One of the world's biggest cities, Istanbul is almost too diverse and too historic to sum up in one review. One could spend weeks in this fascinating metropolis and still barely scratch the surface. The city is at once bewildering, enchanting and exciting and exploring it can sometimes feel like hard work but your efforts will be rewarded many times over. I can only give a very general overview of Istanbul here, it's unrealistic to think that one could give any more in a couple of thousand words but at the end I'll give some suggestions for reading and viewing material that I think will complement and extend what I want to say about the city.

Istanbul is a watery city standing on the River Bosphorous and the section of the Sea of Marmara known as the Golden Horn, which cuts through the western shore. Istanbul is a major port and the Sea of Marmara links the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Vessels bound for destinations around the world pass through Istanbul. Its geographic position explains why Istanbul has always been a cosmopolitan city and why its fortunes are inextricably tied up in commerce. For centuries Istanbul has been a place to buy and sell goods and do business. I can think of no other city so caught up in commerce as Istanbul. Of course, while some visitors enjoy the haggling and the satisfaction of getting a bargain, just as many loathe the attentions of the touts who are determined to make a sale.

- The Blue Mosque - built by Sultan Ahmet the First to create a monument to overshadow the Aya Sofya. In a city full of grand mosques, this one is instantly recognizable as it has six minarets. It gets its name because of the thousands of blue tiles that decorate it. Admission is controlled because of the high number of visitors. This is a working mosque so women should bring a head scarf to cover up.
- The Aya Sofya - Built for Emperor Justinian and completed in 537 AD this was regarded as the greatest church in Christendom until Mehmet the Conqueror took the city in 1453. He ordered it to be converted into a mosque and in 1935 the government of the Turkish Republic turned it into a museum. It is the most amazing building I have ever set foot in. Words can scarcely describe the feeling of awe it inspires with its gravity defying dome and wonderful mosaics.

- The Grand Bazaar - in Turkish the "kapali carsi"; to visit the grand bazaar you need to be in a good mood other wise don't bother. You will be approached constantly and invited to haggle. Do join in, it's fun and you might get a good bargain. Some of the stuff is rubbish but some is quite nice and worth taking home for souvenirs. There are rug sellers, tea stalls, jewellery and more commercial items such as t-shirts and all manner of items bearing the symbol that will protect you from the "evil eye". For a slightly less touristy experience try the Egyptian Bazaar (also known as the Spice Bazaar) which will have your senses in overdrive.

- The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - I have a particular interest

Pictures of Istanbul (Turkey)

A distant view of the Blue Mosque taken in Sultanahmet

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Istanbul is a great place for shopping and ceramics and leather goods offer excellent value. Other good items to buy are olive oil soap and textiles such as linens and woollen items from eastern Turkey. The Grand Bazaar is where to buy fun items but you will find better quality items elsewhere, especially in the Handicrafts Market in Sultanahmet.

For meat dishes - an endless array of different kinds of kebabs - simple café-style places cannot be beaten. For something less heavy the same places do lamahcun - a very thin dough base covered with spicy ground meat and (for the veggies) "pide" a Turkish style pizza shaped vaguely like a boat.

Istanbul has a reputation as a very stylish city with some of the most cutting edge design on show in the new upmarket bars and restaurants. It's not really my kind of thing but if it's yours, head for Beyoglu or Taksim Square. Who knows you may spot some of the footballers from Galatasaray, Fenerbahce or Besiktas posing in the VIP areas.

Istanbul is a wonderfully exhilarating city to visit. It's a place where you use all your senses and a true "experience". There really is nowhere quite like it. It can be overwhelming but it can also be incredibly friendly and peaceful. The Aya Sofya might be teeming with tourists but the magnificence of it made me almost forget I was among so many people. I have hardly scratched the surface - either in this review or in my own visits. I know I'll be back to see other parts of the city ; to be honest you could spend a lifetime in Istanbul and never see everything. A weekend trip will only tempt you to go back but even a weekend can give you a tantalizing taste of one of the world's most compelling cities.

To learn more about Istanbul I recommend