Istanbul

A city straddling two continents across the Bosphorus strait, Istanbul preserves two millennia of accumulated imperial history within a modern metropolis of nearly sixteen million people. The historic peninsula contains the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, and the Grand Bazaar within walking distance of one another, while the Galata Tower and the hills of Beyoğlu offer panoramic views across the Golden Horn. The Bosphorus waterway itself — crossed daily by ferries — provides a moving perspective on the city's layered skyline.