Top things to do in Istanbul
Attractions, tours, and activities in Istanbul
Recommended museums in Istanbul
Where to find art and culture in Istanbul
Istanbul: the city's best neighborhoods
Find a great area to stay in Istanbul
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Old City Sultanahmet
0.2 miles from downtown
Begin your adventure in Sultanahmet Square: the gateway to the historic center. In Topkapi Palace, Byzantine artifacts shine proudly in the display cases. Hagia Sophia’s mosaics are time-worn, reflecting the history of a space that has been both mosque and church across 1.5 millennia. Funky bars and cozy cafes summon you to come enjoy a drink.
Places to stay from $5 a night
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Taksim
2 miles from downtown
Street culture, energetic cafes and antique stores with unique treasures await in this cosmopolitan district. Fashionistas will have a field day at the boutiques on Istiklal Avenue. Concerts, movie theaters and exhibition centers provide family-friendly entertainment, and the trendy clubs and bars bring out the glamourous after dark.
Places to stay from $5 a night
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Ortakoy
4 miles from downtown
Ortakoy’s residents are youthful and cosmopolitan. Among the swathes of modern art galleries, you'll find eateries tempting you with delicious local delicacies. One of the area's oldest buildings is the Turkish Bath, followed by the neo-Baroque Ortakoy Mosque. Take a cruise across the Bosporus, or shop for trinkets at the emporiums.
Places to stay from $12 a night
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Kadikoy
3.8 miles from downtown
To stay in Kadıköy means immersing yourself in traditional Turkish culture, and it’s a fast ferry ride from this residential district to the city’s prime attractions. Elaborate wooden houses that creak with the passing of time, and remnants of the Roman Empire await as you wander the streets. Indulge in mouth-watering Turkish Delights from Akustik Market.
Places to stay from $6 a night
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Besiktas
4 miles from downtown
Fragments of the Ottoman Empire remain in this district on the coast. Picnic or play in the flower-filled groves of Yildiz Park, followed by a walk to Ortakoy – inviting cafes by day and plush clubs by night. Salute the sea at the Turkish Naval Museum, see and be seen in trendy Bebek and Kurucesme, or crown your day at Dolmabahce Palace.
Places to stay from $12 a night
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Sisli
3.3 miles from downtown
Sisli is a large district on the European side of Istanbul, near the Bosporus Bridge. A mix of mosques, churches and synagogues make the area eclectic. The Trump Towers and Cevahir Shopping Mall are reminders of the growing tide of commercialism sweeping through the area. The narrow streets of Nisantasi are loaded with boutiques and galleries.
Places to stay from $6 a night
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Topkapi
1.9 miles from downtown
Take a decent pair of walking shoes to navigate the 3.4-mile stretch atop the 8th-century City Walls of Constantinople. Make sure to spend some time at Kara Ahmet Pasha Mosque, a medieval learning center that houses painstakingly detailed mosaics. The area maintains its scholarly nature, with many cafes and student haunts.
Places to stay from $12 a night
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Beyazit
0.8 miles from downtown
There’s a sort of haze around the palaces, towers and gardens around Beyazit Mosque, giving the feeling of being lost in time. The mosque has stood proudly since 1506 and weathered many storms over its cut-stone exterior. The Grand Bazaar is filled with the sights, smells and sounds of an authentic Turkish market.
Places to stay from $6 a night
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Asian Side
6.9 miles from downtown
The Asian side of Istanbul lives on the edge of the past and present. Kadıköy is a mix of scents and sounds; in Moda, buy tapas-style food from a quirky street vendor, then wander past tattoo parlors and street art for a live exhibition of urban Istanbul flow. Buy branded clothing on Bagdat Avenue, then dine out in style.
Places to stay from $6 a night
About Istanbul
Including tips for the best time to visit Istanbul
Istanbul is a timeless crossroads of cultures, religions, and civilizations, the meeting point of Europe and Western Asia.
Greek, Persian, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences are all over the city to this day. The breathtaking Hagia Sophia stood as an ornate church for over 1,000 years before being converted into an Imperial Mosque, which it remained for another 500 years. There's also Topkapi Palace, an extravagant complex of courtyards, halls, and terraces with beautiful views over the Bosphorus Strait. Today, both structures are religious museums that draw in millions of visitors every year.
