We had arrived in Istanbul the previous night following a pleasant four hour journey with Turkish Airlines. Rising early, we were ready to start our 72 hours in Istanbul by exploring the majestic mosques in the Sultanahmet District, ensuring I was suitably attired for the occasion.  The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia were first on the list. Both UNESCO World Heritage Sites were as awe-inspiring as the other.  In the Blue Mosque, the floral ceramic Iznik tiles were gorgeous, and I was staggered that Hagia Sophia had been towering over the city for almost 1500 years.

After a well-deserved break sampling an authentic doner kebab in one of the nearby restaurants, we headed for the Basilica Cistern which, as my husband is a big James Bond fan, was another essential stop. Just being in the same place where ‘From Russia with Love’ was filmed made his day, whereas I pondered the significance of the upside-down Medusa head.

We opted to pre-book a tour which included a Bosphorus cruise. Cruising the infamous East/West strait did not disappoint, showcasing an array of attractions from palaces, mosques, forts, bridges and towers; this cruise had it all. We then passed through Rustem Pasha Mosque before roaming the bustling streets of Istiklal Caddesi and inhaling the pleasing influx of aromas in the Spice Bazaar. The Bazaar was a prime location to buy Turkish Delight and I was amazed at how many flavours were available. My next challenge was how many boxes I was going to fit in my suitcase...

With still plenty to see, we chose the itinerary for our final day wisely. With the sun beaming down on us, we meandered the cobbled streets of Balat and Fener, Jewish and Greek districts rich with history and colourful buildings. We couldn’t visit Istanbul without visiting Topkapi Palace, the symbolic and political home of the Ottoman Empire housing the fifth largest diamond in the world, which left me with the urge to go jewellery shopping. Thank goodness our next and final port of call was the Grand Bazaar. A labyrinth of shops and stalls awaited, our bargaining skills were put to the test and my husband seriously contemplated buying another suitcase. We shopped until we dropped, or rather, until the Bazaar closed, and then we finally rested our weary feet, savouring our last meal in Istanbul before heading back to the airport for our onward flight. 

A whirlwind three days were spent at the crossroads of continents, a city break like no other, and we were left with a myriad of incredible memories. Now where else do Turkish Airlines fly so we can come back and stop over again?

TOP TIP: The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays so other tourist attractions are busier then. Ensure you have pre-booked tickets for any places you want to visit then such as Topkapi Palace or Basilica Cistern.