Best of Istanbul

Istanbul -- half Europe, half Asia, completely stunning.

Nowhere does fusion like the best of Istanbul, a metropolis that owes as much to its centuries of history as it does to its emergence as one of the most dynamic cities in Asia or Europe.

It's strikingly beautiful. The Bosphorus -- aka the Istanbul Strait, the stretch of water that divides two continents -- stretches calmly before you under the warmth of the sun while the city soars above the shore. 

But, mostly, the best of Istanbul is a jumble of activity, 13 million citizens strong, from celebrants staggering out of bars at 4 a.m. to imams calling the faithful out to prayer at dawn.

You can hear the hustle just as surely as you can see it. The horns of impatient taxi drivers. The lilting melodies of street musicians. The laughter of children. The clinking of raki glasses. And always, the whining cries of seagulls overhead.

No danger of getting lost on the way back to the House Hotel Bosphorus.The House Hotel Bosphorus

This 19th-century landmark is now a hotel offering, among other rooms, a penthouse suite with a 180-degree view of the surroundings and a private wraparound terrace.

The modern and minimalist interior was created by the famed Turkish Autoban design firm, while the Lounge Bar serves drinks with a seaside view.

It’s a bit far from the city center (a 20-minute drive), but the area has restaurants, cafés and shopping, as well as a close-up view of the Bosphorus Bridge.

Now that's what brings us to Turkey -- a real hamam.Turkish hamam bath

The Turkish bath is a revelatory experience. The process includes a period of preparing the skin for bathing in a sauna-like room, followed by a full-body wash and massage.

The Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı provides a luxurious, female-only hamam experience inside a building designed by Mimar Sinan in 1556 for the wife of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, Hürrem Sultan.

Services include traditional Turkish bath, redbud essence peeling application, body clay masks, aromatherapy massage and much more.

Another notable Turkish bath is Cağaloğlu Hamamı located in Sultanahmet. It was built for Sultan Mahmut I in 1741, and now services both men and women.

The best of Istanbul hamam has been featured on television and film and has been the site for illustrious visitors like Edward VIII of England, Kaiser Wilhelm, Franz Liszt, Florence Nightingale and Tony Curtis.