There's something wonderfully decadent about a long weekend in Istanbul: its combination of vibrant colour, history, soaring architecture and flavours enliven even the shortest of stays.
From your boutique hotel in cool Karaköy, set out to explore its intrigues and local hotspots. Your days will be full of ancient wonders, and nights free to admire the bright lights reflected in the Bosphorus and taste innovative Turkish dishes from the city's contemporary restaurant scene.
In this dazzling city, Byzantine and Ottoman history is complemented by contemporary fine dining and excellent shopping. Istanbul offers a wonderful collision of cultures and continents. Relax into its delights on a cruise along the shimmering Bosphorus, which forms part of the boundary between Asia and Europe, lined with a handsome variety of architecture.
Check in at 10 Karaköy, your boutique base in the waterside Karaköy neighbourhood, on the north side of the Galata Bridge: historic yet hip, brimming with cafés and galleries. Behind the hotel's neoclassical façade sit utterly modern rooms - and on its rooftop, a superb bar and restaurant.
Overnight: The Bank Hotel Istanbul
Step inside some of the city's finest structures today, on a set of spell-binding encounters. Admire the striking domes and minarets that make up the sprawling Blue Mosque, before heading underground into the Basilica Cisterna, an atmospherically-lit 6th-century complex that cannot fail to impress (especially two huge Medusa pedestals that cast seemingly all-seeing glances). A few minutes' walk away, the Hagia Sophia was once a Greek Orthodox cathedral, then an Ottoman mosque and now a museum that celebrates its 1,500-year history - vast, glittering and altogether awe-inspiring. Stroll through the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market to haggle over colourful wares.
Overnight: The Bank Hotel Istanbul
Tour the 15th-century Topkapı Palace this morning, home and headquarters to the Ottoman sultans. Mosaics, stunning latticework, vibrant tiling, ornate carvings and stained glass are to be found at every turn, all part of a fascinating centuries-long history involving hundreds of courtiers and concubines. On the final afternoon of your Istanbul vacation, unwind at the Harem Sultan Hamam, with a massage or traditional body scrub in its smart marbled bathing rooms.
Overnight: The Bank Hotel Istanbul
Overnight: The Bank Hotel Istanbul
| Low | $ 4,778 |
| High | $ 5,398 |
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