Istanbul is the only city in the world which stands upon two continents, Asia and Europe, and bears the characteristics of being the capital city of two Great Empires, the Byzantine and the Ottoman.

Straddling the Bosphorus, its skyline studded with domes and minarets, Istanbul is one of the truly great romantic cities.

This busy Metropolis, with its wealth of ancient history and natural beauty, offers a friendly welcome and genuine hospitality.

Turkey has seven climatic regions. Istanbul is situated in the Marmara region, which includes eastern Thrace and Edirne. It's a countryside of rolling steppeland and low hills with an average yearly rainfall of 668mm (26.3in). Rainfall is highest (between 80mm/3.1in and 100mm/3.9in per month) from November to February; July and August have the least rainfall. Humidity follows the same pattern, with the lowest humidity (under 30%) in July, August and September, and the highest (over 60%) - a bone-chilling damp - in December and January.

Temperatures in July and August peak at around 30°C (86°F), with lows around 20°C (68°F). In December and January, temperatures can fall as low as 2°C (36°F), with daily highs only about 9°C (48°F). April, May, September and October are the best times to visit, with daytime highs usually around 16°C to 25°C (61°F to 77°F), and lows from around 9°C to 18°C (48°F to 64°F).