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  Haghia Sophia
The Haghia Sophia is the mother of all the great churches. It was originally an Othodox church built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I in AD 537, almost a 1000 years later it became a mosque and now another 500 years later, it is one of Europe’s most fascinating and magical museums. It is staggering to stand underneath the great central dome of the Haghia Sophia and think that is 1,500 years old!   
 The Blue Mosque
Just next door to the Haghia Sophia is the world famous Blue Mosque one of the most beautiful and iconic structures in the world. The mosque was built by Istanbul’s Ottoman rulers in the 15th century, but borrows heavily in style from its Byzantine neighbour. This is a fully functioning mosque, but visitors are welcome.

 The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazar is an incredible maze like expanse of indoor markets. Istanbul has long been a central hub of trade stretching back to antiquity. The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3000 shops!

 Dolmabahce Palace

Topkapi Palace was not fit for the modern sultans of the 19th century so a new palace was built. Dolmabahce Palace is very impressive from the outside, but it is its interior decorated by Sechan who also worked on the Paris Opera that is its Pièce de résistance.

Princes' Islands
Set in the Marmara Sea off Istanbul's Asian Shore, the Princes' Islands are where Istanbul’s mainly non-Muslim elite built their summerhouses and pleasure palaces. Today, they are one of the last places to offer a glimpse of the old ethnic mix of Istanbul in all its splendour: Greeks, Armenians and Jews still rub shoulders with Turks in the local squares, and churches are more numerous than mosques.

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"ALL JOURNEYS HAVE SECRET DESTINATIONS OF WHICH THE TRAVELER IS UNAWARE"

MARTIN BUBER