The great thing about this city is that it has one foot in Europe and the other on the Asian continent, and it shows. This is where East meets West. Local girls wearing skimpy tops and short skirts walk around the stalls of the old Souk while veiled women at McDonalds are enjoying their hamburger meals. Even though it is not Turkey's capital, this is the place where it is all happening. It has the best designer shops, fanciest restaurants and trendiest bars in the country. The great thing is that many bars and restaurants have rooftop terraces, which is especially nice in the summer time. If you are going to try one then try the NuTeras in the Beyoglu district. You can admire the views of the Golden Horn while nibbling on your Turkish pizza and sipping a gorgeous glass of rose. For a real taste of the Turkish cuisine, get the waiter to bring you a sample dish of appetizers at any eatery in town. Try Kanaat Lokantasi on the Asian side of town, if you can't decide which authentic Turkish restaurant to go to. They serve great local dishes and there are no tourists in sight! A nice way to get out of the hustle and bustle of Istanbul, is to hop on the ferry to the island of Buyuka in the Marmara sea. Reminisce about times gone by while floating past opulent mansions. Get off the boat at dawn and cool off with a nice cold drink at the little tavern next to the Monastery of St George of the Bells and look back onto the glittering skyline of Istanbul. Sounds good? Then book your cheap flight to Istanbul now.