Amid Istanbul's many surprises, few places can be more unexpectedly romantic than the wonderful Yerebatan Cistern, which lurks underground just across the tram lines from Hagia Sophia.
Any shopping lover will appreciate bargaining at the Grand Bazaar. With over 5,000 vendors, this shopping extravaganza is a great way to shop for Turkish treasures
By the mid-19th century the Ottoman sultans were obsessed with all things Western and determined to move out of Topkapi Palace and into the Dolmabahce Palace on the southern shore of the Bosphorus.
Standing on the site of the original Byzantine city, the district known as Sultanahmet is the heart of tourist Istanbul, with many of the most important attractions dotted around it.
