Istanbul remains one of the most vibrant and magical places in Europe and the Middle East.

For the best part of two millennia, Istanbul has been one of the greatest cities in the world. A huge metropolis, Istanbul remains one of the most vibrant and magical places in Europe and the Middle East. It is not the capital of Turkey—that honour was bestowed on Ankara in the 1920s—but Istanbul is the country’s largest city, its main commercial centre and at the heart of its tourism industry.

Istanbul’s centuries of empire have left an extraordinary collection of palaces, churches, mosques and markets from every period of history. Its unique position as a city that straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, has given Istanbul an unmistakably cosmopolitan atmosphere. Alongside all the life and colour of the Middle East, Istanbul has a high standard of living with many of the accoutrements of a European capital, such as shopping malls and trendy international restaurants.

But Istanbul’s charm is that despite its long history, it has not become a static museum-city like Venice. Istanbul is very much a lvital city, and although its traffic jams, air pollution and high-rise buildings lack the grace of its venerable landmarks, they’re proof that Istanbul remains the hub of Turkey, a vital metropolis that’s made up of more than ancient palaces and smoky bazaars.

When to travel to Istanbul

The best time to visit the city is between May- September time frame, and be sure you take a boat tour along the Bosphorus, zig zaging the cannel towards north, all the way to Anadolu Kavagi on the Black Sea.