Istanbul & the CRR Guitar Festival: a guitarist's travel guide
CRR International Guitar Festival · Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul straddles two continents and wears the layers of empire on every street, and its guitar festival unfolds in one of the city's finest concert halls, the Cemal Reşit Rey. A programme of international recitals and masterclasses gives guitar lovers a reason to lose themselves in a city that rewards it endlessly.
Getting there
Istanbul's vast new airport (IST) connects it to the world, with Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side as an alternative. The CRR hall sits in the Şişli district near Osmanbey on the metro, an easy ride from the historic core.
Compare trains, buses & flights to Istanbul on Omio →
Where to stay
Staying around Taksim and Şişli puts you near the concert hall and the modern city's restaurants and nightlife, with the old town a short metro or tram ride away. Istanbul is huge, so choosing a base near a metro line pays off.
An interactive map of hotels, apartments and B&Bs across Booking, Expedia, Airbnb and more, centred on Istanbul.
See stays in Istanbul →What you'll hear
This is a concert festival rather than a competition, built from recitals and masterclasses by international guitarists on the CRR main stage. Programmes take in the classical repertoire and flamenco, and the hall has long been a home for the guitar in Turkey. It is a chance to hear fine players in a great musical city.
If you play as well as listen, explore Carlo Domeniconi, whose Koyunbaba was born in Istanbul on Sheet Music Plus →
Where to eat
Istanbul is one of the world's great eating cities: balık ekmek, the grilled fish sandwich by the water, mezze without end, stuffed mussels from a street cart, and baklava with a strong Turkish coffee or tea. Graze widely and often.
While you're there
A ferry to the car-free Princes' Islands makes a breezy day on the Marmara, and the historic peninsula of Sultanahmet holds Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar. The Bosphorus itself is best seen from the deck of a boat. A rental car makes the day trips simple, and GetYourGuide lists guided tours and tickets across the region.
Enter the pieces you play, and GuitarComp shows how your programme maps to this competition's rounds and which other events you qualify for.
See full competition details →Competition dates, deadlines and the current compulsory work change each edition, so always confirm at the official site: crrkonsersalonu.ibb.istanbul.