Visitors interested in culture and contemporary art will want to head to the city’s modern art museum, Istanbul Modern (IM), which occupies a former customs’ warehouse on the banks of the Bosphorus, and which has been superbly redesigned by the artist Monica Bonvicini to create a bold and bright environment. With David Elliot, the former curator of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, at its helm, the IM boasts 8 000m² of exhibition space devoted to contemporary Turkish artists, and hosts temporary exhibitions featuring world-famous names such as Jeff Koons, Boltanski and Rem Koolhass. With its ambitious programme, excellent boutique and famous restaurant, the IM is a must.