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Istanbul is a city built on layers of empire. Spanning two continents, it was once the capital of three major empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Visitors walking through the Sultanahmet district can witness this timeline firsthand, from the Roman-era Hippodrome to the Byzantine mosaics of Hagia Sophia, and the towering minarets of the Blue Mosque. At nearby Topkapi Palace, rooms still display the jeweled swords, ceremonial robes, and handwritten Qurans once used by Ottoman sultans.

Culture in Istanbul reveals itself in daily rituals. Locals sip strong black tea served in tulip-shaped glasses, play backgammon on street corners, and greet each other with a rhythm that’s both fast-paced and welcoming. The city’s neighborhoods each have distinct characters: Balat is full of brightly painted houses and Greek Orthodox churches; Karaköy blends old warehouses with contemporary galleries; and Kadıköy on the Asian side offers bookshops, open-air markets, and ferry terminals that have been operating for more than a century.

Water is never far away in Istanbul. The Bosphorus Strait splits the city between Europe and Asia, and ferry rides between the two sides are part of everyday life. Some of the best views come from these crossings, especially at sunset when the silhouettes of domes and minarets line the horizon. The Princes’ Islands, accessible by boat, offer a quiet escap where no cars are allowed and visitors travel by bike or horse-drawn carriage. Büyükada, the largest island, features Ottoman-era mansions, pine forests, and hilltop monasteries.