highlights

Anıtkabir — the mausoleum of Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic — is the most important monument of modern Turkey, and one of the essential visits of the country.

The Chora Church — the Kariye — is the greatest treasure of the Byzantine art in Istanbul, and one of the essential monuments of the city.

Istanbul is a city of monuments, but the Rumeli Fortress belongs to a special category: it is a place where you can stand on ground that changed the history of the world.

Istanbul is a city of unforgettable sights, but the Basilica Cistern is unlike any of them.

Every great city has its essential experiences, and for Istanbul, few are more essential than a visit to the Spice Bazaar.

Some places you visit; others you step into like a different world. The Grand Bazaar belongs firmly to the second category.

Istanbul is full of monuments you should see, but the Maiden’s Tower is one of the few you should feel.

Every Istanbul itinerary needs at least one perfect viewpoint, and Galata Tower is the strongest candidate in the city.

Every trip to Turkey needs its defining moments, and few places deliver them like Dolmabahce Palace.

If you visit only one palace in the world, make it Topkapi.

Most travelers to Turkey fill their lists with Istanbul and the coast and never reach Edirne.

Most travelers to Istanbul have the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia on their lists and treat the Suleymaniye as an optional extra. That is a mistake.