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TUR-KEY TO SUCCESS

Find feasts fit for royalty, pretty-as palaces and plenty of retail therapy in this Turkish city

ON both sides of the Bosphorus, twinkling lights embrace you.

Welcome to Istanbul.

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Istanbul greets you with open arms
Istanbul greets you with open armsCredit: Getty Images
The vintage tram down Istiklal to Tünel is a great way to see the cityCredit: Getty Images

From pristine palaces to fabulous foods, Robin McKelvie delves into the must-do's and have-to-see's of Europe's ancient frontier city.

POP BY THE PALACE

Head to the historic heart of Istanbul and begin at Topkapi Palace, the city’s unmissable attraction.

It’s well worth the £21.80 entry fee to see the opulent state rooms, harem and verdant gardens where Ottoman sultans once presided ().

Nearby the recently re-opened Basilica Cistern is a riot of colonnaded pools with striking lighting and modern sculpture.

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Entry costs £10 ().

Meanwhile, a visit to Istanbul Archaeology Museums – The Archaeology Museum, The Museum of the Ancient Orient and The Tiled Kiosk Museum – is much more fun that it sounds, with a dizzying collection of over a million artefacts and the grand sarcophagus of Alexander The Great.

Tickets cost £5.80 ().

SAIL TO ASIA

Set sail from Besiktas to Kadıköy on the public ferry across the Bosphorus Strait and you’ll travel between Europe and Asia in just 15 minutes – and for just 62p!

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The Kadıköy district bustles with cafes and bars.

Taste a dizzying array of Turkish Delight flavours, like pomegranate, pineapple and mango, before you buy at Haci Bekir ().

Or sip properly strong Turkish coffee for little more than a pound at Sekerci Cafer Erol – it’s best enjoyed with sweet baklava in the shady courtyard ().

Later, wander down Moda, arguably the hippest street in Istanbul, and grab a local Bomonti beer, £3.20, at Fil Pub Moda, before a sunset ferry ride back.

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