The city's monuments are the stuff of legend. The church of Hagia Sophia has inspired poets and artists for 1500 years, while its neighbour the Blue Mosque is possibly the most famous structure in the Islamic world. A hundred metres from its doors, the giant cistern of Constantine offers a shady retreat from the sun. The legendary harbour of the Golden Horn is overlooked by the Galata Tower, built by Genoese settlers to defend their trading empire. Within the palace of the Ottoman Sultans, the treasures of five hundred years are displayed to amaze the visitor as they once awed reigning monarchs, while souvenirs and spices from across Europe and Asia can still be bought in the city's magnificent bazaars.

airBaltic flights to Istanbul depart three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The cost of a one-way ticket starts at LVL 49 (EUR 72).