The elaborate etiquette of the Ottoman Empire lingers in many day-to-day rituals still observed in its greatest creation, the city of Istanbul. A good example is the ubiquitous and highly formalised system of greetings used by all locals, which harks back to the courtly manners refined in the imperial palaces of Topkapi and Dolmabahçe. Moreover, the practice of doing business over numerous glasses of tea is as common in today’s fiercely competitive and ultra-modern Turkish banking system as it was back in the days when the sultans received sacks of gold from the turbaned representatives of their far-flung colonies.

A city that has enticed visitors for centuries can hardly be done justice in one weekend. However, this sampling of İstanbul’s highlights will give you a good taste of its many attractions – while leaving you eager to come back for more. Here’s GoTravelDaily’s guide to a perfect weekend in İstanbul.

What’s it like to travel as someone who doesn’t drink alcohol? For one thing, it can mean feeling like you’ve missed out on a whole side to a destination. No bar crawls, no searching out the local speakeasy, no making friends with locals and other travelers at some underground nightclub. Booze is, as we all know, a social lubricant, so not partaking can leave us teetotallers feeling left out. But there is a solution.