In three short days in this gleaming modern mega-city you can immerse yourself in nearly 3,000 years of history, from Roman ruins to Byzantine marvels, Ottoman treasures and modern amusements.

Istanbul is a very kid-friendly city, with plenty of eye-popping attractions, including many tailored just for them.

Turkey's biggest city is full of gorgeous public parks, waterside walkways and historic or cultural landmarks that can occupy you for hours.

In a city so packed with history and adventure, there are tons of fun, quirky, enlightening places that are not overrun with tourists.

Traffic in Istanbul is terrible, but ferries can cruise you out of the city's snarl in minutes. Also, airfare within Turkey is shockingly inexpensive, so don't rule out the idea of flying somewhere near Istanbul just for the day.