Istanbul is one of those cities that hits you right in the gut from the very first second. It’s chaotic, it’s noisy, it smells of grilled chestnuts and freshly baked simit – and it’s absolutely fantastic. The city stretches across two continents, and you can literally eat lunch in Europe and drink tea in Asia. No other city in the world can say that.
Here are my best picks for things to do and see in Istanbul – both the big well-known attractions and some lesser-known experiences.
1. Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is Istanbul’s absolute top attraction, and for good reason. The building is nearly 1,500 years old and has been a Christian cathedral, a mosque and a museum. Today it functions as a mosque again, but tourists can still visit – you get access to the 2nd floor, where you can see the impressive Byzantine mosaics and the enormous dome from above.
Entry costs €25 (or 850 TL) for tourists. Opening hours are daily from 9:00-19:30, but on Fridays it’s closed to tourists from 12:30 to 14:30 due to Friday prayers. You must have covered shoulders and knees, and women must wear a headscarf. If you haven’t brought one, you can buy one cheaply at the entrance.
My advice: buy tickets in advance. The queue at the ticket office can be over an hour in high season. You can buy skip-the-line tickets to Hagia Sophia here. Come early in the morning – at 9 – and you’ll have the place almost to yourself.
2. The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
The Blue Mosque sits right opposite Hagia Sophia and is free to visit. It’s called “the Blue” because of the over 20,000 hand-painted blue tiles covering the interior. It really is impressive to see, and it won’t cost you a penny.
The mosque is open daily from 9:00-17:00, but closes during the five daily prayer times (typically 20-30 minutes each). Fridays it’s closed in the morning for tourists. As with Hagia Sophia, you’re required to cover your shoulders and knees, and women must wear a headscarf. There are free loaner headscarves at the entrance.
Tip: head here first thing in the morning, right when it opens. Later in the day the queue is long, and it can feel a bit like standing in a human cattle run. Do visit the mosque’s official website for current opening hours.
3. Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace was the sultans’ home for nearly 400 years, and it’s a massive complex with courtyards, pavilions, a treasury and the famous harem. You can easily spend half a day here, and it’s worth it. The treasury alone – with the 86-carat Kasikci Diamond – is quite something.
Entry costs 2,400 TL (approximately €55), and that includes the palace, the harem and the Hagia Irene Church. Open daily from 9:00-17:00, closed on Tuesdays. The ticket office closes one hour before.
Topkapi is one of the most expensive attractions in Istanbul, and prices have risen significantly in recent years. But it’s still one of the most impressive sights in the city. You can save time with a combo ticket for Topkapi, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern.
- Check opening hours on muze.gen.tr before you head out.
4. Basilica Cistern
Beneath the streets of Sultanahmet lies one of Istanbul’s most atmospheric sights. The Basilica Cistern is an underground water reservoir from the 6th century with 336 marble columns, dramatic lighting and an ambience that feels like something from a film. Right down in the corner you’ll find the two famous Medusa heads – nobody knows exactly why they’re there.
Entry costs 1,500 TL during the day and 2,400 TL for evening visits. Open daily from 9:00-18:00. The cistern is relatively small, and you’ll be through in 30-45 minutes, but it’s an experience you won’t forget.
- Tip: if you can, go in the evening. There are far fewer people, and the lighting is even more atmospheric. Note that there are 50 steps down – and back up again – and no lift.
5. Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)
The Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets with over 4,000 shops spread across 61 covered streets. It’s chaotic, colourful and overwhelming – in the best way. Here you’ll find everything from handmade ceramic bowls and Turkish lamps to leather, scarves, carpets and spices.
The market is open Monday-Saturday from 9:00-19:00 and closed on Sundays. Entry is free. Remember: the price is not the price here. Bargaining is part of the culture, and you should never pay the first price a seller mentions. Start by offering half and negotiate from there.
The Grand Bazaar is an experience in itself, but it’s not the place to buy souvenirs if you want the best price. The small shops in the side streets outside the bazaar are often cheaper. More info on the Grand Bazaar’s official site.
- Have you booked your hotel in Istanbul yet? I’ve also written a guide on where to stay in Istanbul with tips on the best neighbourhoods.
6. Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
The Spice Bazaar in Eminönü is smaller and more manageable than the Grand Bazaar, but just as colourful. It smells of cinnamon, saffron, Turkish pepper and rose petals. It’s the perfect place to buy spices, Turkish tea, lokum (Turkish delight) and dried fruit to take home.
The bazaar is open daily from 8:00-19:30 and is free to enter. My recommendation: buy your spices here instead of at the Grand Bazaar. The quality is the same, and the prices are often a bit better because it’s primarily locals who shop here.
Just outside the bazaar, along the harbour at Eminönü, you’ll find street stalls with freshly squeezed pomegranate juice and balik ekmek (fish sandwich from a boat). Both are compulsory tastings.
