Hailed as one of the world’s most trend-setting cities, it’s no wonder Istanbul is topping our list of places to escape to this year. With something for everyone; fascinating museums and mosques for the history buffs, sprawling bazaars for bargain hunters, and vibrant culinary markets for foodies, this hedonistic city is the perfect destination for a romantic city break. Be sure not to miss a sail down the iconic Bosporus River at sunset admiring the grand architecture, or the city\u2019s iconic Ottoman sites such as the Spice Bazaar and Blue Mosque – and certainly make sure you explore the food markets and try your hand at cooking a delicious Turkish meal in a traditional Turkish home. Touching down in Istanbul you\u2019ll be met by your guide and driver, from here you\u2019ll be whisked off to the beautiful Peninsula Istanbul.<\/p>\n
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After a good night\u2019s sleep in your stylish hotel, you\u2019ll be ready to delve into the cultural fabric of Istanbul. Spend the first couple of days on a tour of Istanbul\u2019s most iconic sites including the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern & the Spice Bazaar. A fusion of cultures and influences are played out in the city\u2019s majestic landscape, and with your knowledgeable guide at hand, you\u2019ll be let in on a wealth of historical and cultural insights to help you understand the wonders of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires. You\u2019ll stop off at The Grand Bazaar, known as the \u2018world\u2019s oldest shopping mall\u2019. This market is a great opportunity to taste the flavors of Turkey, from flatbreads to dolmas, and of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to the Grand Bazaar without a melt-in-the-mouth lamb shish kebab. Once feed, watered and shopped out you\u2019ll be driven back your hotel to enjoy the peaceful surroundings.<\/p>\n
The best way to get your bearings in this fascinating city is to travel down the Bosphorus at sunset\u00a0where you\u2019ll explore the iconic waterway that divides Europe and Asia, on board a private yacht of course. With a glass of champagne in hand, you\u2019ll drift leisurely down the river passing the lavish Ottoman summer palaces and decadent villas. We\u2019ll provide you with one of our team of guides, an expert in the field of Turkish history, so you\u2019ll be sure to pick up a few gems of information along the way. Once back on dry land we\u2019ll send you off to explore the vibrant nightspots of Istanbul, where you can wine and dine in some of our favorite insider spots. Head to Karak\u00f6y, one of the city\u2019s up-and-coming districts, that is awash with cafes and street side restaurants serving up fresh Turkish and Middle Eastern fare.<\/p>\n
During your stay, you\u2019ll be fully immersed in the culinary identity of Turkey. Take a traditional ferry across to the Asian side of Istanbul, a great way to experience the uniqueness of crossing continents in just a short boat ride. You\u2019ll be met by your host who\u2019ll take you around the local food markets in Kadak\u00f6y, here you\u2019ll learn about the different products and buy ingredients ready to cook up a feast at their nearby home in the beautiful residential area of Kuzguncuk in the \u00dcsk\u00fcdar district. This peaceful area relatively off the tourist trail, and is dotted with galleries and workshops of artists and craftsman. Once settled into your host’s beautiful mansion home, you\u2019ll begin cooking a traditional Turkish meal, including dishes such as kofti, dolma, and a selection of your favorite meze.<\/p>\n
For your last night in this magical city, we recommend a drink on the rooftop of The Peninsula Istanbul, where you can enjoy a few cocktails as you take in the sweeping views over the city before heading home the following day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hailed as one of the world’s most trend-setting cities, it’s no wonder Istanbul is topping our list of places to escape to this year. With something for everyone; fascinating museums and mosques for the history buffs, sprawling bazaars for bargain hunters, and vibrant culinary markets for foodies, this hedonistic city is the perfect destination for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101059,"featured_media":167610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1456],"tags":[],"country":["Turkey"],"class_list":["post-184561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-us","country-turkey","month-april","month-august","month-december","month-february","month-january","month-july","month-june","month-march","month-may","month-november","month-october","month-september","type-experience","need-to-indulge","need-to-discover","need-to-challenge","what-culture","who-couple","who-solo","who-with-friends"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n