Istanbul

Sitting across two continents and between two seas, Istanbul is a vibrant, colourful culture-clash of East meets West and modern meets ancient. Grand palaces sit next to concrete high-rises and humble wooden villas, peaceful mosques are surrounded by bustling streets and daredevil drivers, and the city boasts a hedonistic nightlife scene. This is a city that never stops moving that has captivated visitors for centuries, and promises to leave you with a sense of magic and wonder.

Visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with over 4,000 shops, and attracting up to 400,000 visitors daily. You’ll find all sorts of things here, such as ceramic plates, ornamental lamps, hand-knotted rugs (haggling is all part of the experience), as well as lots of traditional Turkish coffee, tea and sweet stalls.

For those in search of a more relaxing pursuit, head to a hammam – grand Turkish bath houses that use heat, water and massage to revive mind, body and soul. Most hammams offer luxurious aromatherapy oil massages and revitalising spa treatments, followed by a space to lounge with traditional sweet tea.