7. Bosphorus Cruise
A boat trip on the Bosphorus strait is one of the best things you can do in Istanbul. You literally sail between Europe and Asia, and from the water you see Dolmabahçe Palace, Galata Tower, Ortaköy Mosque and the two great bridges from a completely different angle. It’s the kind of experience that makes you understand why Istanbul is so special.
There are two options: the cheap public ferries that sail up and down the strait (from Eminönü, approximately 100-200 TL), or organised tours with a guide and refreshments. The public ferries are fine, but a guided tour gives more context.
You can book a 3-hour Bosphorus cruise with a stop on the Asian side here.
Tip: take an evening trip if you can. Istanbul at sunset seen from the water is hard to beat.
8. Galata Tower
Galata Tower is 67 metres tall, dates from 1348 and gives you a 360-degree view over Istanbul. From here you can see Hagia Sophia, the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the entire historic peninsula. It’s the best view in the city, full stop.
Entry costs 650 TL. Open daily from 8:30-23:00, closed on Fridays. The queue can be long, so come either early or late – midday is the worst. You can tap your credit card at the entrance, so you don’t need to buy tickets in advance.
The neighbourhood around the tower – Karaköy and Galata – is an experience in itself. Here you’ll find hip coffee bars, vintage shops and street art. Walk down Galip Dede Caddesi after your visit and soak up the atmosphere.
9. Dolmabahçe Palace
If Topkapi is the traditional Ottoman palace, Dolmabahçe is the European-inspired luxury version. It was built in the mid-1800s and is filled with crystal chandeliers (the largest weighs 4.5 tonnes), gold-plated ceilings and hand-woven carpets. It’s also where Atatürk – Turkey’s founder – died in 1938.
Entry costs 1,800 TL for a combined ticket for the main building, the harem and the palace gardens. Open from 9:00-17:00, closed on Mondays. Photography is forbidden inside the palace, but you’re welcome to take photos in the garden and by the waterfront.
Dolmabahçe is located by the Bosphorus, slightly north of Sultanahmet. Take the tram to Kabataş station, and you’re there in two minutes. More information can be found on the National Palaces website.
10. Istiklal Avenue and Taksim
Istiklal Caddesi is Istanbul’s most famous pedestrian street – a 1.4 km long boulevard connecting Taksim Square with the Galata area. It’s packed with shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas and street food vendors. The nostalgic red tram moves slowly through the crowds and has become an icon of the city.
It’s free to walk here (of course), and the street is lively from morning until late evening. Taksim Square at one end is the centre of modern Istanbul, and from here you can take the metro to the rest of the city.
My recommendation: walk down Istiklal in the evening when the lights are on and the atmosphere is at its best. Take a side street to the right and you’ll find Çiçek Pasajı (the Flower Passage) – a beautiful covered arcade with restaurants and live music. It’s touristy, but still good fun.
11. Kadıköy and the Asian Side
Most tourists stay on the European side, and that’s a mistake. Kadıköy on the Asian side is Istanbul’s local heart – there are fewer tourists, better prices and a more relaxed atmosphere. Take the ferry from Eminönü or Karaköy (approximately 15 minutes, under 20 TL), and you land right in a lively neighbourhood with food markets, vinyl shops and street art.
Walk through the Kadıköy market, where locals trade fish, cheese, olives and fresh fruit. Try a midye dolma (stuffed mussels) from one of the street stalls – it’s one of Istanbul’s iconic street food snacks. Then take a walk along the Moda waterfront, where you get a completely different view of the city.
Kadıköy is also perfect for an evening out. The bar scene here is more local and relaxed than in Taksim. If you want to experience Istanbul from a local perspective, this is where you should go.
12. Turkish Breakfast
This isn’t a sight in the traditional sense, but an experience you absolutely must not miss. Turkish breakfast is a whole event – a table filled with olives, cheeses, tomatoes, cucumber, honey, kaymak (Turkish clotted cream), eggs in various styles, sucuk (spiced sausage), freshly baked bread and endless tea.
The best places to try it are in the Beşiktaş neighbourhood or in Kadıköy on the Asian side. Expect to spend 200-400 TL per person depending on the venue. It’s worth every penny – you won’t need lunch afterwards.
Tip: ask for “serpme kahvaltı” (spread breakfast) – that’s the traditional version with many small dishes. Many locals eat Turkish breakfast as a weekend ritual, so it’s also a good opportunity to mingle with the city’s residents.
13. Süleymaniye Mosque
If you only visit one mosque besides Hagia Sophia, make it Süleymaniye. It was designed by the famous architect Sinan in the 1550s and is, in my opinion, more beautiful than the Blue Mosque – and with far fewer tourists. From the courtyard you have a panoramic view over the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.
The mosque is free to visit and open daily, but closes during prayer times. The dress code is the same as other mosques: cover shoulders, knees and hair. There are free loaner headscarves at the entrance.
In the garden behind the mosque you’ll find the tombs of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana). Have a tea at one of the small tea gardens on the terrace behind – the view is absolutely fantastic, and a tea costs under 50 TL.
