Istanbul & Budrum

About the destination: Istanbul owes its historical significance and its incredible cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor. Throughout most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of over 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, drawn by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, rapidly growing city. Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status emphasised by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls. But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A rapidly growing economy has contributed to a thriving arts and music scene, with a wealth of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.

About the destination: Bodrum is a world-famous holiday and bustling resort that never sleeps. Located on the southern Aegean coast of Turkey, Bodrum is popular with tourists from all over the world because of its warm climate, deep-blue sea, natural beauty, magnificent coves and history, as well as for its exciting nightlife. Bodrum is a fascinating place as it has a pleasing contrast between the Ancient city and the modern resort. The castle of St Peter, dating back to medieval times, is a beautiful fortress that towers over the harbour area. There is also an underwater museum in the castle of St Peter, the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Other major attractions in the city are the Bodrum Amphitheatre, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Myndos Gate and Karakaya Village. There are lots to see and do in Bodrum, there is a huge variety of shops and a large bazaars with locals selling everything and anything you can think of. The evenings in Bodrum are for sitting idly in one of the many restaurants, dining on fresh seafood and other Aegean specialties.