - particularly the beautifully preserved frescoes and golden mosaics showing scenes from the lives of Jesus and Virgin Mary. Following a lunch break, we will move to the Pera Beyoglu Area to for a walking tour around its vibrant streets of downtown cosmopolitan Istanbul, with many points of historical, architectural and cultural interest Christian, Greek and Armenian churches, picturesque shopping arcades and passages, old Ottoman Hans, bazaars and coffeehouses, bustling with shoppers, students and young professionals. The tour ends up at the Galata Tower, watchtower of the Genoese fortifications dating from 1349, which we will ascend to the upper public viewing balcony for a 360 degree panoramic view over the Golden Horn, Asian shores, Bosphorus and Princess Islands. Drop off to hotel.

Including:

• Hotel pick up and drop off

• Transportation by AC non smoking bus

• English speaking guide

• Lunch

• Local taxes