WHERE EAST MEETS WEST
Broaden your holiday horizons and grab some Eastern promise in Istanbul
Make no mistake, the Turkish city of Istanbul is hip. And hot. And very, very happening. It's not just its two-for-one location that puts it on the travel map - Europe on one side of the Bosphorus Strait, Asia on the other. It's that nowhere else has such a heady mix of east meets west, of mosques and mojitos, palaces and bazaars, skyscrapers and chic boutiques - as well as amazing roof-terrace nightlife.
VISIT: Try Sultanahmet for traditional sightseeing - visit the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque and the 5,000 shops of the Grand Bazaar. For modern Istanbul, head to Beyoglu - a cobbled district bursting with boutiques, bookshops, galleries and coffee houses. There you'll find Istanbul's Times Square, Taksim Square (the place for New Year), central hang-out drag Istiklal Caddesi and street musician's stop-off Cezayir Sokagi. The Istanbul Modern arts museum (Istanbulmodern.org) is also worth a look, and don't miss a ferry trip down the Bosphorus - you can even book a luxury yacht, from £330 for 10 people (Toursistanbul.com).
STAY: The flash Swissôtel (Swissotel.com/istanbul) has double rooms from £180. Or try Sultanahmet's Hotel Ibrahim Pasha, with double rooms from £118 (Ibrahimpasha.com). It's a modern boutique hotel with a roof bar that practically kisses the Blue Mosque. Party animals will love The Lush, a stone's throw from the nightlife of Taksim Square. It has 35 uniquely decorated rooms, costing from £158 per person for two nights (Lushhiphotel.com).
EAT: For a spin on Turkish cuisine and 18th floor views of Istanbul, you can't miss the swanky 360 (360istanbul.com). For a similar view with a cheaper bill, try Leb-i derya (Lebiderya.com), with its fantastic roof bar. For lunch, go to any meyhane (meze-serving tavern) on Nevizade Sokak or to Tarihi Sultanahmet Koftecisi (12 Divanyolu Cad) for the best meatballs ever, washed down with ayran, a local yoghurt drink.
SHOP: Splash the cash in the Nisantasi district - you'll find stores from Topshop and Zara to Dior and Stella McCartney.
RELAX: Take a traditional Turkish bath at Cagaloglu Hamam (Cagalogluhamami.com.tr) - everyone's had a dip there, from Florence Nightingale to Jenson Button. Or head to the new spa at the Ceylan InterContinental (Intercontinental.com). With a roof bar overlooking the Dolmabahce Palace, you can sightsee, sauna and sip cocktails all in one go!
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
You need a visa to enter Turkey, which
costs £10.
Carry coins for tipping (10 per cent is about
right).
When visiting a temple or mosque, cover your shoulders,
legs and head.
Visit Skyscanner.net for the best deals on flights
to Istanbul, costing from £53.
3 OF THE BEST PLACES FOR EAST MEETS WEST
Budapest A
melting pot of Euro-chic and the exotic, Budapest is a centre for hustle,
bustle, stag dos and partygoers - plus wow architecture, museums, spas and
the tranquil Cismigiu Gardens.
Ebookers.com has three-night
deals from £188pp.
Oman Fancy dipping your toe into old Arabia while padding around a
luxurious hotel suite? Get to the Gulf State of Oman, where £7million is
being spent on tourism. Its capital, Muscat, has the perfect blend of old
and new - think busy souks, beaches, rugged mountains and sand dune jeep
safaris.
Lastminute.com offers four nights in Muscat with
flights from £538pp.
Sarajevo With shops that wouldn't look out of place on the French
Riveria and plush hotels like the Central, post-war Sarajevo mixes arty and
modern with mosques, markets and war memorials like The Tunnel Museum. The
most fun history lesson you'll ever have.
Regent-holidays.co.uk
offers three-night packages from £443pp.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ALAMY, ALPHA, AXIOM, PHOTOLIBRARY.COM, BIGPICTURESPHOTO.COM
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