FIT FOR A PASHA

You’ll want to linger in Istanbul before and after your tour, and the best place to do that is at the lavish Raffles Istanbul. Perched atop the Zorlu Center in the hip Beşiktaş neighbourhood, the hotel doesn’t let you forget where you are – more than 200 artworks were commissioned by Turkish creatives to decorate public areas, and Byzantine-style columns glitter under the weight of gold mosaics. Be sure to book a hamam treatment in the spa – this is the ultimate place to have every inch of your skin buffed to perfection. Rooms designed in jewel tones come with handmade carpets and lanterns, not to mention enormous balconies overlooking the Bosphorus. Plan to spend a lot of time here – the constant show on the water is mesmerising, including ferries, fishing boats, sparkling yachts, hulking oil tankers, Greek cruise ships and even the occasional pod of dolphins. raffles.com/istanbul