Where Europe meets Asia, Istanbul is a dizzying array of Byzantine treasures and soaring minarets, bisected by the Bosphorus strait. Though it’s long captivated visitors with its ancient charms, a slew of openings in recent years is proving there’s more to this magical Turkish metropolis than the past. From the Atatürk Cultural Centre to the Galataport retail and arts hub, which features Istanbul Museum of Modern Art by Pritzker prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, the striking modern additions to the city are all must-sees.
Add in a lively events calendar – think Turkish Cuisine Week and modern art festival Contemporary Istanbul– and this is the best place to soak up Turkish cuisine, culture and mingling. The top sights are the stuff of legend (and many an iconic travel poster), but the cool neighbourhoods that lie beyond are equally worth your time and tourist buck.
