Istanbul

The Hagia Sophia is among Istanbul's most popular and iconic historic sites – and for good reason: its massive, transcendent interior is breathtaking and can easily be gazed at for hours — Time Out

The views are luxurious, the buildings overwhelmingly crafted, and the treasures outrageous. — Let's Go

The Dolmabahçe (“dol-ma-bah-chey”) Palace is European through and through. — Afar Magazine

Brace yourself to be dumped on by history — Let's Go

Chora Church requires some serious ceiling-gazing, cramp-in-the-neck-calming skills—you’ll find some of the most beautiful surviving Byzantine art on the domes above your head. — Let's Go

The permanent collection tells the story of modern Turkish art... while a top-notch program of temporary exhibitions features significant local and international contemporary artists. — Fodor's

Adorned with over 20,000 blue hand-crafted Iznik tiles, stained-glass windows and the golden brushstrokes of a 17th-century calligrapher, the Blue Mosque is the legacy of Sultan Ahmet I (1590-1617). — Afar Magazine

The elegant silhouette of Suleyman's mosque rises gracefully towards the sky. — Michelin Guide

The Grand Bazaar is a joyful, feverish universe that can overwhelm and unsettle with its thousands of shops and workshops, caravanserais, warehouses, restaurants, fountains, banks and mosque. — Michelin Guide

This museum is housed in the former residence of Ibrahim Pasa; this son of a Greek slave became the grand vizier of Suleyman the Magnificent — Michelin Guide

Like a mini-Dolmabahçe that incorporates a similarly eclectic mix of European and Turkish styles but is smaller, less grandiose, and has more of a personal feel. — Fodor's

Just before the Fatih Bridge are the majestic structures of Rumeli Hisarı and Anadolu Hisarı (Fortress of Anatolia). — Lonely Planet

If you’re missing your daily cappuccino, double espresso, Americano, macchiato or latte, then drop by Galata Lavazza and order a cup to drink on their provincial street-side terrace. — Afar Magazine

Fatih Sultan Mehmet II had his namesake built on the ruins of the Havariyun, or the Church of Holy Apostles, which served as the seat of Christianity after the conquest, from 1453 to 1456. — Frommer's

The marble and verd antique columns with their delicate, ornate capitals are also quite impressive, and you can climb the stairway to the upper-level gallery for a closer look. — Fodor's

Sakıp Sabancı Museum, one of the most masterfully curated, intellectually presented, forcefully air conditioned museums we’ve ever visited. — Let's Go

The 921-meter long Valens Aqueducts - a prominent landmark in Istanbul's Fatih district - played a vital role in supplying water to the people of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires — Afar Magazine

Located just off İstiklal Caddesi next to the entrance to the Çiçek Pasajı, the Balık Pazarı is a bustling labyrinth of streets filled with stands. — Fodor's

The medium-sized Şehzade Camii was built for Süleyman the Magnificent's eldest son, Prince Mehmet, who died of smallpox in 1543 at age 22. — Fodor's

A small private museum housed in a grand 1893 building (the former Bristol Hotel), the Pera showcases a diverse range of exhibits. — Fodor's