Itineraries
Where to stay
Sultanahmet for first-timers who want the sights on foot, Karaköy and Galata for cafes and nightlife, Beyoğlu for a lively base, Kadıköy on the Asian side for food and a local feel.
The areas: Sultanahmet, Karaköy and Galata, Beyoğlu (Taksim), Kadıköy.
Where to stay in Istanbul: areas and adviceHotels in IstanbulPlaces to see
All things to do in TurkeyRuinsBasilica CisternA 6th-century underground water store with a forest of columns and two Medusa heads.Entry: Daytime admission is 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Night tickets cover 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
MosqueBlue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)Six minarets outside and thousands of blue İznik tiles inside.Entry: Free to visit
MuseumDolmabahçe PalaceThe lavish 19th-century palace on the Bosphorus that replaced Topkapı.Entry: Includes the Harem and the Painting Museum
ViewpointGalata TowerA medieval stone tower with a balcony view over the old town and the Bosphorus.
MarketGrand BazaarOne of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, with thousands of shops.Entry: Free to visit
MosqueHagia SophiaBuilt as a church in 537 and a mosque again since 2020, with one of the largest domes of the ancient world.Entry: Visitor ticket: €[fee]
MuseumIstanbul ModernModern and contemporary art from Turkey and beyond, in a waterfront building in Karaköy.
FoodKadıköy market streetsFish, meze, pickles and sweets in the market lanes by the Asian-side ferry pier.Entry: Pay as you go
FoodKumkapıAn old fishing quarter by the Sea of Marmara, its lanes lined with fish restaurants and meyhanes.Entry: Pay as you go
MosqueLittle Hagia SophiaA 6th-century Byzantine church, now a mosque, a short walk from the Sea of Marmara shore.Entry: Free to visit
MuseumMaiden's TowerA tower on a tiny island off Üsküdar, now a museum reached by boat.Entry: The boat over is paid separately
NatureModa Coastal ParkA seaside park on the Moda headland in Kadıköy, busy with walkers at sunset.Entry: Free to visit
FoodNevizade StreetA narrow Beyoğlu lane of meyhanes, taverns serving meze, fish and rakı, off İstiklal Avenue.Entry: Pay as you go
FoodOrtaköy kumpir stallsA lane of stalls beside Ortaköy Mosque selling kumpir, baked potatoes loaded with toppings.Entry: Pay as you go
MosqueOrtaköy MosqueA domed 19th-century mosque on the water, right below the Bosphorus Bridge.Entry: Free to visit
MosqueRüstem Pasha MosqueA small Mimar Sinan mosque raised above the market streets, covered in İznik tiles.Entry: Free to visit
MarketSpice BazaarSpices, Turkish delight, dried fruit and tea by the Eminönü ferry piers.Entry: Free to visit
MosqueSüleymaniye MosqueMimar Sinan's masterpiece on a hill above the Golden Horn.Entry: Free to visit
FoodTarihi Sultanahmet KöftecisiA long-running köfte (grilled meatball) house on Divanyolu Avenue, by the Sultanahmet tram stop.Entry: Pay as you go
MuseumTopkapı PalaceThe palace of the Ottoman sultans, with courtyards, treasuries and Bosphorus views.Entry: Includes the Harem and Hagia Irene