Istanbul Holidays

In Turkey’s largest city, it’s very much the case of two’s company; it sits across two continents, links two seas and was once at the epicentre of two vast empires, Ottoman and Byzantine. It was the gateway to the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that branched out across Asia, and it very much wears its history on its sleeve. The city is packed with heritage sites, including mosques, bazaars, palaces, churches and city walls.

Of course, you won’t want to miss the tick-list sights of the Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque (also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque), the Bosphorus Strait-side Dolmabahce Palace and the Topkapi Palace, but make sure you set aside time to get lost in the Grand Bazaar, revel in the scents of the Spice Bazaar and slowing down over a cup of foamy cup of Turkish coffee boiled over hot coals in a copper cup; some of the best coffee shops can be found near the medieval Galata tower. You can also seek out some of the best street food in Istanbul; kebabs, Simit and Balik-Ekmek are just a handful of dishes that we recommend should giving a go.

Our Personal Travel Experts are here to help you create your perfect Istanbul holiday, filling you in on the hot spots and hidden gems and picking out the best addresses to stay at.

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