Istanbul Travel Guide 2026: Hagia Sophia, the Bosphorus & the Grand Bazaar & Tips

Istanbul, straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus strait, is Turkey's largest and most visited city, home to the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the sprawling Grand Bazaar. Centuries as the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires have left the city layered with history, from ancient cisterns to grand imperial mosques, while its food, markets and waterfront neighbourhoods make it one of the most atmospheric cities in the world to explore.