Holidays to Istanbul

Bargain-heavy bazaars, chilled-out hammams, stacks of history and the very special magic of simultaneously being in both Europe and Asia – there’s nothing on earth quite like an Istanbul holiday.

City break extraordinaire

With ancient history, world-famous attractions, sumptuous food, and an intoxicating blend of cultures, Istanbul is an unforgettable city break destination. Take the district Beyoğlu. Here you can satisfy your sweet tooth at Karaköy Güllüoğlu, wander about The Museum of Innocence, and indulge in some pampering at Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam.

Oozing with ancient history

Fancy time-travelling? Well, a tour of Istanbul’s epic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque – all of which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site – will transport you into the city’s past. For history you can taste, throw in an afternoon of coffee, Turkish delight or shisha in a traditional café. Later, you could attend an Islamic Sema ceremony to watch the whirling dervishes.

East meets West

Straddling the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul’s borders stretch across two continents, gifting you a 2FOR1 kind of a holiday! After exploring the big hitters on the European side (mentioned above), sail across the Golden Horn to experience the Asian part of the city. Highlights include the ornate 19th-century Beylerbeyi Palace and Şemsi Paşa Mosque, which was designed by famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.

A haggler’s paradise

Getting lost in the world-famous Grand Bazaar is a rite of passage on any Istanbul holiday. In this heady maze of 5,000-plus shops and stalls, you can haggle over everything from handmade kilim rugs and brass oil lamps to boxes of delicious Turkish delights.

Hit the hammam

You can’t come to Istanbul and not experience the ultimate pamper – and that, ladies and gents, is what you’ll get at a traditional Turkish hammam. Laze in tiled rooms with marble floors and domed ceilings and be soaked, scrubbed and buffed to within an inch of your life. For 16th-century opulence, try the Hagia Sophia Hurrem Sultan Bathhouse in Sultanahmet.