Located midway on the European and the Asian continent, Turkey is probably the trendiest destination you’ll have the chance to visit in 2020! Major point of interest of the Silk Road while being a global economic and cultural exchange center between the occident and the orient, Istanbul is home to world-famous ruins and historical monuments reminding us about its rich history of conquest by the greatest empires that reigned over the world including the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Although it may seem costly to get there, backpackers won’t be disappointed with their purchasing power once they arrived in the former Ottoman Empire.

Take advantage of KLM and Pegasus Airlines flights to the capital city Istanbul (SAW) from Vancouver (YVR) for only $986, roundtrip. I uncovered ~20 stays at discounted prices in February 2020, including options for Valentine’s Day. All flights have a stopover in Amsterdam.

Did you know that Istanbul’s historical sites were among the first to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage collection? To make sure your trip is a success, I recommend visiting the former cathedral Hagia Sophia. As the epitome of the Byzantine architecture, this engineering marvel of its time is believed to have changed the history of architecture.