Gaze on Istanbul

So wrote 19th-century French author Alphonse de Lamartine, in his brilliant and bold account, Voyage En Orient. His 1832 journey to Constantinople (as the city was then known) was to inspire him for life; 200 years later and it remains easy to see why. Almost overwhelmingly beautiful, this is a city unlike any other.

Straddling both Europe and Asia, it revels in fabulous contrasts: east and west, rich and poor, ancient and modern, all live cheek by jowl here. Buildings and public spaces are not only soaringly elegant, exemplified in the domes and minarets of the 17th-century Blue Mosque and the graceful pavilions of Topkapı Palace, but also dark and labyrinthine, as you’ll discover when you explore the maze-like winding lanes of the Bazaar Quarter. In just a few hours, you feel as if you have crossed centuries in time – passing from 21st-century apartment blocks and designer boutiques to Ottoman merchant quarters and traditional artisan craft shops.

Disembarking at Karaköy Yolcu Salonu is a glorious assault on the senses. Don’t be afraid to dive right into Istanbul’s never-ending flow of people and absorb the exotic, frenetic street life, with its bustle, evocative call to prayer, folk music blaring out of car radios, and heady aromas of spices, tobacco smoke and street food. It’s unlikely you’ll get to see the whole of the city in a day – as home to 14 million people, it’s vast. However, whether you prefer to spend your time absorbed by world-class cultural sights, mooching in markets and munching on inexpensive street food, or prefer a day admiring seriously expensive paintings, handbags and shoes fashioned by the country’s burgeoning number of cutting-edge artists and designers, it’s easy to craft your dream itinerary with a bit of careful planning.