Istanbul

Istanbul

For over 2,500 years Istanbul has been the capital of empires — Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman — and that layered history is written into every street. Begin under the soaring dome of Hagia Sophia, cross the square to the six minarets of the Blue Mosque, then lose yourself in the labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar, where 4,000 shops glitter with carpets, ceramics and spices.

When the call to prayer drifts across the rooftops at sunset, board a boat on the Bosphorus and watch Europe and Asia glide past, palace by palace. From street-side simit and Turkish tea to rooftop dinners overlooking the Golden Horn, Istanbul rewards every sense — the perfect first chapter of any Turkey tour.