2013 marked an all-time high for Istanbul's tourism industry.
The city hosted 838,000 visitors in the first quarter of that year alone, a benchmark that hadn't been hit for a decade.
Tourism numbers for the country have since slipped, causing a drop in hotel prices, which means it's a great time to plan a trip to the city.
If you're in need of some inspiration, we've compiled a set of vintage photographs of the city taken by amateur photographer Charles Cushman during the 1960s.
Cushman's photos are evidence of the city's rich history and culture, both of which are still apparent to visitors of the city today.
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Here's Cushman's view of the Marmara coast from the Pan Am flight he took into Istanbul. The Marmara Sea, along with the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Strait, form the boundary that separates the Asian half of Istanbul from the European half.
While in Istanbul, Cushman stayed at the Hilton, which can be seen here, along with the Dolmabahce Mosque.
The Hilton offered spectacular views of the Bosphorus Strait.
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