Iconic Istanbul

We travelled from Manchester with Turkish Airlines Business Class service into Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport which is on the European side of the Bosporus. Turkish Airlines have direct flights from Manchester, London and Birmingham and, with great links to LOTS of long-haul destinations. Twinning Istanbul with other destinations opens up a whole world of possibilities... and with the bonus of flying with a great airline. I was extremely impressed with their modern fleet of aircraft, great food on board (via Do & Co) and excellent service. Their choice of seat back entertainment was some of the best I have experienced, and all this together made the four flight an excellent experience.

Turkish Airlines also has what has got to be one of the best Business Class Lounges worldwide. It has everything from a cinema, an amazing F1 scalextric track, to a Golf Simulator to keep you amused between connecting flights! They also have bedrooms where you can rest if your connecting flight is between 4 and 7 hours. Turkish Airlines have some of the best business rates around so it’s definitely worth considering when planning your next trip, with most of their long-haul aircraft having lie-flat beds.

Our hotel was centrally located making it easy to get out and about to see the sights. Although we weren’t staying directly in the old city, it was only a stone’s throw away. Staying in the Sultanahmet area you can literally step outside the front door of your hotel and be surrounded by beautiful historical buildings, with so much history.

Our guide from the tour company, Karavan Travel, gave us an excellent insight into how life would have been back then. It was fascinating learning about the history of the Hagia Sophia, for example which dates back to the 6th Century, whilst the Sultanahmet Mosque (otherwise known as the Blue Mosque), was built in the 17th Century. A spectacle with its 6 minarets and massive dome. As well as the Mosques I would definitely recommend visiting the Topkapi Palace. Incredibly interesting learning about the Sultans and their Harems and the Ottoman Empire.

Aside from a wealth of history and architecture, there is a real fun side to Istanbul too. Everything is colourful and there is nothing more exciting that visiting the Spice Market or the Grand Bazaar for some bartering and bargain hunting. Whether its leather goods, ceramics, carpets or simply some delicious Turkish delight or fresh spices, you will lose yourself in the hustle and bustle.

We also got to experience “behind the scenes” at Do & Co (who provide excellent cuisine the majority of top-rated airlines), as well as the Crew Training Centre for Turkish Airlines – what a fab facility that was with no less than 12 flight training simulators!

Another great reason to visit Istanbul is to sample the cuisine. You cannot fail to love the mezes, the wonderful fresh vegetables, fish and lamb, or the very sweet baklava, all syrupy with nuts and pastry. You also may be surprised to know despite being a Muslim country, Turkey produces some excellent wines.

I highly recommend Istanbul for a city break or for a short stay before joining your cruise.