Ottomans & Idyllic Isles

Istanbul (Byzantium from 660 BC, Constantinople from 330 CE, and Istanbul since 1930) is the largest city in Turkey and the fifth largest city proper in the world. It has dominated the Straits of Bosphorus, in the NW of the country, for 25 centuries, and as Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. It was a metropolis of stunning splendour when the great capitals of Europe were mere villages and is the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. Read more about Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul (Byzantium from 660 BC, Constantinople from 330 CE, and Istanbul since 1930) is the largest city in Turkey and the fifth largest city proper in the world. It has dominated the Straits of Bosphorus, in the NW of the country, for 25 centuries, and as Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. It was a metropolis of stunning splendour when the great capitals of Europe were mere villages and is the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. Read more about Istanbul, Turkey

Dikili is a small coastal town and a district of Izmir Province, Turkey, facing the Aegean Sea. It lies 73 km N of the large and more frequently visited city of Izmir, and faces out to sea the island of Lesbos. Dikili has a fine port large enough to accommodate three passenger ships simultaneously, and the port has good land transport connections. Read more about Dikili, Turkey

Bodrum Peninsula is located in the Aegean region of Turkey. The Aegean Coast is an extraordinary place, with its immense unspoilt coastline and warm climate which offers all year round sunshine. The place where the first Christian Church was built, and where the art of wine making was developed, it boasts astonishing historical sites and natural wonders that rival any other place in the world. Read more about Bodrum, Turkey

Kusadasi is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast and the centre of the seaside district of the same name. While best known as a starting point for visiting Ephesus, once one of the most beautiful cities in the world with a history dating from 3000 BC, there’s also a delightful range of activities in town. Places of interest include: the City Walls, of which one gate remains to-day; the peninsula at the end of the bay with its castle and swimming beaches; several aqua parks with wave-pools and white-water slides; Ladies Beach, once segregated but now open to all; and Dilek Peninsula National Park. Read more about Kusadasi, Turkey

Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the Aegean Sea, about 200 km from Greece's mainland. It is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion some 3500 years ago, which destroyed the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and which resulted in the creation of the current geological caldera. Take the cable car to view the beautiful panorama of Santorini. Read more about Santorini, Greece

Rhodes is the principal city of the island of the same name, situated in the Aegean Sea. It is renowned for having the longest summer of any of the Greek islands. It is famous for being the site of the Colossus of Rhodes - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - as well as being the home of the Citadel of Rhodes, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. Read more about Rhodes, Greece

Limassol, located on Akrotiri Bay on the southern coast of Cyprus, is widely known for its long cultural tradition and offers tourists a wide spectrum of activities, as well as a number of museums, and archaeological sites. A series of public sculptures, created by renowned artists from Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Germany and Egypt, are found along 1.6 km of seafront reclaimed land, and are appreciated by all visitors. If time permits, visit the ancient city kingdom of Amathus to explore the ruins and its ancient port. Read more about Limassol, Cyprus

Marmaris, located on the Mediterranean coast in south-west Turkey, is probably the most popular sailing and holiday resort of the country. In this Turkish jewel you will find plenty of places to shop and sample the local cuisine, with delicious wines that could easily compete against many European vineyards. The harbour, filled with yachts, is overlooked by a small, historic castle built in 1522, which has now become a museum with numerous pieces of archaeological interest from local sites. Read more about Marmaris, Turkey

Heraklion is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region, and the economic centre of this Greek Island. It is a town with modern buildings, but it is probably the surrounding area of amazing beaches, delightful villages, and impressive gorges that accord it its popularity. Heraklion is home to some of Greece's most important archaeological sites. Read more about Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Mykonos is the principal town of the island of the same name, which is part of the Cyclades, and could well be described as the most sophisticated of the Greek Islands. Visited by innumerable international celebrities - you may even see some enjoying a coffee on the sidewalk - it is not surprising that it is considered by many to be one of the top tourist destinations in the world. It is also an island with beautiful landscapes, scores of churches, some fascinating monuments, and windmills. Read more about Mykonos, Greece

Athens, the capital and largest city of Greece, is also one of the world's oldest cities with an unparalleled history that spans around 3,400 years. Experiencing long periods of sunshine throughout the year, and known as "the cradle of Western civilisation", it is a 'must-see' destination for world travellers. The city contains a fascinating variety of different architectural styles, ranging from Greco-Roman through Neo-Classical, to Modern. Read more about Athens, Greece

Split, in Croatia, is a busy port on the shores of the Mediterranean and has numerous ferries operating to and from nearby islands. It is also a popular tourist resort with beaches and pleasant promenades. Venetian, Gothic and Renaissance houses and several medieval churches add architectural interest. Read more about Split, Croatia

Located along one of Montenegro's most beautiful bays is picturesque Kotor. The bay is the deepest natural inlet in the Adriatic Sea, and the scenery around it is spectacular. Its well-preserved Old Town - surrounded by an impressive city wall - nestles at the head of southern Europe’s deepest sunken river valley. Read more about Kotor, Montenegro

Corfu Island, located just off the west coast of Greece, boasts some of the most stunning scenery in the Greek Isles. With its impressive landscapes, rich vegetation, long golden beaches, the elegant capital Corfu Town, and many traditional villages, it is not surprising that this island receives many visitors each year. The capital is possibly most impressive, due to the Venetian, French and English civilisations that are remembered for the architectural elements they have left behind. Read more about Corfu, Greece

