Istanbul

Highlighted as the European Capital of Culture in 2010, Istanbul has so much to offer anyone who chooses to explore this part of Turkey. The city was known as Constantinople for over six centuries and at one point it was even the capital of four different empires, including that of the Romans and the Ottomans. It is also a little-known fact that, whilst Turkey is the only country in the world to be situated at the convergence of three different continents, Istanbul itself is the only city to be part of two: Europe and Asia.

Today Istanbul is not only the largest city in Turkey, and fifth largest in the world by population, it also operates as the financial, cultural and economic centre of a country that has such a rich and vibrant history.

Some specific areas, such as archaeological park and the Zeyrek area, have been added to UNESCO's list of world heritage sites; the regular creation of new buildings blends in perfectly with those that have great historic importance and regularly draw in crowds of tourists.

• Flight time from London: 4 hours
• Istanbul Atatürk Airport: 19km from the city centre; transfer time about 30 min
• Nearest railway station: İstanbul Sirkeci Terminal
• Currency: Turkish Lira