happily get lost ambling around the streets of gamla stan for hours exploring its quaint cafes chatting up its friendly antique dealers browsing through its boutiques with strange curios before unwinding at a trendy bar over some local brews and then theres the famous nobel museum the stockholm cathedral and the royal palace with its 600 rooms said to be the largest in the world all mustsees tip summer is the perfect time to visit sweden that otherwise has the reputation of being cold and greyold town edinburgh scotland a unesco world heritage site edinburghs old town will evoke a happy sigh from even the most jaded traveller with its towering highrises dating back to the 1500s stunning restorationera cathedrals public buildings and the imposing edinburgh castle this old town is the stuff of legends from ghost walks to free walking tours to dungeon visits this place is filled with funfilled local tours that will help you soak in its real vibe when you have had your fill of folklore and fable the royal mile has dozens of vintage bars and grub hubs to make a pitstop for some traditional haggis and irn bru scotlands other national drink after whiskey tip fringe aug 5 aug 29 the largest arts festival in the world is held in edinburgh its programme list for 2016 is out plan your trip around the festsultanahmet istanbul turkey as dawn breaks and the muezzins call for prayer reverbates across the bosphorus sultanahmet slowly simmers into life screeching seagulls straightbacked fisherman waiting patiently for their first catch ferries chugging across the ancient waterway and the majestic haga sophia and blue mosque vying with each other to stun you with their architectural splendour sultanahmet is an intoxicating treat for the senses people watching while munching on a simit circular bread typically encrusted with sesame seeds is easily my favourite activity here but i did take breaks in between to chat up the gypsy traders of the grand bazar that grandmom of all bazars visit the blue mosque and marvel at the ancient wonder that the haga sofia is this old town is as exotic as it gets tip septemberoctober is the best time to visit istanbul less crowds cheap prices great weather