On a first visit, you’ll be blown away by the architecture, the food, the cafés and especially the hustle and bustle of the city.  One of the most breathtaking and famous monuments in Istanbul is the Hagia Sophia.  Built as an Orthodox basilica in the year 360, the Hagia Sophia has served as a church, a mosque and now a museum, and is thought to be the architectural model for many other Ottoman mosques. The Hagia Sophia is also thought to be one of the world’s greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture.  While the exterior is certainly majestic, the interior is also worth noting.  The ornate mosaics and central dome have all been preserved along with a number of interesting artefacts from the thousands of years since this massive structure was built.  You can spend a whole day studying these beautiful examples from the various periods of Turkish history.

Photo credit: David Spender

A much newer but similarly ornate example of a mosque in the area is the Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmed Mosque.  Though still a fully  functioning mosque, the Blue Mosque has also become a popular attraction for visitors to Istanbul. Located just next to the Hagia Sophia, it’s interesting to visit both and compare the two in terms of size, structure and especially interior. Dominated by blue colours, the mosaics and interior of the Blue Mosque are ornate and definitely unique.  Though not as renowned as its neighbour, the Blue Mosque is an interesting place to visit and gives another view on the history of mosques and religious structures in the area.

Photo credit: David Spender

The Bosphorous or Istanbul Strait forms the boundary between Europe and Asia and acts as a sort of dividing line between two parts of the city.  Connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, there are some picturesque and attractive waterfront homes on both sides of this waterway that tend to house some of the more well-to-do Istanbulites.  Some of these homes date back to the Ottoman area and most are quite colourful.

Photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar

Of course no visit to Istanbul would be complete without a visit to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.  One of the largest and oldest covered market in the world, the frenetic pace of the Grand Bazaar will ensure that even the most seasoned traveller finds his head spinning.  With fifty-eight separate streets and a reported 1,200 shops, the bazaar offers something for everyone and includes corners for spices, jewellery, handicrafts, rugs and more.  Get ready to haggle and bargain and you may walk away with that perfect souvenir from your travels to Istanbul.

Photo credit: shioshvili

Of course you don’t have to take my word for it.  With fares this March from London to Istanbul starting at only £75 return on EasyJet, you can head to Istanbul to see for yourself the fantastic clash of cultures and history that makes the city so unique.

Photo credit: lyng883

Perhaps one of the most famous landmarks in Copenhagen, the Little Mermaid statue sits on a rock in the Copenhagen harbour and honours one of the city’s most renowned residents, author and poet Hans Christian Andersen.  Though I was surprised by the small size of the statue when I first visited, it has become such an icon of Danish culture and history, that I feel it was definitely worth a visit.

Photo credit: B a m s h a d

As Copenhagen is a very pedestrian city, take advantage of some spare time and stroll along the waterfront area to take in the brightly coloured buildings lining the water.  Though its quite touristy, sometimes popping into a café or sitting on an outdoor terrace here will fulfil your people-watching desires and make you realise you’re actually in Copenhagen!  Whilst strolling, don’t miss the National Museum (Nationalmuseet) which houses a huge, authentic Viking ship that has been rebuilt and sits massively in the centre of an exhibit hall.  Seeing this glimpse of the Viking culture of Denmark’s past and enjoying some of the other prehistoric artefacts and treasures in the museum was one of the highlights of my trip.

Photo credit: Stig Nygaard

If you’re looking for a bit more fast-paced adventure and fun, head over to the Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen’s own famous amusement park located right in the centre of the city.  The most-visited park of its kind in Scandinavia, and the third-most visited throughout Europe, Tivoli Gardens includes whimsical architecture, tons of rides including a wooden roller coaster and the world’s tallest carousel and is a great place to spend a day, especially with children.

Photo credit: Double Feature

If you’ve got the time, head out of town to visit the gorgeous Kronborg castle on the far eastern tip of Denmark.  A UNSECO site and setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Kronborg castle is so breathtaking, it makes you wonder why “something was rotten in the state of Denmark!”  Surrounded on all sides by water, and with Sweden just 4km across the sea, it’s easy to see how this was a strategic location for the Danes.  The castle is definitely worth a trip out of town and the gorgeous views from the location will not disappoint.

Do you want to see Copenhagen for yourself?  Fly from London from only £46 return, or from Manchester from only £73 on the last weekend of June.  It’s a fantastic city with tons to discover!

Photo credit: laura padgett

Any first-time visitor to D.C. will delight in seeing the various governmental buildings that have been made famous on both the news and films of all kinds.  Most of these buildings offer tours free of charge.  The most interesting in my opinion is the Capitol building where both houses of Congress are housed.  Check the American flags on either end of the building – if they are flying, it means that particular legislative body is in session.  When in session, the galleries of both the House and Senate are open to the public, free to visit and definitely worth seeing when debates are raging and the votes are being counted.

Photo credit: NCinDC

Another fantastic and free attraction is the series of Smithsonian museums lining the National Mall.  Whilst strolling the Mall can be an attraction in itself with the breathtaking views from the Lincoln Memorial all the way up to the Capitol building, some of the most interesting things can be spotted from the buildings dotting the sides of the National Mall, most a part of the Smithsonian Institution.  Stop into the National Museum of American History to see some interesting American artifcats, the Natural History Museum to check out some huge dinosaur skeletons up close, the relatively new National Museum of the American Indian for a glimpse of Native American history and culture or the widely popular National Air and Space museum to see some huge airplanes and space memorabilia.  Not only are these museums outstanding, but they are all free of charge, so you can spend as much or as little time as you’d like exploring their collections.

Photo credit: krossbow

Washington, D.C. is a small, walkable city that is comprised of a series of different and interesting neighbourhoods, which makes it quite interesting to explore on foot.  For a taste of international culture and nightlife, head to Adams Morgan.  Sample Ethiopian food, enjoy a happy hour or sit on a terrace to people watch…there are plenty of fun and diverse things to do and see in this part of the city.

Photo credit: patrickneilm

Georgetown is also a beautiful place for a stroll.  The historic centre of the city, Georgetown is right on the Potomac River and offers visitors plenty of shopping and dining options.  The narrow streets and terrace dining always remind me of a European city, or at least the closest you can get in the United States.

Would you like to take a trip to Washington, D.C. to see all these sites for yourself?  Flights from London to Washington, D.C. start from £343 return in June.