Visiting Istanbul

If you're travelling to Europe, train holidays are a wonderful option for stylish and luxurious travel - but their secret advantage is that they often arrive straight into the heart of some of the most intriguing cities in Europe. One of these is Istanbul, a feature on many holiday wish-lists, and the largest city in Turkey. For travellers interested in discovering the culture and delights of the 5th largest city in the world (by population), and who only have a day or two to explore the city before boarding the train to their next destination, there are a few must-see places in Istanbul which should not be missed.

Istanbul Archaeology Museum

If your interest in Europe is not just limited to the beautiful countryside rolling by, then there's no better way to unearth a little of Turkey's history for yourself than by a visit to the Istanbul Archaeology museum. Established in 1881, it's one of the largest museums of its kind in the world, and contains more than 1,000,000 archaeological pieces from a diverse range of areas - the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, and even Central Asia. It's a fantastic place to lose yourself in and become immersed in some of the fascinating history of Europe - train holidays can be even more enjoyable with the knowledge of the land's past along the way.

The Grand Bazaar

One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, the Grand Bazaar consists of more than 58 covered street stalls and 4,000 shops. Opened in 1461, it quickly became well-known in Istanbul for its jewellery, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. For all kinds of people travelling through Europe, train holidays or not, it's an amazing place to visit and begin appreciating the Turkish culture - as well as being a wonderful location to find a bargain and a souvenir or two before continuing your journey.

Turkish Baths

For the truly discerning traveller, nothing can surpass the experience of a genuine Turkish bath - the Turkish variant of a steam bath or sauna. For rail travellers in Europe, train holidays do feature all the comforts of home, but there's something to be said for truly immersing yourself in another culture.

In the Turkish bath the treat will begin by relaxing in a warm room, heated by a continuous flow of hot, dry air. Bathers then move to an even hotter room before splashing themselves with cold water. After a full body wash and a massage, bathers finally retire to a cooling-room to relax and refresh themselves for the next stop on their journey.

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