Stretching across two continents separated by the Bosphorus Strait, this ancient Silk Road city was once the capital of both the Christian Byzantine and Islamic Ottoman empires. Crumbling hammams rub shoulders with striking contemporary buildings, while the call to prayer from Hagia Sophia mosque can be heard from the 15th-century Grand Bazaar, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants. Istanbul is sewn together by a series of storied districts, which results in a varied hotel scene. Relive the Ottoman heyday in a Sultanahmet townhouse; book a boutique stay fuelled by cafes and galleries in Karaköy; or check in among the designer stores of Nişantaşı.

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Your indispensable guide to the capital

FROM AUSTRALIA TO UGANDA, WE REVEAL THE WORLD’S MOST EXCITING HOTEL OPENINGS. THE RESULT IS A LIST OF WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP THAT’S AS VARIED AS IT IS UNPARALLELED — WHETHER YOU WANT TO EAT THE FRESHEST PRODUCE AT AN UPSCALE FARM STAY, FIND DESIGNER DIGS IN THE CITY OR TUNE OUT ON A JUNGLE RETREAT IN THE MOUNTAINS