We have long dreamed of Istanbul and were thrilled to spend three days there during our trip to Turkey. Three days in a city of 15 million is not a lot, and we will certainly return, but we have prepared a few practical tips and 16 places to visit in Istanbul for you!
Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, is the only city in the world that lies on two continents. The Bosporus Strait separates Europe from Asia, with the European part being more touristy and home to the most famous landmarks, while the Asian part is less popular but, in our opinion, very interesting and worth a visit.
When is best time to visit? – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
Istanbul is crowded (even without tourists) and can be overwhelming. We can’t imagine visiting this city in 40-degree heat with a wild crowd of foreign tourists around us. In November, the temperature reached around 20-22 degrees, and tourists were mostly locals, yet we still felt how big and tiring the city was. In our opinion, the end of October and November, as well as April and May, can be really good times to visit – it’s not too hot and not too crowded yet. If you don’t mind the colder weather, winter months can also be a good choice, and although Turkey is a Muslim country, some places surprised us with a Christmas atmosphere in early November.
How to get around? – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
The best option is a combination of walking, metro, and ferries. If you plan to use public transport to get to the city (from Havalimanı Airport, it takes 2-2.5 hours to get to the city center), you will have to buy an IstambulKart card, a card for public transport, at the airport. The card itself costs 50TL (as of November 2022), and you have to top it up to pay for rides, thanks to the card, they will be cheaper (although honestly, we did not find any other option to pay for transportation…). One card is enough for two people, you do not need to buy separate ones.
You can check the ferry schedules here and on Google maps. Unfortunately, some routes do not run very frequently, so it is worth planning your day around ferry schedules. The metro runs very frequently and is really great, we had no problem finding our way to the right platform. We also tried buses, which seemed a bit complicated to us (no schedule with route information at stops), and trams. In summary, public transport and walking are the best options for traveling around Istanbul.
Where to stay? – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
After visiting the old town, where landmarks such as Hagia Sophia or the Blue Mosque are located, we concluded that a hotel in this area would not be the best choice for us. Maybe it is the closest to all the important landmarks, but the crowds on the streets and high hotel prices are not our thing.
We stayed in the Pera district, precisely in Galata, near the famous tower, in the Walton Galata hotel, which we highly recommend. We liked the district, although there are also crowded places there. After visiting Istanbul, we would recommend these areas (as well as other parts of Pera and Karakoy), Uskudar or Kadikoy in the Asian part, if you like the local atmosphere, as well as the charming Balat.
Hagia Sophia – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
Hagia Sophia was built as an early Christian church dedicated to the Wisdom of God. When the Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453, the church was converted into a mosque. If you have seen photos of Hagia Sophia on the internet where women do not cover their hair, it is because from 1934 to 2020, Hagia Sophia functioned as a museum. Due to the decision of President Erdogan in 2020, Hagia Sophia was once again converted into a mosque.
Hagia Sophia is visited by crowds of tourists throughout the year, crowds that effectively discouraged us from waiting in line. It may be shameful not to visit one of the most important landmarks of the city, but waiting in a queue several hundred meters long is definitely not for us. Mosques in Turkey can be visited outside of prayer times, which are closed about 60-90 minutes before. The best time to visit is between 9am and noon. Regardless of the season, be prepared for a queue that can stretch several hundred meters.
The Blue Mosque – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
The Blue Mosque is actually the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, construction of which began in the 17th century. The Sultan’s ambition was to create a mosque more beautiful than the nearby Hagia Sophia; legend has it that the Sultan was trying to seek Allah’s forgiveness in this way. A characteristic feature that distinguishes it from other nearby mosques from afar is its six minarets.
During our visit to Istanbul, the interior of the Blue Mosque was unfortunately still under renovation. The queue was not as crazy as for Hagia Sophia, but due to the renovation, we also decided to skip it. Entry to mosques in Turkey is free, even for the most magnificent monuments. If, like us, you are satisfied with admiring the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia from the outside, we recommend going to the Seven Hills rooftop. The view is magnificent, but unfortunately, feeding seagulls with fries has become fashionable there, and crowds gather for that purpose, while seagulls circle overhead, making it difficult to have a peaceful atmosphere.
Suleymaniye Mosque – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
The mosque was built during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent and, unlike the previous two mosques, it is located on a hill that offers a great view of the city. The mosque was built in the 16th century, so it is older than the Blue Mosque. Originally, the mosque was built in the Byzantine style, modeled after the Hagia Sophia, but it was rebuilt in the Baroque style after a fire in the 17th century.
It was the only one of the three famous mosques that we were able to visit due to the lack of queues. To enter the mosque, you must of course cover your hair and dress appropriately – you can rent covers for free on site, but the mosque is surrounded by bazaars and you can easily buy such a scarf in the area.
Topkapi Palace – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
The construction of Topkapi Palace in the center of Istanbul began in 1453, and it was the residence of the sultans until 1853, when the residence was moved to Dolmabahce Palace. The name of the palace may be somewhat misleading, as Topkapi is a huge complex of pavilions.
The entire palace consists of four courtyards, and we start our tour from the first courtyard, which was accessible to everyone. There were utility buildings such as warehouses and stables. The second courtyard contains kitchens, as well as the entrance to the Harem, which was a separate part of the palace. The third courtyard is the private courtyard of the sultan, while the fourth is reminiscent of a garden and has an open plan where the sultan rested.
Entrance to the palace costs a bit, but it’s really worth it! However, we recommend reserving at least 3-4 hours, as there is a lot to see. If you are wondering if it is worth paying extra to enter the Harem, we suggest that it is worth it. It is one of the most beautiful and impressive parts of the palace.