The scenic seaside Greek town of Katakolon, with a population around 3,000, is your typical small-town cruise port with delightful cafes along the waterfront, shops that sell T-shirts, hats and jewellery, and a small beach that draws swimmers and sandcastle-builders. But that's not why ships make the town a destination. They arrive because Katakolon serves as the cruise gateway to ancient Olympia, just 40 km away, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Read more about Katakolon, Greece

Messina is a harbour on the eastern coast of Sicily, a short ferry crossing to mainland Italy lying to the east. Due to the several earthquakes that have struck the area on several occasions, the city is almost completely modern. Mostly viewed as the starting point for tours and trips to Taormina and Mount Etna, both of which are truly unforgettable, it also has much to offer in the way of history and beauty. Read more about Messina, Italy

Valletta (aka Belt Valletta, Città Umilissima) - traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's principal administrative district - is the capital city of Malta, located in the central-eastern portion of the island. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is essentially Baroque in style, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture. Don’t miss the the majestic St John’s Co-Cathedral, with its imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings. Read more about Valletta, Malta

Tunis, the capital of the Tunisian Republic and its largest city, is situated on the large Gulf of Tunis. It may be but a slim wedge of North Africa’s vast horizontal expanse, but Tunisia has enough history and diverse natural beauty to pack a country many times its size. The city takes you by surprise with its modern conference halls, hotels and banks, and bright yellow taxis rushing passengers to business lunches. Read more about Tunis, Tunisia

Palma de Mallorca is the major city and port on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. It is situated on the south coast of the island on the Bay of Palma, and almost half of the total population of Majorca live there. Visitors are spellbound by its blue waters, white beaches, lush foliage (almost 40 percent of the island is protected countryside), and 300 days of sunshine each year. Read more about Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Barcelona, located in Catalonia Spain, is Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the world’s major global cities. Today, Barcelona balances itself on the cutting edge of architecture, intellectual life, and style. Indeed Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect. Read more about Barcelona, Spain

Malaga is a lively, prosperous city on Spain's fabled Costa del Sol aside the Mediterranean Sea, just 100 km east of the Strait of Gibraltar. The city’s warm winter temperatures (average daytime of 17 C) make it an ideal place to visit any time of year. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabian and Christian eras convert the historic centre into an ‘Open Museum’ displaying its rich history of more than 3,000 years. Read more about Malaga, Spain

Seville is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain, and represents all that is Andalucian - flamenco, the horses, toros and more. It is a child of the Arab occupation and domain from which it acquired its flourishing architecture and personality. However it was reconquered by the Catholic kings, so it is not surprising that the city's cathedral, built from 1401–1519 and lavishly decorated with a lot of gold evident, sits on the former site of the city's mosque. Read more about Seville, Spain

Africa’s second largest city and Morocco’s largest city and chief port, Casablanca (Portuguese for ‘white house’), is located on the Atlantic Ocean in the west of the country. The city has passed through Arab, Portuguese, Dutch and French control, and the famous 1942 film Casablanca reflects its colonial status in the 1940s. Today it is the largest city of the Maghreb (Barbary Coast), land of the Berbers and Moors. Read more about Casablanca, Morocco

Agadir is a city in southern Morocco, surrounded by the Sahara Desert, natural parks and beaches. It is not typical of traditional Morocco as it has large buildings, wide roads, European-style cafés and modern hotels, because it was rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1960. The delightful beaches are extremely popular, while many visitors enjoy the local cuisine at restaurants that offer authentic Morrocan and French Moroccan fusion dishes. Read more about Agadir, Morocco

Lanzarote, the easternmost of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, lies about 125 km off the African coast. Due to its mild, dry climate it is regarded as a perfect year-round destination. Lack of erosion means that the volcanic landscape appears much as it did just after past eruptions. Read more about Lanzarote, Spain

Las Palmas, the ninth largest city of Spain, is situated on one of the smaller islands of the Canary Islands that are located just off the NW coast of mainland Africa. About twenty percent of all inhabitants of the entire group of islands live in this city. It is set in magnificent scenery of two bays and their beautiful beaches. Read more about Las Palmas, Spain

Funchal is the capital of Portugal’s Autonomous Region of Madeira an archipelago 880 SW of Portugal and 600 km NW of Morocco, in the north Atlantic. Funchal’s harbour offers plazas lined with shops, colourful houses spilling down hillsides, due to its almost amphitheatre-like formation, and a profusion of flowers. For a fine view of the magnificent bay, take the unique downhill basket sledge ride. Read more about Funchal, Portugal

Santa Cruz de la Palma (commonly known as Santa Cruz) is the capital the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. The port is of great importance and is the communications hub between Europe, Africa and the Americas, with cruise ships arriving from many nations. Not surprisingly, the city has a real cosmopolitan mix due to immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Western Europe. Read more about Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain

Santa Cruz de Tenerife (commonly known as Santa Cruz) is the capital the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. The port is of great importance and is the communications hub between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, with cruise ships arriving from many nations. Not surprisingly, the city has a real cosmopolitan mix due to immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Western Europe. Read more about Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain