Standing at a natural crossroads, Istanbul makes a good base for excursions into the neighnouring areas of Thrace and the Sea of Marmara. Whether you want to see great Islamic architecture, immerse yourself in a busy bazaar, relax on an island or catch a glimpse of Turkey's rich birdlife, you will find a choice of destinations within easy reach of the city.

On public holidays and at weekends nearby resort are crowded with İstanbul residents taking a break from the noisy city. For longer breaks, they head for the Mediterranean or Aegean, so summer is a good,quiet time to explore the Thrace and Marmara regions.

The country around Istanbul varies immensely from lush forests to open plains and, beyond the, impressive mountains. The Princes' Islansds, where pine forests and monasteries can ve toured by a pleasant ride in a horse drawn carriage, are also just a short boat trip away from city.A little further away, the lakeside town of İznik is world famous for its creamics. Tis art form, which reached its zenith in the 16th and 17th centuries, is one of the wonders of Ottoman art, and original pieces are highly prized.

To the northwest, near the Greek border, is Edirne, a former Ottoman capital. It is visited today for its mosques, especially the Selimiye. Edirne also stages Kırkpınar grease-wrestling matches every June when enthusias tic crowds flosck to enjoy the contest an the accompaying folk festival.

South of the Sea of Marmara is the pretty spa town of Bursa. Originally a Greak city, it was founded in 183 BC. The first Ottoman capital, it has some fine architecture and also maintains the tradition of the Karagöz shadow puppet theatre. Near the mouth of the straits of the Dardanelles lie the ruins of the legendary city of Troy, datinng from 3600 BC. North of the Dardanelles are cemeteries commemorating the thousans of solidiers killed in the battles fought over the Gallipoli Peninsula during World War I.