Istanbul

Turkey

"Where Two Continents Meet Across a Timeless Skyline"

Istanbul is one of the world's most extraordinary cities - a 3,000-year-old metropolis where the minarets of Ottoman mosques rise alongside Byzantine church domes and ultramodern skyscrapers. Explore the incomparable Hagia Sophia, marvel at the Blue Mosque's 20,000 blue Iznik tiles, wander the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar with its 4,000 shops, and take a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. The vibrant Galata and Beyoglu neighborhoods pulse with rooftop bars, art galleries, and some of Turkey's most extraordinary cuisine - from succulent kebabs and mezze spreads to fresh-caught Bosphorus fish and world-famous Turkish baklava.

Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed), Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Bosphorus Cruise, Spice Market, Dolmabahce Palace, Galata Tower, Princes Islands

April-May & September-October

Get an Istanbulkart transit card; book Hagia Sophia tickets online; Bosphorus cruise at sunset is magical

Unique transcontinental bucket-list city. Excellent value destination with extraordinary culture and food scene.