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 $13 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 $13 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 $11 a night
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Beyazit
0.7 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 $7 a night
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Asian Side
6.6 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
Next weekend
From $44 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | € 1 = $1.08 |
| Language | Turkish |
| Average weekend price | $89 per night |
| Average weekday price | $92 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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Pierre Loti
3.8 miles from downtown
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Suleymaniye Mosque
0.8 miles from downtown
Istanbul reviews
What other travelers say about Istanbul
Enjoyed the furry ride, walking around in the city, visiting...
May 4, 2024
Enjoyed the furry ride, walking around in the city, visiting the historical buildings, communicating with friendly locals. It was hard to find good restaurants with proper prices. They usually said they didn't have the less expensive options on the menu.
The Hagia Sophia museum was a good place to go to get to...
May 4, 2024
The Hagia Sophia museum was a good place to go to get to know some of the history of the area. The experience was different from what I had expected, with us having to move through in a group of 13 people, and with key video and sound effects. The Grand Bazaar was well worth a visit, and I ended up making some purchases that I had not expected. One could bargain - one had to bargain - but you are never sure if you get a good price. Also we noticed that having made one purchase, we were strongly encouraged to go to other vendors - brothers, cousins - especially carpet shops! The hop-on hop-off bus tour was also good; we did not hop-off but stayed on for the whole trip which took about 3 hrs. But beware - a lot of that time was spent in moving slowly through the old town!
This is one of the great citiies of the world and one of the...
May 3, 2024
This is one of the great citiies of the world and one of the great experiences of a lifetime. Asia meets Europe, vibrant and exotic. Wonderful bazaars and markets, astounding mosques and historic sights, delicious and varied foods at normally very affordable prices. Istanbul is a great destination - worth several. If you haven't been there before, give yourself at least three or four full days, otherwise you will regret having given yourself not enough time to explore this fascinating place.
There’s something for everyone!
May 3, 2024
There’s something for everyone! Steeped in history, from Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern to the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, to the various museums. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Market are for those who love to shop and haggle. There is plenty of walking around the city - you can walk to see the Galata Bridge and Tower, walk through green parks such as Gulhane Park etc. And for those who enjoy experiences, there are Bosphorus boat trips to the Asian side, the hammams and not to mention the incredible food.
Istanbul is great if visiting for the first time.
May 3, 2024
Istanbul is great if visiting for the first time. It is a must see. There are too many scams going on, which is a shame. We got scammed twice trying to top up our Istanbul transport card. Scammers willingly helped us off 18 Euro twice. The ticket machines are hard to use and the display in English usually doesn't work in them. For that reason there are too many confused tourists ready to be scammed. It is shambolic. You must come though, if you haven't been. On your second visit though, you have yourself to blame for getting robbed.
From charming architecture to breathtaking views of the...
May 2, 2024
From charming architecture to breathtaking views of the Bosphorus, to delicious local foods/ turkish delights and vibrant nightlife scenes, there's reason why Napoléon said : “If the world was only one country, Istanbul would be its capital.” Locals are so much fun, so friendly and helpful. One (healthy :) ) difficulty was hanging streets and lot of walking, but that's also city's peculiar charm. Street food is on point, especially fish sandwich and doner.
Popular places to stay in Istanbul
Stay in some of the best accommodations Istanbul has to offer
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HaciBayramHotel Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $252 per night
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White House Hotel Istanbul Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $296 per night
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Four-G Hotel Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $253 per night
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Ararat Apart Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $107 per night
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Blue Mosque Suites 2 - Old City Sultanahmet Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $178 per night
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Other accommodations in Istanbul
Pick from a wide variety of places to stay in Istanbul
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Apartments
From $9 per night
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Villas
From $297 per night
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Cottages
From $85 per night
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Serviced apartments
From $9 per night
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Vacation Homes
From $85 per night
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Guest Houses
From $14 per night
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Hostels
From $5 per night
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B&Bs
From $8 per night
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Homestays
From $16 per night
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Boats
From per night
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Self-Catering Accommodations
From $7 per night
