Exploring the largest city in Europe in one weekend may seem ambitious. However, if you only have a couple of days to spend in transcontinental Istanbul, as I recently did, here is a short guide to what to do and where to stay.

The Touristy Essentials While Istanbul sits between Europe and Asia, its historical centre lies in the European, continental side, and all its main touristic attractions lay within walking distance of each other, which makes it very easy to see them all in one day- useful if time is in short supply. The magnificent Hagia Sophia is undoubtedly top of the list. The epytome of Byzantine architecture, it was built as a Greek orthodox church in the 7th century, turned into a mosque in the 15th century and eventually transformed into a museum in 1935. Its beautiful dome and mosaics  will leave you speechless. The windows in the upper gallery offer a beautiful view of the Blue Mosque, another landmark built in the 16th century opposite Hagia Sophia. Also unmissable is Topkapi Palace, the former primary residence of the Ottoman sultans. Built in the 15th century, this oasis of peace has sprawling gardens, airy verandas and beautiful, intricate mosaics and paintings. As well as being easy on the eye, it also offers an interesting visual history of the sultans’ court, with its Harem, Imperial Treasury, Bath of the Queen Mother, amongst its plethora of elegant buildings. The Basilica Cistern will particularly appeal to those interested in architecture: a beautiful piece of historical engineering, this underground water reservoir, built in the 6th century, is also known as the “Sunken palace”, due to the 336 beautiful, 9 meters high imposing marble columns supporting its structure. A mere 15 minutes walk from all those historical landmarks is 15th century Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world, with 60 streets, 5 000 shops and its own mosques, hammams and police station! Not for those with a propensity for claustrophobia, but worth the visit for the atmosphere. On the other side of the Bosphorus (but still walking distance) is the Galata Tower, an imposing 65-meter high Medieval stone tower buikt by the Genoese is the 15th century. Situated at the top of the busy, commercial district of Galata, it has the added advantage of housing a bar at the top, with beautiful views of the city and the Bosphorus- although be prepared to queue. Of course, there is much more to Istanbul than those well known landmarks, just as there is more to Paris than the Eiffel tower or to London than Big Ben. However, they are all impressive and make for a great introduction to this beguiling city. read more

It may well be one of the most tired cliches in travel writing, but Tulum really does look like paradise on Earth: fine white sand lined with coconut trees, aquamarine water (with no sharks or other nasties), lush jungle, eco-trendy thatched huts and the most magnificent Mayan ruins spread out on the beach. Beautifully preserved, this magnificent resort -the jewel of the Mayan Riviera, well ahead of the more known, but definitely less appealing, Cancun and Playa del Carmen- combines unspoilt natural surroundings with a trendy, sophisticated edge, making one feels like a modern-day Robinson Crusoe: surrounded by nature at its best, but also -which is rather nice- spoilt with top-notch restaurants, trendy boutiques and a beautiful, stylish crowd. A place not to be missed, all the more that its unspoilt nature might not last for very much longer, as developers have started hijacking the jungle to build some dreaded “condos”… read more

With deer running wild in the woods, trapeze artists flying from trees, a Bacchanalian midnight masked ball, an official House of Fairy Tales, horse riding in the forest and a Unicorn Theatre, Wilderness -winner of the Best New Festival in 2011 and Best Small Festival in 2012- has got to be the most magical festival ever. But it’s not all fairytale either: with its luxurious lakeside spa, delicious banquets from Ottolenghi, Hix, Polpo and Moro, and some seriously good bands –including Empire of the Sun and Noah and the Whale-, it thrives to satisfy all earthly desires too.

There is nothing like spending a long weekend at Wilderness, one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had. I discovered it last year and can’t wait to be back in August, this time with my daughters, who have been on the case since seeing the photos I took of mermaids canoodling on the lake, the madly inventive costumes worn by party goers (I’ll never forget the human sized raccoon I saw emerging from the lake at 2am), the Bugsy Malone set recreated by Secret Cinema and all kinds of surprises deep in the woods, including an ice ring and a 1920s jazz big band, not to mention the giant skinny dipping contest at dusk: I didn’t take part, but that was quite a show. read more

On 30 June, Chic-Londres was invited to the Wyndstock Midsummer Night’s Ball, a taster for the Wyndstock Garden Party Weekend, which will take place in the palatial splendour of Houghton Hall on the last weekend of August. What a party that was and what a weekend it will be! With its fairytale setting and hedonistic atmosphere, the utterly glamorous and slightly decadent Wyndstock is redefining the English summer house party. Highly recommended for those who like to dance until the small hours, dress up in their eccentric best and don’t mind a bit of camping!

The Place Wyndstock takes place in the spectacular grounds of Houghton Hall, a stately estate which is home to the Marquess of Cholmondeley. Situated in Norfolk and dating back to the 14th Century, the magnificent place emanates a fairytale quality, with its magical deer park, pristine manicured lawns, floral carpeted forests and an exquisite five-acre walled garden that belongs to another world entirely. Utterly enchanting and just a wood away from the Queen’s hunting estate of Sandringham, Wyndstock offers luxury camping facilities, but also invites its guests to bring their own tents. It takes about three hours to drive there from West London and there will be a coach service from Bethnal Green for those who don’t have their own transport. read more

Britain’s most eccentric sporting event is back! While the masses flock to Stratford, the Chap Olympiad will welcome the elegant and the un-athletic to its increasingly famous celebration of sporting ineptitude and immaculate trousers’ creases. Set in the quaint surroundings of Bedford Square on the 7th and 8th of July, the Olympiad is designed to reward panache over sporting prowess and requires minimum physical exertion. Gents and ladies are encouraged to come in period dress while there will be live bands, cabaret acts, side shows, tasty cocktails to add to the merriment.

