Modern Neighborhoods

Istanbul is positively pulsating with the energy of what . . . a new century? This is no more visible than in Taksim, the city's beating heart, and the surrounding neighborhood, which is experiencing a resurgence. The imprint of time has left its mark on the neighborhoods of Beyoglu, Tünel, Galata, and Karaköy, where you can stroll past the turn-of-the-19th-century ambassadorial palaces and barracks, restored 16th-century waterhouses, and crisp, minimalist museums, all while shopping for an expensive pair of Levi's. Here is a short list of what to look out for.