Hannah Lucinda Smith

Istanbul’s secret village: Why Kuzguncuk is the city’s coolest historic quarter
Hidden in the sprawl of Turkey’s largest city, Kuzguncuk is a slice of old Istanbul on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. Once a quaint village, it is now a stylish, spirited neighbourhood.

As extreme heat threatens Mediterranean holiday resorts, the answer could be over their shoulders
As southern Europe swelters, the traditional holiday calendar is under threat. Resorts are rethinking the high season, and the solution might be hiding in plain sight.

Street food is still a defining force in the culinary scene of Istanbul
The reinvention of Turkey’s largest city as a gastronomic hub continues apace – but not at the expense of the unfussy, authentic fare that has long delighted the metropolis.



The effort to rebuild Syria: Life after the fall of the Assad regime
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the US has decided to lift sanctions on Syria. As Donald Trump meets the nation’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, we consider how it is rebuilding its cities.

Istanbul musician Melike Sahin’s literary lyrics and stage presence have helped create a modern diva
Turkey’s music scene is so vibrant and eclectic that many Western stars are unheard of here. This homegrown dominance became even more unassailable in the mid-2010s when a period of political turbulence led to…

Monocle’s Quality of Life survey 2024: The 20 best places to live
Much of what defines a city’s quality of life can’t be quantified. We take a wider look to rank this year’s 20 best places to live.