14. Fener and Balat
Fener and Balat are two neighbourhoods along the Golden Horn that in recent years have become Instagram’s favourite spot in Istanbul. The colourful houses, old Greek Orthodox churches and narrow streets give a completely different feel from busy Sultanahmet. It’s charming, it’s photogenic, and it feels like stepping into a different Istanbul.
You can get here by bus from Eminönü (line 99 or 44B), or you can walk along the Golden Horn from Karaköy – it takes approximately 30 minutes and is a lovely walk. Visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate (the headquarters of the Orthodox Church) and the red Iron Church (Sveti Stefan). Both are free.
A word of caution: Fener and Balat are popular, but it’s still a residential neighbourhood. Show respect for the locals and avoid taking photos directly into people’s windows. While you’re in the area, you can also pop into the Chora Church (Kariye), which has some of the most impressive Byzantine mosaics in the world.
15. Street Food Tour on Your Own
Istanbul is one of the world’s best cities for street food, and you can put together your own street food tour without paying for a guided experience. Start at Eminönü harbour with a balik ekmek (fish sandwich) from the boats. Continue to the Spice Bazaar for lokum and nuts. Cross to Kadıköy for midye dolma (stuffed mussels) and kokoreç (spiced offal in bread – tastier than it sounds).
Other things you should try: simit (sesame bread from a street cart, 10-20 TL), kestane kebab (grilled chestnuts in winter), tantuni (a type of wrap from southern Turkey), and of course Turkish ice cream from one of the playful ice cream sellers in Sultanahmet.
For dessert: find a baklava spot in Karaköy or Sultanahmet. Karaköy Güllüoğlu is a classic choice with baklava that’s crisp, sweet and buttery in exactly the right way. Expect 100-200 TL for a portion.
16. Princes’ Islands
If you have an extra day in Istanbul, take the ferry to the Princes’ Islands (Adalar). It’s a cluster of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara where there are no cars. The silence is almost surreal after Istanbul’s chaos. The most popular island is Büyükada, where you can hire a bicycle, take a walk along the coast or simply enjoy the peace with a cup of tea.
- Planning to combine Istanbul with other destinations? I’ve also written a guide on things to do in Athens – an obvious extension to your trip.
The ferry goes from Kabataş or Eminönü and takes 1.5-2 hours. A return ticket costs around 100-200 TL. There are departures several times a day. Avoid weekends in high season – the islands are packed with locals on day trips.
Tip: pack a lunch or eat fish at one of the small restaurants by the harbour on Büyükada. It’s a perfect break from the big city, and one of those experiences I’d recommend to everyone who has more than 3 days in Istanbul.
17. Turkish Bath (Hamam)
A visit to a traditional Turkish hamam is one of the most authentic experiences you can have in Istanbul. You lie on a heated marble slab, get scrubbed from head to toe by an attendant, and afterwards you feel cleaner than you ever have. It’s relaxing, it’s a bit embarrassing the first time, and it’s absolutely fantastic.
The two most famous hamams are Çemberlitaş Hamamı (from 1584, right by the Grand Bazaar) and Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı (from 1557, between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque). Prices vary from 500-2,000 TL depending on the package and venue. The Ayasofya hamam is the most expensive but also the most impressive.
Tip: book in advance, especially in high season. And take it easy – you’re meant to relax. Most hamams have separate sections for men and women.
My Top Tips for Istanbul
Transport: Istanbul has a good metro, tram and ferry network. Buy an Istanbulkart (travel card) from a machine at the nearest metro station – it costs 50 TL and works on all public transport. You can also tap contactless with Visa/Mastercard.
Also, check out my guide on how to get from Istanbul Airport to the City Centre.
Money: Turkish lira (TL) is the local currency, and exchange rates fluctuate a lot. Many tourist spots show prices in euros, but you’ll typically get a better deal if you pay in lira. Withdraw cash from a bank ATM (Garanti BBVA or İşbank are good), and avoid the exchange offices on Istiklal – they charge sky-high fees.
Safety: Istanbul is generally a safe city for tourists, but pickpockets operate in Sultanahmet, at the Grand Bazaar and on the busy metro. Keep an eye on your belongings. Also watch out for the “friendly stranger” trap: if a random man invites you for a drink in Taksim, politely decline. It typically ends with a bill for several thousand lira.
Accommodation: Sultanahmet is the obvious choice if you want to stay close to the historic sights. Karaköy and Galata are good alternatives with a more modern vibe. You can see hotels in Sultanahmet here and hotels in Karaköy here.
Number of days: You’ll need a minimum of 3-4 days to cover the most important sights. If you have 5-6 days, you can fit in the Princes’ Islands, the Asian side and a couple of the lesser-known neighbourhoods. Istanbul is the kind of city where you always find something new, no matter how many times you’ve been.
Have a wonderful trip to Istanbul.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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