Shopping and Sports in the city: 
Istanbul offers a large variety of goods ranging from spices to Hand Made embroidery sachet, henna for hair to Turkish pepper grinder, porcelain coffee cup to Turkish Pashminas. Also books and CD stores are available for music and books.
Turkish people are good athletes. Football is the national sport and an array of celebrated football clubs like Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas have participated in Europe’s major football club tournaments. Other sports include basketball and motor sports. A formula 1 track has been completed recently at Tepeoren area.
How to spend the night life?
Nightlife at Istanbul is charged up with discos and night clubs that serve alcohol, raw music to appease your senses. International and Turkish music are available are performed in an oriental setting. But some places like Tea Garden do not offer alcohol.
Famous Festivals:
Istanbul nurtures its traditional and cultural roots. Thus there is a plethora of festivals that covers The International Film Festival, Jazz Festival, The Theatre Festival and International Festival for Alternative Music.