Fly from Nice to istanbul

Your weekend’s off to a great start! You're on Galata Bridge, the most famous in Istanbul, with fishermen and small seafood restaurants lining the guardrail. Under your feet is the Golden Horn, Istanbul’s natural harbour and cradle of the Byzantium. The sun begins to set, illuminating everything around you. If you look into the distance you can see both Europe and Asia. Perfect!
Which continent to choose? Both, Captain! Either way, Istanbul doesn’t give you the choice: it’s a melting pot of all of the influences that surround it. This is reflected in its cuisine, at once Mediterranean and Oriental, or else Hagia Sophia, a museum that has gone from basilica to mosque and back again, bringing together the symbols of both Islam and Christianity.
Head for Asia, where you can walk as a family through the streets of Kadikoy, one of the liveliest quarters of the city, or go shopping with friends on Bagdat caddesi - Baghdad Avenue, the local Champs-Elysées, or else lounge on the shores of the Bosporus, or on one of the sunny terraces of Moda, the most laid-back neighbourhood in Istanbul.
Head for Europe, where you can visit Sultanahmet and see the city's iconic monuments, or get lost in the passages of Beyazit Grand Bazar, or even Cevahir - less picturesque but just as big - which is the largest shopping centre in Europe.

• Sail the Bosporus. On the Galata Bridge side you’ll find numerous boats waiting to take you out into the straight to see the coast, its palaces, or even Princes’ Islands.
• Find yourself in The Arabian Nights as you visit Topkapi Palace, home to Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries.
• Discover Istanbul’s other grand palace: Dolmabahçe Palace. Less than two centuries old but extraordinarily opulent with 285 rooms and a 4.5-ton Bohemian crystal chandelier. A record!
• Dive into the depths of Istanbul as you visit the Basilica Cistern, legacy of Byzantium. Held up by more than 300 columns, it originally sheltered the city's drinking water.
• Go into the incredible Sultanahmet Camii, also called the Blue Mosque because of the azure tiles that adorn it. As mesmerising as it is refined.
• Bargain for souvenirs in the Beyazit Grand Bazar, the world’s largest with 200,000 m2 home to 4,000 shops. You may even find Aladdin’s lamp!
• Relax in the famous Turkish baths. These renowned hammams may not be used for health purposes anymore, but they’ll definitely contribute to your well-being. The best is the Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam.
• Check out the Hodjapasha or Silivrikapi Cultural Centres to see their whirling dervishes. A real show!
• Change up your diet of Döner Kebabs by trying another Turkish sandwich: the balik ekmek, a fillet of grilled fish in a half-loaf of bread.
• Have a Turkish coffee while sampling Turkish delight and baklava, the best of local pastry, and bring the strong and the sweet together on your palate.