Istanbul

Istanbul Trips

With its superb setting and exciting history as capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, the cultural heart of modern Turkey is a city beyond compare. Start in the Hippodrome, where the Byzantines held their sports, and marvel at Hagia Sophia, once the mother church of Orthodox Christianity, then a mosque, and now an incredible monument. Next door is the superb Blue Mosque with its six minarets, while above the old city towers the Süleymaniye Mosque, the masterpiece of Sinan, Turkey's greatest architect.

Istanbul tours will take you to the Topkapi Palace, an incredible warren of royal apartments, and let you wander along the waterfront of the Golden Horn, savouring the smell of fresh sardines as they are grilled in front of you. And to really appreciate Istanbul's beautiful setting, a boat trip along the Bosphorus is a must.