Istanbul, Turkey: Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a city that represents a crossroads of civilizations. The city that connects continents also embraces its differences most tangibly at the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar. Just as complex and monumental are Istanbul's sights, all constructs of 2,500 years of civilization. A visit to Topkapi Palace of the Ottoman dynasty and the Hippodrome built by the Romans should top your historical itinerary.
