Istanbul

“If the earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital,” said Napolean Bonaparte. Straddling Europe and Asia, this pulsating metropolis has been capturing the imaginations of visitors for centuries.

Any visit to Istanbul should take in Emperor Justinian’s great church, the Hagia Sophia, the greatest church in Christendom until the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Other highlights include the minareted Blue Mosque, built to rival the Hagia Sophia in the 17th century; Topkapi Palace, home to the Ottoman Sultans for around 400 years; the extraordinary underground Basilica Cistern; the 300-foot-tall Galata Tower, built in the 14th century; and the ultimate bargain-seeker’s paradise, the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world.

The city also boasts a thriving cafe culture and a great restaurant scene, with each of its numerous districts offering its own distinct character. Other essential experiences include pampering yourself at one of the city’s fine hammams and attending a whirling dervishes ceremony.