Istanbul

Istanbul spreads along both shores of the Bosphorus, where Europe meets Asia. For centuries it was the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, and that layered past is felt at every turn – from domes and minarets to bustling bazaars and the ferries that shuttle endlessly between the two continents.

Not to be missed

• Hagia Sophia – a 6th-century masterpiece of Byzantine architecture.
• The Blue Mosque – the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, famous for its blue İznik tiles.
• Topkapı Palace – the former seat of the Ottoman sultans.
• The Basilica Cistern – a Byzantine underground reservoir with hundreds of marble columns.
• The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar – for spices, textiles, ceramics and the obligatory glass of Turkish tea.
• A Bosphorus cruise – palaces, mansions and fortresses seen from the water.

Best time to visit

Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most pleasant, with mild temperatures and the city in full swing. Summers are hot and humid; winters are cool and rainy, but far less crowded.