Fly from Paris to Porto from £18! (via @FlyFromParis)

Photo credit: AbhijeetRane

Do the rainy, grey skies of Paris have you feeling down?  Would you rather be in a seaside town enjoying sunshine and relaxation?  Head to Porto for the perfect city break!  Located on the western coast of Portugal, Porto is a large city that is one of the economic and cultural centres of the country.  With plenty of fantastic museums, the seaside location and of course Port wine to taste, Porto is a great place for a weekend away.

Fly from London to Dusseldorf from only £8! (via @FlyFromLondon)

Photo credit: Retinafunk

A major business centre in Germany, Düsseldorf is a busy city with plenty of things to see and do.  Stroll the streets of the old city, hit up some shops or ride to the tip top of the Rhine tower for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.  Once you’ve tired of sightseeing, duck into one of the many traditional German eateries for some delicious sausage and old-style beer.  A quick flight from London, you’ll feel worlds away as you discover a new city!

Fly from Frankfurt to Berlin from only £7! (via @FlyFromFRA)

Photo credit: rosshuggett

Though not far from Frankfurt, Berlin is a busy city that offers visitors so much to see and do.  A veritable hotbed of history, visitors can stroll along the East Side Gallery to see the longest existing section of the Berlin Wall, visit the world famous Berlin zoo for some animal entertainment or head to one of the many fantastic museums in the Museum Island area.  For a quick break from Frankfurt, Berlin’s the place to go!

Fly from Madrid to Milan from £7! (via @FlyFromMadrid)

Photo credit: rdesai

Want to trade your Spanish routine for something a bit more….Italian?  Milan is a bustling metropolitan area that is cosmopolitan and diverse, and is a great place to go for a weekend away.  Check out the beautiful Milan Cathedral that’s one of the largest in Europe along with some of the beautiful outdoor parks and plazas or spend your time people-watching and enjoying the delicious Italian trattorias.  Either way, Milan is a city with so much to enjoy and discover.

Fly from Milan to London from only £13! (via @FlyFromMilan)

Photo credit: raindog

Ready for some fantastic shopping opportunities or do you want to watch a musical in the West End?  London’s your city!  With culinary options as diverse and interesting as the city’s inhabitants, you’ll find yourself with almost too many restaurant options and your stomach will definitely be happy!  Enjoy one of the many museums in the city free of charge or concur your fear of heights by taking a ride on the famous London Eye which will give you the very best view of the city.

On a first visit, you’ll be blown away by the architecture, the food, the cafés and especially the hustle and bustle of the city.  One of the most breathtaking and famous monuments in Istanbul is the Hagia Sophia.  Built as an Orthodox basilica in the year 360, the Hagia Sophia has served as a church, a mosque and now a museum, and is thought to be the architectural model for many other Ottoman mosques. The Hagia Sophia is also thought to be one of the world’s greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture.  While the exterior is certainly majestic, the interior is also worth noting.  The ornate mosaics and central dome have all been preserved along with a number of interesting artefacts from the thousands of years since this massive structure was built.  You can spend a whole day studying these beautiful examples from the various periods of Turkish history.

Photo credit: David Spender

A much newer but similarly ornate example of a mosque in the area is the Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmed Mosque.  Though still a fully  functioning mosque, the Blue Mosque has also become a popular attraction for visitors to Istanbul. Located just next to the Hagia Sophia, it’s interesting to visit both and compare the two in terms of size, structure and especially interior. Dominated by blue colours, the mosaics and interior of the Blue Mosque are ornate and definitely unique.  Though not as renowned as its neighbour, the Blue Mosque is an interesting place to visit and gives another view on the history of mosques and religious structures in the area.

Photo credit: David Spender

The Bosphorous or Istanbul Strait forms the boundary between Europe and Asia and acts as a sort of dividing line between two parts of the city.  Connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, there are some picturesque and attractive waterfront homes on both sides of this waterway that tend to house some of the more well-to-do Istanbulites.  Some of these homes date back to the Ottoman area and most are quite colourful.

Photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar

Of course no visit to Istanbul would be complete without a visit to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.  One of the largest and oldest covered market in the world, the frenetic pace of the Grand Bazaar will ensure that even the most seasoned traveller finds his head spinning.  With fifty-eight separate streets and a reported 1,200 shops, the bazaar offers something for everyone and includes corners for spices, jewellery, handicrafts, rugs and more.  Get ready to haggle and bargain and you may walk away with that perfect souvenir from your travels to Istanbul.

Photo credit: shioshvili

Of course you don’t have to take my word for it.  With fares this March from London to Istanbul starting at only £75 return on EasyJet, you can head to Istanbul to see for yourself the fantastic clash of cultures and history that makes the city so unique.

Photo credit: rachel_thecat