Istanbul, one of the most fascinating, exciting and cosmopolitan cities on earth, was the original destination of the Orient-Express on its maiden voyage in October 1883.
It is a city full of contrasts and colour, a city where minarets and mosques soar above wooden Ottoman houses.
The smell of exotic spices will lure you into the bazaars and the view of the Golden Horn at sunset will leave you wishing to return. This is the heart of Europe with an Eastern flavour.
Istanbul is bounded on the north and the south by two seas, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, respectively. The western half of the city lies in Europe while the eastern half is situated in Asia; in between the two halves flows the Bosphorus Strait. Istanbul, representing the Asian city nearest Europe and the European city closest to Asia, is a leading port whose importance is stressed by the age-old trade routes passing through the Bosphorus.
The city has also been nicknamed "The City on Seven Hills" because the historic peninsula, the oldest part of the city, was built on seven hills (just like Rome). The hills are represented in the city's coat of arms with seven mosques, one at the top of each hill.
See how the sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived with a visit to Topkapi Palace. The famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets and the Hagia Sophia Mosque, now a museum, dominate the skyline. Discover the small village areas of Istanbul where fishermen mend their nets and life moves at a much slower pace.
