Local before arrival
Istanbul natives say that Ortaköy is like a vacation. On weekends, they love strolling along Meydan, the central square on the water. The reasons are obvious: cozy tea gardens, waffle and kumpir stands (kumpir is a baked potato piled high with your choice of toppings), the famous Ortaköy Mosque, and especially the picture postcard view of the Bosphorus Bridge. Whether you go during the day or at night when the spectacular light show begins on the bridge, one thing is true: Ortaköy is the ideal spot for a short escape away from the city.
