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Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, divided by the straits of Bosphorus, Istanbul forms the proverbial bridge between east and west. Known as Byzantine and the Ottoman for two millenia. It is no longer a capital city, but with a population approching 12 million, it remains one of the world's great cities and the centre of Turkey's economic and cultural life.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ISTANBUL
St.Sophia Museum
The church of the Divine Wisdom, undoubtedly one of the greatest architectural creations in the world. Built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian circa AD 535, it was transformed into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453. Now a museum, it is awesome in size and contains beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaics. 
Blue Mosque
The most famous mosque in the city, built in the early 17th century, distinguished by six slender minarets and walls covered with amazing blue iznik tiles.
Hippodrome
Centre of supportive events and political activities of the old city. Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. are the monuments decorating the Hippodrome. 
Turkish Islamic Art Museum
A delightful museum on the ancient Hippodrome, housed in Ibrahim Pasa Palace, the home of Süleyman the Magnificient's Grand izier. Beautifully displayed Islamic objects and antique carpets.
Topkapi Palace
The legendary palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Low buildings set in a series of courtyards, Topkapi is quite unlike a western palace. 
Basilica Cistern (Underground Cistern)
The vast awesome columned cavern was the water source for both the Grand Palace of the Byzantines and for the Ottoman's Topkapi Palace.
Archeological Museum
Displays a selection of the 60,000 greco-roman and near eastern antiquities in the collection including a sarcophagus said to have contained the remains of Alexander the Great and a stone tablet carved with the treaty of Kadesh, the world's first peace treaty.
Mosaics Museum
Houses the beautiful mosaics discovered in Justinian's Grand palace of Byzantium.
Suleymaniye Mosque
Sinan's masterpiece. The massive scale of this mosque is best appreciated from a distance. It is the biggest mosque in Istanbul. This, the grandest of all Turkish mosques, was built between 1550 and 1557 by the greatest, richest and most powerful of Ottoman Sultans, Süleyman I. the Magnificient. Inside, the mosque is breathtaking in its size and pleasing in its simplicity.
Galata Tower
The cylindrical Galata Tower was the highpoint in the Genoese fortifications of Galata and has been rebuilt many times. Today it holds an unforgettable restaurant as well as a memorable panorama balcony. 
Beyoglu (Taksim)
Beyoglu, the "new" section of Istanbul on the northern side of the Golden Horn, is not really new. There's been a settlement here almost as long as there has been a city on Seraglio Point. But new ideas, brought from Europe by traders and diplomats, walked into Ottoman daily life down the streets of Pera and Galata. Europeans who lived in Pera brought new fashions, machines, arts and manners. Old Istanbul, on the south bank of the Golden Horn, was content to continue living in the Middle Ages with its oriental bazaars, great mosques and palaces, narrow streets and traditional values but Pera was to have telephones, underground trains, tramways, electric light and modern municipal government.
Dolmabahce Palace
The 19th century rococco residence of the Ottoman Sultans and the place where Atatürk died in 1938. Beautifully situated, with 600 m. frontage on the Bosphorus, an impressive ballroom, and ornate victorian furniture embodying the Turkish assimilation of european culture. 
Chora Church
A legendary Byzantine church decorated with extraordinary late 14th century frescoes and mosaics portraying the life and miracles of Christ. The most important and extensive series of Byzantine paintings in the city and among the most significant in the world.
Rumeli Fortress
Fortress of Europe. Within the walls are parklike grounds, an open-air theatre and the minaret of a ruined mosque. Stairs lead up to the ramparts and towers. Mehmet the Conqueror had this fortress built in a mere four months during 1452, in preparation for his planned siege of Constantinople. Once completed, controlled all traffic on the Bosphorus and cut the city off from resupply by sea from the north. 
Bosphorus Cruise
The Straits which divide Europe from Asia and define Istanbul. A trip to the city would not be complete without a cruise up and down its shores. Imperial palaces are interspersed with wooden seaside mansions, decorative ferry landings, the twin fortresses of Rumeli Hisari and Anadolu Hisari and two intercontinental bridges.
Grand Bazaar
Istanbul's legendary bazaar, a labyrinth of over 4000 little shops, is everything you could dream an oriental market could be. Gold jewelery, carpets, silver bibelots, leather, ceramics, copper objects, broideries, hand-woven textiles, meerschaum pipes - in other words, a treasure trove.
Spice Bazaar
An exotic food market and bazaar selling spices, dried fruits, cheeses and olives as well as some jewelery. Outside the market there is a wonderful flower and a bird market.
Turkish Bath
A visit to the "Hamam" can be a wonderful experience; cleansing, refreshing, relaxing and sociable. 
Bursa
The capital of the fledgling Ottoman State in the 14th century, Bursa has grown into a modern city of nearly 2 million inhabitants without losing its "Turkish" flavour. It's bazaar is one of the largest in the country, yet remains untouched by tourism. The city lies at the foot of "Uludag" - an extinct volcanic peak which is Turkey's chief winter sports center. The thermal springs in the Çekirge suburb have been popular since Roman Times.
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