The Turkish capital is where East meets West and awakens the senses with its fusion of culture, design, food, colour, scents, and is even more captivating in its autumnal colours. It’s frenetic but there are plenty of calm places to escape including mosques, gardens and tea houses. Dripping in history, this city has more than a few stories to tell, having been the centre of some of the world's most famous empires.
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Flight time: 3hrs 24mins
Average day temp: Sep 21⁰C /Oct 16⁰C /Nov 12⁰C
Average rainy days: Sep 8 /Oct 10 /Nov 13
Average rainfall: Sep 50mm /Oct 60mm /Nov 100mm
Highlights
- Sample some breathtaking architecture at the Blue Mosque – decorated with over 20,000 glistening blue Iznik tiles, 260 stained-glass windows, calligraphy, and floral motifs.
- Check out the shoppers’ paradise at the Grand Bazaar – one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, dating back to the 1400s, there are now over 60 covered streets filled with over 4,000 shops.
- Don’t miss the ostentatious Dolmabahçe Palace, the former administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire – also worth viewing from the river on a Bosporus river cruise, which is stunning with the golden trees at this time of year.