Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque was the famous Ottoman architect Sinan's answer to Aya Sofya, named for the luminous blue tiles of its interior.

Kariye Camii
The most evocative of the city's Byzantine treasures are the superb fourteenth-century mosaics and frescoes of the Kariye Camii, formerly the church of St Saviour, which was built in the twelfth century.

Hotel Antique
Hotel Antique is a central, comfortable hotel with a roof terrace in a quiet neighbourhood, with excellent service for its inexpensive rates.

Aya Sofya
Now a mosque, the unmissable sixth-century Byzantine church of Aya Sofya was, for nearly a thousand years, the largest enclosed space in the world.

Cati
Dine out at the Cati restaurant, haunt of Istanbul's intelligentsia, where you can eat superbly, listen to jazz and look out over the city lights.

Topkapi Palace
Yet another top sight in the city is the Ottoman Topkapi Palace - don't skimp on a guided tour of the 400-room Harem, all Iznik tiles and marble fountains.

Covered Bazaar
Wander through the frenetic Covered Bazaar, which shelters over 4000 shops - including plenty of splendid carpet shops.

Suleymaniye Mosque Complex
Sinan's masterpiece is the harmonious and imposing Suleymaniye mosque complex, where the architect is buried in a magnificent turban-crowned tomb.