Marmara

Canakkale sits on the Asian shore of the Dardanelles — the narrow strait connecting the Aegean to the Sea of Marmara — at one of the most historically loaded locations on earth. The Trojan War was fought 30km to the south. The Gallipoli campaign was fought 30km to the north across the water. The Persian…

Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, established in 1326 when Osman I’s son Orhan captured it from the Byzantines. The city’s historical importance is reflected in its monuments — the Green Mosque and Green Tomb are among the finest early Ottoman buildings anywhere — and in a silk and textile tradition that…

How Many Days Do You Need in Istanbul? Most travellers give Istanbul three or four days. That covers the major sites in Sultanahmet (the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar) and leaves time for an evening in Karakoy or Beyoglu. Istanbul rewards a longer stay significantly. Five to seven days lets you cross…