Meet & Paint in Istanbul, Turkiye
Aquarelle Workshops with
Anastasia Kustova 15-20 April 2026
Pastel Workshops with
Elena Tatkina 21-26 April 2026
Workshops with Anastasia Kusteva
Meet & Paint in Istanbul with Anastasia Kustova
from 15 to 20 April 2026
The price is €1.150.- per person
Istanbul should certainly be on everyone's 'must see' list as; to paraphrase the old cliché, it really is the city where East and West conjoin, both geographically and culturally. Although now one of the most populated and rapidly modern cities in Europe. After a relatively short flight visitors can still be transported into an exotic world of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture and with a blend of cultured to match.
The scenic Golden Horn area surrounds the natural harbour at the mouth of the Bosphorus, where the historical buildings of Fener and Balat districts are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of the best viewpoints in the area is from the famous Piyerloti café, which can be reached by cable car. A cruise along the Bosphorus is a relaxing way of enjoying the sights of the city and the mixture of humble and magnificent buildings along the shoreline. You can take a traditional boat and cross from the European to the Asian side of the city.
As we have described above, Istanbul is a metropolitan city with population of more than a 15 million people, the City lives 24 hours a day in historical and modern scenery. It is not an exaggeration, if we say as soon as you step out from your door to the city, there is always a subject to be found to paint on your paper.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Wednesday, April 15th - Arrival in Istanbul. Free day for the entire group. Meet and greet at the Celal Sultan Hotel.
Day 2 - After breakfast, the group will walk through the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, and the Spice Bazaar, also the most famous spice bazaar, and cross the Galata Bridge. Plein air on the Galata Bridge for 5 hours. Return to the hotel, where you will have the opportunity to finish your work under the supervision of a master painter on the hotel terrace overlooking the Hagia Sophia Mosque.
Day 3 - After breakfast, board the tram, then transfer to the oldest underground funicular in the world (1875), and ascend to Istanbul's main square, Taksim. We will cross the legendary Istiklal Street, where the famous Red Tram still operates, and spend plein air with a view of the Galata Tower. Plein air for 5 hours. Then we return to the hotel, where we finish our work on the terrace under the guidance of the Master.
Day 4 - After breakfast, the entire group will board a tram to the historic park and Dolmabahçe Palace. In the afternoon, the Master will give a demonstration on the hotel terrace overlooking the Hagia Sophia Mosque.
Day 5 - After breakfast, the entire group will take a tram to the Bayezid Mosque, one of the oldest mosques of the Ottoman Empire, built in 1505, located on a square that also houses the entrance to the historic Istanbul University. Plein air for 5 hours. We return to the hotel, finish our work on the terrace, and the Master will review the watercolors completed during the plein air.
Day 6 - Wednesday, April 20th; Monday - Airport Transfer Day.