Istanbul

A short history

Hagia Sophia was a Byzantine cathedral for nine hundred years before it became an Ottoman mosque, and its dome was the largest in the world for most of that time. From Topkapi Palace, a few minutes' walk away, sultans ruled an empire that reached from North Africa to the Balkans for six centuries. What made all of it possible was the Bosphorus: whoever held the strait controlled the trade between Europe and Asia. Modern Istanbul is Türkiye's largest city though not its capital, and it has rebuilt itself as a global hub while leaving the old quarter of Sultanahmet largely intact.

Why travellers love it

It is a genuine four-season city — you can ski in the morning drive and swim on the Aegean in the same trip — with a food culture that travels well and a currency that stretches. The old city is compact enough to walk, and the ferries make the water part of the commute rather than a boat tour you have to book.

Before you go

Türkiye is visa-free for many nationalities and offers an e-visa to many others; check what applies to your passport before booking, as the rules differ widely. Istanbul has two airports on opposite sides of the city — IST on the European side and SAW on the Asian side — and the transfer between them is long enough that it is worth checking which one your fare actually uses.

Highlights

• Hagia Sophia
• Topkapi Palace
• The Grand Bazaar
• A Bosphorus ferry crossing
• Galata Tower at sunset

Flights to Istanbul

• From Abu Dhabi
• From Dubai
• From Riyadh