Rose Valley

The Ottoman court for four centuries, a series of courtyards above the Bosphorus holding the treasury, the harem quarters and relic collections.

A sixth-century Byzantine cathedral that later became a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again, with a 31-metre dome and surviving gold mosaics.

One of the world's oldest covered markets, with around 4,000 shops along vaulted lanes selling carpets, gold, ceramics and textiles.

A sixth-century underground water cistern held up by 336 columns, including two reused Medusa heads at its far end.

Cappadocia is a plateau of soft volcanic tuff eroded into valleys, cones and ridges, which people have carved into churches, houses and entire underground cities since Byzantine times. Balloon flights at dawn are the signature activity, weather permitting, and hiking between the valleys is free and straightforward. Göreme is the usual base.

A cluster of rock-cut monastic churches with Byzantine frescoes, the densest surviving group in Cappadocia.