Istanbul & Its Surroundings

The second you land in Istanbul two things hit you: how vast it is and how chaotic. The cauldron of noise builds in the morning with the first call to prayer. As the city springs to life, ferries and tankers weave their way across the Bosphorus  Strait from Asia to Europe and traffic chokes the streets. Hundreds of fishermen line the Galata Bridge in search of their daily catch to sell in cafes nestled below, while seagulls swoop and squall. At the end of the bridge, locals crush into the dark passageways at Eminonu's spice market and along the warrens of the Grand Bazaar for another day of haggling.

But this is one of the most fascinating cities in the world, founded by Constantine (as Constantinople, home to Hagia Sofia, the church built by Justinian, the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, the Golden Horn, and much more. The author tells you everything there is to know, steering you away from the tourist traps and to the most rewarding sites. Nightclubs, the best hotels (and the bargains), where to eat, how to bargain for rock-bottom prices in the Grand Bazaar, where to sign up for Turkish language classes -- it's all here!