Grand Bazaar – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
The Grand Bazaar is definitely one of the most touristy places in Istanbul, and if you don’t want to overpay, it’s worth going to less known bazaars. In our opinion, the Grand Bazaar is worth a visit, although we are personally a little put off by the luxury brand knockoffs sold there on a daily basis.
Büyük Valide Han – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
Built in 1651, the bazaar has already had its heyday, but it is still worth going to this area if you plan to shop – there aren’t as many tourists there, and prices are lower than at the Grand Bazaar. The roof of the bazaar used to be a secret for photographers and one of the best places for photos in Istanbul, but unfortunately, it collapsed some time ago. Büyük Valide Han bazaar is also known for James Bond, specifically the movie Skyfall.
Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Bazaar) – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
The second most well-known market in the city after the Grand Bazaar. The name “Egyptian” is associated with the fact that the bazaar was built with the profits of Egypt, which was part of the Ottoman Empire. The name Spice Bazaar comes from the spices sold there. This market was and still is the center of spice trade in Istanbul, but you can also buy sweets and teas there. We were surprised that although it is a popular tourist destination, the prices are not inflated, and many products have predetermined prices on their labels.
Balat – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
Balat is located in the district of Fatih. In the past, it was not the most affluent part of the city, which can be seen in the many poorly maintained buildings. However, in recent years, Balat has experienced a tourist boom, which has contributed to the development of the district. In the past, the district was inhabited by Jews and Greeks. In 1985, Balat was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Balat is a very colorful district with lots of cozy cafes and restaurants. The most famous and most visited place by tourists are the so-called Colorful Houses, which you can find on the map under the name Balat Renkli Evler. The second colorful place worth visiting is the Colorful Stairs (Renkli Merdivenler). A slightly less colorful but still worth seeing street is the Stairway Houses (Merdivenli Yokuş Evleri).
Galata Tower – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
In the 13th century, Genoa established its overseas colony in a part of Istanbul (then Constantinople), which we now call Galata. The Galata Tower was built as an observation tower and was the highest point of the colony’s defensive walls, also known at that time as the Tower of Christ (Christea Turris) or the Great Tower (Megalos Pyrgos).
During the Ottoman Empire, a Turkish infantry unit was stationed there, and in the sixteenth century, a prison was established. The fate and purpose of the tower changed over the years until it was finally opened as a museum that you can visit. The tower is one of the highest points in the area, and it offers a magnificent view of the city.
Galata – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
Galata, which is a part of the larger district of Pera, is worth a visit not only because of its tower. This area is home to many shops, restaurants, and bars. Although Galata is crowded, we liked its atmosphere much more than the part where Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are located. Galata is lively not only during the day but also in the evenings because of the numerous bars. If you want to see the entertaining side of Istanbul, it is worth visiting this area.
Karaköy – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
A seaside part of the city near Galata that is gaining in popularity. In Karakoy, hipster cafes and bars mix with traditional bakeries and stalls selling specialties such as balik, midye dolma, and kokorec (you can read more about Turkish food here). It is not an overly beautiful place, but it wins with its atmosphere, which is great both during the day and in the evenings.
Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
From Taksim Square, a historic red tram departs towards Istiklal Avenue. This is one of the most crowded shopping streets in the city, which made us a little dizzy, and we were happy to escape from it, but we think the tram is worth seeing. This street also has an unpleasant history – exactly one week after our trip, a terrorist attack took place on Istiklal Avenue, resulting in the death of 6 people and 81 injured.
Dolmabahçe Palace – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
The palace to which the sultan’s residence was moved from Topkapi Palace in 1856. It is located right on the water of the Bosporus Strait and is a bit away from the city center, making the area much quieter. Atatürk, considered the founder of modern Turkish state, also lived in the palace and died there in 1938. In the palace, you can visit the library, harem, Hamam baths, and the impressive Ceremonial Hall. If you are wondering which of the two palaces is more worth visiting, we have bad news for you – because of their uniqueness and completely different style, you definitely have to see both!
Ortakoy and Ortakoy Mosque – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
The Ortakoy district is located on the waters of the Bosporus, a few kilometers away from the city center and definitely quieter. On the waterfront, you will find many stalls selling kumpir, which is a baked potato with toppings. Because we were in a hurry to catch the ferry to the Asian side (and the next one was only a few hours away), we only had a few moments to take pictures in this area, and we would gladly come back for longer. Our main goal was the neo-baroque Ortakoy Mosque located right on the water.
Uskudar – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
We wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t venture to the less crowded parts of the city to observe the daily lives of its residents. Uskudar is a very peaceful, green district with pleasant cafes and a vibe that reminded us of some parts of Brooklyn. You can see all the interesting places by walking along İcadiye Cd street, and it’s also worth climbing up the nearby hill to see the city from that perspective.
Kadikoy and Moda – 16 places to visit in Istanbul
Kadikoy and Moda, which is a part of it, are districts located in the Asian part of Istanbul. Some time ago, TimeOut magazine included Moda on its list of the 51 coolest neighborhoods in the world. Kadikoy is an incredibly lively district, mainly due to the fact that many students live there. There are lots of restaurants, bars, and cafes, and the streets are filled with people, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
We highly recommend going all the way down to the Moda area and taking a stroll in the Moda Sahil Parki seaside park, where locals like to spend their time. Don’t miss the Moda iskelesi, a small pier. From there, we recommend walking along the İçi Yolu seaside linear park for a long walk to the Kadikoy pier where ferries depart.
We arrived in the area on a Friday afternoon, and both older and younger residents were enjoying the weather and a beautiful evening with picnics by the water. We took a ferry from Kadikoy to Karakoy, departing about 40 minutes before sunset, so we could watch the European side of the city and the mosques in the rays of the setting sun from the ferry. Such a trip on a public ferry is not expensive and stays in memory for a long time!
