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Istanbul has possibly the finest, most strategic site of any city in the world. As Constantinople, it was the greatest city of Europe and is now the most populous.

It is also where Europe and Asia meet, the two continents connected by bridge and numerous ferries across the narrow Bosporus. The 20 mile long strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara leads onwards via the Dardanelles Strait to the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.

It’s been capital of the Roman Empire; the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires but is not the capital of modern Turkey – Ankara has that role.

Strategic location

The city is protected on three sides by the waters of the Bosphorous and the Golden Horn. It also had the greatest walls and land defences in the world but they did not protect the city from invasion by the Crusaders in 1204 and finally by the Ottomans in 1453.

Today, its identity is both European and Middle Eastern with possibly the finest Ottoman mosques anywhere; classical buildings from the Roman and Greek eras; Byzantine buildings and the ancient city walls. Orthodox churches survive too as this is remains the spiritual home of the Greek church.

Sultanahmet is the old quarter, with Haghia Sophia, once the greatest cathedral in the world, then a mosque and now a museum. The Topkapi Palace, until 1855 the home of the Sultan, and his harem, occupies a glorious position on Seraglio point.

Exquisite buildings

The Blue Mosque, built in the early 1600s, features a Son et Lumiere in summer, while the Suleymaniye Mosque is an exquisite building and one of the high points of Ottoman architecture.

Northwest of Sultanahmet is Beyazit, with the Grand Bazaar and over 4,000 stalls selling tourist goods, gold, leather and carpets. The Eminönü docks on the Golden Horn are always busy and lead over the Galata Bridge to the Genoan-built Galata Tower. Istiklal Caddesi, a pedestrian street, leads to Taksim Square, where much of the nightlife can be found.

The city has grown dramatically in recent years and has its irritants, such as street touts. It's also suffered from terrorist outrages. Despite this, it is one of the world’s most fascinating cities to visit.

Istanbul’s climate is similar to the Mediterranean with hot summers and mild winters although cold spells are common. The modern airport, opened in 2000, is 15 miles west of the city. The Orient Express used to be the train from the west, but no longer runs to Istanbul.

Make sure you include Booked.net if searching for hotels in Istanbul. They list a good number of quality hotels, available at competitive prices. Also, you don't have to pay any extra fees for booking, administration or cancellation.

Every month our travel writers comb the web for city break deals to Istanbul. Visit our Istanbul holiday shop to browse through the latest offers.

• Istanbul City Guide- Istanbul Tourist Guide in English