Turkey

Istanbul has been the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires in turn, and the Hagia Sophia has been church, mosque, museum and mosque again across fifteen hundred years. The Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar sit within walking distance of one another, while Cappadocia’s cave dwellings and sunrise balloons are a short domestic flight inland. The Ottoman connection makes it feel familiar to Pakistani visitors in a way no other European-facing destination does, and Turkish television has made the landmarks recognisable before you arrive. The e-visa is quick and halal food is simply the norm.