Top Ten Turkey Classic Adventures

Escape the hubbub of Istanbul on the Bosphorus River

Noisy, crowded, chaotic: Istanbul, the age-old capital of the Ottoman Empire, is all that and more. At the same time, it's one of the world's most romantic cities, with an exotic minaret-studded skyline and a distinct whiff of the Orient about it. Linger and the hustle will surely get to you, so hop on a ferry heading up the Bosphorus for even better views. Riverside villages offer tasty fish lunches, and at Anadolu Hisari you can climb up to the castle and gaze out toward the Black Sea. Penny-pinchers can keep costs down by taking a public ferry. You can also book an organized Bosporus excursion—the salesmen along the Eminonu waterfront will make sure you don't miss their trips!