Runway to Ride: Istanbul and Sofia - Bucharest

Istanbul is one of the truly great romantic cities. It's home to a layering of civilization upon civilization, of empire built upon empire. A stroll through this historic city will reveal ancient Roman hippodromes, peristyles, and aqueducts, the greatest excesses of the Byzantine Empire, and the mystique and power of the Ottoman Empire. In this sprawling, continent-spanning city you can walk the streets where crusaders and janissaries once marched; admire mosques that are the most sublime architectural expressions of Islamic piety; peer into the sultan's harem; and hunt for bargains in the Kapali Carsi.

Visit and explore the Ayasofya,Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, Suleymaniye Camii, St. Savior in Chora, the New Mosque, Galata Tower, Taksim Square, the Hippodrome and so much more!

One of the oldest capital cities in Europe, Sofia dates back to the 8th century BCE. Its landmarks reflect more than 2,000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Soviet occupations. Sofia houses numerous museums, notably the National Historical Museum which has a vast collection of more than 650,000 historical items. Sofia is one of the hippest cities in Bulgaria, boasting a lively nightlife scene with many different nightclubs, live venues, pubs, mehani (Bulgarian traditional taverns), and restaurants. The city also offers large green spaces and manicured gardens, and the ski slopes and hiking trails of mighty Mount Vitosha are just a short bus ride away.

Visit and discover the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Boyana Church, National Historical Museum, Banya Bashi Mosque, Church of St. George, Vitosha Boulevard, Mount Vitosha, National Palace of Culture, St. Sophia Church, St. Nedelya Church, National Art Gallery, Central Sofia Market Hall, Cherni Vrah, Sofia Synagogue, Church of St. Petka of the Saddlers, Museum of Socialist Art, and so much more.

Once known as the 'Little Paris', Bucharest, Romania's capital, is known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, and glorious Belle Epoque buildings. There is even an Arc de Triomphe on a boulevard longer than the Champs Elysees, with a variety of trees that flower beautifully in the spring. You will be intrigued by the city's eclectic mixture of architecture, from old monasteries and Orthodox Churches, to Second Empire mansions, the stolid Stalinist architecture of the communist years, and the colossal Parliament House, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon.

Visit and explore the amazing Palace of Parliament, Romanian Athenaeum, Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, King Michael I Park, Cismigiu Gardens, National Museum of Art of Romania, Stavropoleos Monastery, Arcul de Triumf, Revolution Square, National Museum of Romanian History, Cotroceni Palace, Mogosoaia Palace, University Square, Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse, and so much more.