For those who believe that sporting prowess is overrated, and who’d rather celebrate panache over physical exertion, then the Chap Olympiad -designed to separate the chaps from the cads- is just the place to be.

There, gentlemen can compete in inspired events such as the Raconteur’s Relay, Butler Baiting, Swooning the Ladies, Umbrella Joustling, Shouting at Foreigners, Moving Hat Stand and the legendary Pipeathlon, where contestants must complete three laps, including ten yards without their feet touching the ground (assistants allowed), while maintaining a fully lit pipe. read more

With banquets organized by deli master Yotam Ottolenghi and Michelin-starred chef Fergus Henderson, an outlandish masked ball set deep in the woods, an outdoor spa, Secret Cinema screenings, some philosophical talks by the School of Life and the Idler Academy and educational star-gazing sessions with the Royal Observatory, Wilderness brings a new twist to the summer festival concept. Oh… and the music is not bad either, with Temper Trap and Rodrigo y Gabriela on the list.

Curated by the producers of popular Lovebox and Secret Garden Party, Wilderness is a festival like no others. Launched last year, it aims to celebrate not just music, but also food, talks and debates, theatre, late night parties and outdoor pursuits. “For us, it’s important for friends and family to come along and use the weekend as a place to indulge the senses, relax, eat well, escape, learn and enjoy activities that aren’t so easily accessible in our day-to-day lives”, explain its founders. Like last year, it will be held in Oxfordshire at the beautiful Cornbury Estate on 10-12thAugust 2012. read more

Any excuse to party is a good one. And the first weekend of June promises to deliver, with London in particularly patriotic mood to celebrate Her Majesty’s 60th anniversary on the throne. So whether you fancy a few tipples at your own street party or prefer a more refined option -such as a dainty afternoon tea or a classical concert- there will be plenty to celebrate on the Diamond Jubilee long weekend. Here are a few suggestions…

For the Fashionista: Pret-a-Portea, the Royal Collection For the past few years, the Caramel room at The Berkeley has added a creative twist to the traditional English afternoon tea with pastries resembling the latest catwalk designs. However, from 29th May to 9th June 2012, cakes will be especially transformed to resemble the most memorable hats worn by the Royal Family, from the Queen’s crown to the infamous Philip Tracy fascinator worn by Princess Beatrice at the Royal Wedding last year.http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk read more

Now that summer is (hopefully) here to stay, why not enjoy a sunny Sunday punting on the River Cam? Only one hour from London by car or train, which makes it a perfect day outing, it is a lovely way to discover the beautiful old colleges of the University and Cambridge picturesque surroundings.

Punts, a type of flat-bottomed boats not dissimilar to gondolas, were introduced in Cambridge at the beginning of the 20th century by the students, who used them for both leisure trips and racing on the River Cam. Today, they are an almost mandatory way of discovering the old medieval colleges as well as the pretty countryside further upstream around Grantchester Meadows, a favourite for picnicking.

While companies hiring punts are aplenty, Doubletree by Hilton has launched a tailor-made (from two to 12 passengers) and rather stylish variation of the traditional experience, complete withgourmet picnic, punt umbrellas and blankets. Available to hotel guests and non-residents, they come in two versions: the first one (from £65.95 for two) includes a one hour self-driven punt ride, while the Ultimate Veuve Clicquot Punting & Picnic experience (from £120 for two) is  a chauffeur-driven 90-minute cruise. read more

Like your fashion with your music and the idea of a festival but without the roughing up? In that case, Vintage at Goodwood, set mid-August in the very chic West Sussex Estate which already hosts the renowned Festival of Speed, might be just for you… Aimed to celebrate five decades of British culture, it will not only feature concerts, but also fashion shows, including the launch of Lily Allen’s new label, the largest vintage fair in the world, pop up shops, art exhibitions, a roller disco, dance classes, burlesque shows and a series of rather glam sleeping options such as yurts, tipis and caravans.

Do we really need one more summer festival? Well, why the hell not, if it comes with a difference, which is certainly the case with Vintage at Goodwood, which aims to become an annual celebration of British cool over the last five decades, thanks to partnerships with The Design Museum, British Film Institute and British Music Experience.

Run from 13th to 15th August in Goodwood Estate, overlooking the Sussex coast, it will be the first event of its kind to combine music, fashion, design and retail, while bringing the idea of glam and comfortable camping: “Vintage at Goodwood will bring something fresh and unique to a summer festival circuit that in many ways has become stale, homogenised and one dimensional, explains Wayne Hemingway, one of its creators. We have carefully curated a celebratory festival that is unashamedly about dressing up rather than down and being comfortable rather than compromised.” read more

Oops, sorry! you will have to practice your French on that one.

Oops, sorry! you will have to practice your French on that one.