Istanbul

As a city that cradles both Asian and European cultures, Istanbul has innumerable stories to count. Sitting at the throat of the Bosphorus Strait, this city is at the confluence of eastern and western culture. Previously, three ancient empires—the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans—made this their capital city, previously known as Constantinople and Byzantium. An abundance of ancient relics and structures each culture left behind have been preserved. In the old Sultanahmet District you can see magnificent Blue Mosque and, in the same visit, go to the nearby Hagia Sophia—a Greek Orthodox church that became a mosque and is now a museum)—and the Ottoman-era Topkapı Palace. The century-old Grand Bazaar is a spectacle not to be missed. The goods inside are dazzling to behold and it is a good place to buy souvenirs.