Istanbul

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

Eighty-two feet below Istanbul is a 450-foot-long, 213-foot-wide former royal reservoir. — Travel + Leisure

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

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

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

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

The Fatih was the first great imperial mosque built in İstanbul following the Conquest. — Lonely Planet

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

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

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

Famous for its Iznik ceramics, the traditional blue tones of which are enriched here with red and turquoise. — Michelin Guide