“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go,” said Michael Bublé in his famous song and it is safe to say the same thing for Istanbul as well, especially in these weeks that we approach Christmas more every day and reach the last days of the year. In this article, quality events will be listed for the new-year-season-enjoyers to visit.
Wonder Village
This village is known for being one of the largest Christmas markets in Istanbul, located in Küçükçiftlik Park. It gives visitors everything related to the season. If you are going shopping or just visiting for a hot cup of chocolate, or maybe even just for the cozy vibes despite the cool weather; Wonder Village has a great chance to serve you all in one of the best ways possible.
The village will be available until the end of December 29, and so far, many famous artists have performed as a part of this great festival. In addition to these performances, the festival will also be hosting movie premieres, ice rinks for those who want to try ice skating, some creative workshops, and great tastes for everyone. With its accessible location, all these wonderful activities are within reach for the Istanbullites. The only reminder is to book your tickets in advance!
Zorlu New Year Festival
In this great festival, at the heart of Istanbul; at Levazım, Levent; and at Zorlu Center, everyone has a chance to experience Christmas and New Year’s great spirit. The event is taking place between 1 and 31 December and every day, there are surprise concerts, performances, special activities for children, and gifts for visitors. Besides the Christmas Village, the amusement parks and special stands for those who want to shop present a special experience. As it is stated on their website, “from specially designed accessories, to textile products; Christmas accessories to decoration materials, it serves thousands of present options for everyone.”
Winter Fair, Fişekhane
Again, another fair related to the theme of winter; but this time in Fişekhane, Bakırköy. With the historical atmosphere of Fişekhane, visitors will experience cozy vibes through the shopping areas, where local designers’ products and souvenirs can be purchased. Plus, with the many seminars and workshops related to seasonal trends, such as candle making, the Winter Fair will give people a chance to feel warm despite all the cold weather and will be available until December 30.
Winter Wonder
Another option for the Istanbullites is presented at Vadi İstanbul Shopping Mall, Ayazağa. With the many options for concerts, performances, workshops, and a carousel as well as a great chance to enter the raffle with the hope of winning a cruise ticket to Miami and the Caribbean, visitors can enjoy a vast number of activities. Accompanied by great stands to shop for gifts from, a warm environment can be found at Ayazağa this time.
Winterland, Dream Park İstanbul
Promoted as “The Best Christmas Market in the City”, the Winterland will be taking place in Dream Park Istanbul, Avcılar. It has been running since 30 November and it will continue to serve entertainment until December 30. This market specializes in music and concerts. With famous artists and bands such as Ayna, Kalben, Son Feci Bisiklet, Burak Kut and Yüzyüzeyken Konuşuruz performing; this fair has something for everyone. Moreover, with the offering of activities like ice skating, and a tent movie theater system the coziness is increased to maximum levels. Also, we cannot forget karaoke when mentioning music; there is a live karaoke opportunity for those who want to showcase their skills in singing or for those who just want to have a good time with a friend.
We also cannot forget to mention the New Year’s Eve activities in well-known hotels in Istanbul. Hotels like The Peninsula, Raffles, Four Season,s and Grand Hyatt all offer great programs for December 31, despite being off-budget for many, they present a fantastic experience. The special brunches in the morning, tea times in the afternoon, and the most important gala dinners at night give people a great ambiance to enjoy this time of the year. The cuisines of these hotels should also be mentioned: special chefs and cooks will be there for the night to present participants with special meals from different parts of the world. While some serve traditional Turkish or Ottoman foods, others serve the best of Italian cuisine, and some prefer a more Asian approach, offering Japanese dishes.
It is safe to say that, everyone can find something for themselves in Istanbul during this time of the year. Whether you want to experience a luxurious night or a cozy night out at the markets, you can find both in many parts of Istanbul. Last of all, happy new year to all The Istanbul Chronicle readers!
Edited by: Ömer Gökce, Yağmur Ece Nisanoğlu