Istanbul is a sprawling metropolis, yet maintains an open and airy feel due to its being surrounded on three sides by water. It straddles Asia and Europe and has the Black Sea to the north, the Mediterranean to the south, and the Bosphorus straight connecting the two and dividing the European and Asian sides of the city. Containing thousands of mosques, hundreds of markets, and dozens of gilded palaces, there is something for everyone to explore. The best part about the city is how easy it is to travel both to and within it. Tourists arrive by the millions via land, sea, and air each year.

It’s a vibrant place, a treasure-trove of extraordinary artistic riches, and the living embodiment of 900 years of history, during which it rose to become the centre of a huge global empire.