The Blue Mosque is another striking example of Byzantine-Ottoman blended architecture, with its domes, towering minarets, and blue İznik tiles covering the interior. For a full view of the mosque’s design, enter through the crumbling remains of a Roman-era hippodrome in Sultanahmet Square.
However, Istanbul’s oldest landmarks can easily be overlooked. Several hundred ancient cisterns lie deep beneath the ground where water was delivered from a local reservoir through 12 miles of aqueducts. The largest of these is the Basilica Cistern, which you can explore along raised wooden platforms.
Back on ground level, the Grand Bazaar will blow you away with its maze-like network of artisanal shops and cozy teahouses. Work up an appetitie while exploring, before grabbing a Dürüm wrap on a street corner, or some delicious meze in a bistro-style restaurant in Sultanahmet.
Tonight
From $21 per night
This weekend
From $43 per night
Next weekend
From $43 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | € 1 = $1.02 |
| Language | Turkish |
| Average weekend price | $96 per night |
| Average weekday price | $99 per night |
| Average stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Istanbul
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Istanbul
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Taksim Square
2.1 miles from downtown
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Blue Mosque
0.2 miles from downtown
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Topkapi Palace
0.6 miles from downtown
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Grand Bazaar
0.4 miles from downtown
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Hagia Sophia
0.3 miles from downtown
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Istiklal Street
2 miles from downtown
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Bosphorus Bridge
4 miles from downtown
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Galata Tower
1.2 miles from downtown
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Suleymaniye Mosque
0.8 miles from downtown
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Maiden's Towers
1.8 miles from downtown
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Istanbul reviews
What other travelers say about Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world,...
July 6, 2022
Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but discomfort of transport may spoil all your vacation. Very difficult go from one place to another. Difficult public transport. Terrible taxi drivers. They do not take you if you go to a closer place or if you are not a rich-looking Arab.
Great city for history lovers.
July 5, 2022
Great city for history lovers. The mosques are the best. Most people were nice and hospitable. Be prepared to walk a lot up and down hills. Traffic is huge and in most cases walking and driving takes the same time. Download BiTaxi app or Uber, or lean how to use public transportation along with google map.
Istanbul is a great vacation destination.
July 4, 2022
Istanbul is a great vacation destination. An ideal mix of historical legacy and modern contemporary city. Delicious cheap food, helpful cafe staff. I felt very safe in a city of millions. I recommend using water transport.
We had a professional guide booked by the hotel.
July 4, 2022
We had a professional guide booked by the hotel. Professional guides in Turkey are licensed by the government and have university training. Our guide was a informative and tuned in to what we were interested in seeing and learning about. That made a huge difference in our Istanbul experience.
Istanbul is a marvelous city and it was my long standing...
July 4, 2022
Istanbul is a marvelous city and it was my long standing wish to visit istanbul. after watching ertugral tv season for 5 times i was desparate to vissit istanbul and sogut. i really enjoyed my vacations in istanbul. i will travel again to turkey and vissit antaliya and kapadicia, izmir that i missed this time
Istanbul is my favorite City destination, It has all the...
July 3, 2022
Istanbul is my favorite City destination, It has all the ingredient you need. Superb restaurants and Cafe's wherever you go, Transport network and options are world class, you can buy a Istanbul Card which you top up, allows travel on Metro/Tram/Ferries and buses One card for up to 4 people allowing travel anywhere in city at a really low cost, average cost of travel per trip was 13 TL which is compared to any other European City less than half the cost. I found that even though its a super busy tourist destination, prices were same wherever in Turkiye you travel, your not taken advantage of just because its a Tourist place, Unlike London,Paris,Berlin,Frankfurt, Madrid,Barcelona,Geneva Brussels,Rome,Athens,Amsterdam which I have traveled in and can confirm are way overpriced. I felt totally safe walking Narrow streets at past midnight, which is a not how I feel walking in any of the other European cities.
Popular places to stay in Istanbul
Stay in some of the best accommodations Istanbul has to offer
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Blue Mosque Suites 2 Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $162 per night
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Ararat Apart Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $116 per night
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White House Hotel Istanbul Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $150 per night
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Q Suites Old City-Best Group Hotels Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $132 per night
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Blue Mosque Suites Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $147 per night
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