ISTANBUL CITY BREAKS HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER FROM TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE TO THE BUSTLING MARKET ACTIVITIES OF THE           GRAND BAZAAR, WHICH IS NOTHING SHORT OF A SHOPPING MECCA AND ENCOMPASSES SOME 58 DIFFERENT STREETS AND SEES UP TO 400,000 SHOPPERS EACH DAY. ISTANBUL IS HOME TO MANY IMPRESSIVE REMNANTS FROM THE TURKISH OTTOMAN EMPIRE, SUCH AS HISTORICAL MOSQUES AND GRAND PALACES, AS WELL AS TURKISH BATHHOUSES (HAMAMS) AND MUSEUMS PACKED WITH INFORMATION.
BOAT TRIPS ALONG THE BOSPHORUS (ISTANBUL STRAIT) ARE RECOMMENDED, AS ARE THE WINING AND DINING OPPORTUNITIES ALONG BOTH THE ISTIKLAL CADDESI AND THE NEVIZADE SOKAK. TOURISTS WILL ALWAYS FIND THEMSELVES DRAWN TO THE ENORMOUS BYZANTINE DOME AT THE ANCIENT AYA SOFYA (HAGIA SOPHIA) BASILICA, WHICH IS THE CITY'S MOST FAMOUS MONUMENT AND THE BIGGEST

CATHEDRAL ON THE PLANET FOR ALMOST 1,000 YEARS.