Exotic and mysterious, Istanbul offers a tempting glimpse of the East in a relaxed atmosphere. A long and rich history has left innumerable places to visit, from the great mosques with their soaring minarets to fascinating museums and the unique bazaars, all in the most spectacular of settings astride the mighty Bosphorus. You must see how the sultans of the vast Ottoman Empire lived with a visit to the magnificent Topkapi Palace. The famous Blue Mosque with its distinctive 6 minarets.