İstanbul

Istanbul is one of the world's great cities — the only metropolis that straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, divided by the Bosphorus strait. Founded as Byzantium in 657 BC, it became Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, for over a thousand years before the Ottoman conquest in 1453.

The historic peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia — a 6th-century cathedral turned mosque turned museum, now a mosque again — and the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), whose six minarets define the city's skyline. Nearby, Topkapı Palace served as the administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries.

The Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets with over 4,000 shops, and the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) offer an immersive sensory journey through centuries of trade. A Bosphorus cruise reveals waterfront palaces, wooden yalı mansions and the iconic suspension bridges linking the two continents.

Modern Istanbul pulses with energy in neighbourhoods like Beyoğlu, Karaköy and Kadıköy — vibrant with galleries, rooftop bars, world-class restaurants and a thriving arts scene. It is simultaneously ancient and contemporary, making it one of the most compelling destinations on earth.