Istanbul - a Stunning Collision of Sights, Sounds and Experiences.
Europe meets Asia in Istanbul and has done, culturally speaking, since time began. For centuries, Europe and Asia have competed, fought, made up, prayed, eaten and loved in this most cosmopolitan of cities.
Istanbul isn't just a destination; it's an experience, a place for cheap city breaks. A feast for the soul, an extraordinary adventure for the stomach, and a mind-blowing overload of visual extravaganzas that defy description. From Topkapi Palace to the Aya Sofya, from the Blue Mosque to the Grand Bazaar, there is so much to do and see in Istanbul that you could easily spend weeks in this huge city of 13 million people.
Sultanahmet, or old Istanbul, is a good place to base yourself and a wonderful place to explore. It's touristy and the restaurants do their best to fleece you, but it's in the centre of all the things you want to see. Galata is close by and is an area where much of the Turkish nightlife takes place. The suburb of Bosphorus on the Western side of Istanbul is home to many of the wealthy and has lovely parks, palaces and a more bohemian lifestyle.
There's a lot to see in Istanbul, even on weekend breaks - after all you're in a city that sprawls across two continents! Bring your camera and your history book. Once here, you'll want to read up on the Byzantine emperors, the Crusades, espionage in WW2 and, after Topkapi, how a harem works!
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