‘Turkey gave us one of the most exhilarating experiences of our lives’: readers’ travel tips

When Istanbul gets too much, a day trip to the nearby Princes’ Islands provides the perfect antidote. The ferry service is on sturdy, Glasgow-built vessels, departing from Sirkeci, near the railway station. Büyükada, the largest island, is a 90-minute ferry ride away. We loved the old-fashioned charm of this summer retreat, with its grand old wooden houses painted in pastels and its total absence of cars. Transport is provided by elegant, horse-drawn faytons (carriages) or bikes, both for hire. There’s a good selection of restaurants and shops and leafy streets of splendid villas to stroll through. The best is yet to come though. Make sure you time your return to approach Istanbul just before sunset. The sight of the great domes and minarets of the imperial mosques glowing gently as an enormous red sun dips slowly below the horizon is unforgettable. Chris Dunham