Julie Turkey 41 Comments

Istanbul is one of the world’s great cities. There are so many wonderful reasons why you should visit this city. Istanbul is old, dating back thousands of years, and with that, there are many historical places to visit. Istanbul is gorgeous, with its assortment of mosques and their colorful tile work and dramatic architecture. Istanbul is charming; we met so many welcoming, friendly people here. And finally, Istanbul is home to the Hagia Sophia, an amazing architectural feat and one of the Wonders of the World.

If you have plans to visit Istanbul, you should know that there is a lot to see here. You can easily fill five days of your time in Istanbul. Hopefully, you have at least three days on your itinerary, but more time is ideal.

Either way, if you are like us, you will be dreaming about returning to Istanbul someday. It’s just that kind of city…it stays in your heart long after you leave.

Best Things to Do in Istanbul

1. The Hagia Sophia

If you only have time for one thing in Istanbul, it should be the Hagia Sophia.

This cathedral was constructed in 537 AD. For 900 years it was the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople. The Hagia Sophia was the single greatest architectural achievement of the Byzantine Empire. In 1453, when the Ottomans took over Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque. It functioned as a museum until July 2020. Now, it is a mosque.

Hagia Sophia Istanbul | Best things to do in Istanbul

Hagia Sophia | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

Step inside this amazing wonder. The Hagia Sophia still retains the elements of Christian and Islamic religions. 

Allow about two hours to tour the entire building. You can purchase tickets in advance through GetYourGuide. The last time we checked, adult tickets were being offered on GetYourGuide for the same price as the official website and the GetYourGuide website was easier to use.

Inside the Hagia Sophia Istanbul

Inside the Hagia Sophia | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

2. The Blue Mosque

Walk across Sultanahmet Square to the Blue Mosque. Built in 1616, the Blue Mosque is famous for the intricate blue tile work the covers the interior of the building. It is free to enter, and if you have never been inside of a mosque before, this is a good one to start with. There are particular rules you must follow when entering a mosque, and because of the large numbers of tourists that visit the Blue Mosque everyday, the entrance procedures are well explained here.

On this walking tour, visit both the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque with a knowledgeable guide.

Blue Mosque Istanbul | Best things to do in Istanbul

Blue Mosque | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

 

Blue Mosque Interior Istanbul

Blue Mosque Roof Istanbul

3. The Grand Bazaar

For us, one of the highlights of Istanbul was shopping in the Grand Bazaar. Normally, shopping can be a drag for kids. But not in the Grand Bazaar. Even Tyler and Kara were excited about our return visits here. With its kaleidoscope of colorful lanterns, its friendly people, and its maze of hallways, the Grand Bazaar is a joy to explore.

Grand Bazaar Istanbul | Best things to do in Istanbul

The Grand Bazaar | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

4. The Basilica Cistern

Descend underground Istanbul to one of the city’s ancient reservoirs. The Basilica Cistern is dark, chilly, and mysterious. See if you can find the two slightly creepy Medusa heads.

Basilica Cistern Istanbul | Best things to do in Istanbul

Basilica Cistern | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

5. The Chora Church (Kariye Museum)

The Chora Church is a Greek Orthodox Church famous for its frescoes and mosaics. These mosaics portray the life of Jesus Christ.

Chora Church Mosaic Istanbul

Chora Church Istanbul

Chora Church | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website.

6. The Galata Tower

The Galata Tower was built in the mid 14th century and was used as a fire tower, barracks, and a dungeon. From the top of the tower you get one of the best views of Istanbul.

View from Galata Tower Istanbul

View from the Galata Tower | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

Walking Tour: On this walking tour, explore the neighborhood around the Galata Tour with a guide and climb the steps of the Galata Tower for one of the best views of Istanbul.

7. Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. This Palace was used for 400 years until Dolmabahce Palace was constructed in the mid 1800’s. One of the best places to visit in Topkapi Palace is the Harem, where the mother of the sultan, his wives, and his concubines lived.

Topkapi Palace is a beautiful spot in Istanbul. Room after room is covered in exquisite tile work. If you are here in the springtime, the gardens are filled with tulips and hyacinths. Plus, the views of Istanbul from here are amazing.

Topkapi Palace

Harem Topkapi Palace

Hyacinths

Official website: For updated hours, pricing, and the full schedule of closing dates, click here.
Skip-the-Line Tour: If you want to take a guided tour of Topkapi Palace and skip the line, here is a tour that gets great reviews.

8. Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent

This mosque gets our vote for the most beautiful mosque in Istanbul. It was renovated in 2010, which accounts for its sparkling interior. This mosque is actually older than the Blue Mosque, but only by 60 years. It was built by the sultan Suleyman the Magnificent during the Golden Age of the Ottoman Empire.

Suleyman Mosque

Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

9. Eminonu Square

Eminonu is a very busy, slightly chaotic spot in Istanbul. This harbor area sits on the Golden Horn, a famous waterway that runs through the city. From Eminonu you can visit mosques, the Spice Market, famous restaurants, or catch a ferry that will shuttle you to any number of places in Istanbul. Take in the scene here. This is Istanbul in action, a hive of activity all day long.

Eminonu

Eminonu Square | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

10. Galata Bridge

This bridge spans the Golden Horn, joining the older sections of Istanbul with the more modern neighborhoods. A walk across this bridge is a must while in Istanbul.

Galata Bridge

11. Rustem Pasha Mosque

Rustem Pasha Mosque is a very small mosque that is famous for its Iznik tile work. It does not look like much on the outside, but it’s what is on the inside that counts, right? Well, the tile work in this mosque is some of the best in Istanbul.

Rustem Pasha Mosque | Best things to do in Istanbul

Rustem Pasha Mosque | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

Turkey Travel Guide

12. Try Some New Foods

While in Istanbul, try some of the local foods. Kofte are meatballs made with lamb or beef. Pide is “Turkish pizza.” Meze are cold appetizers. Dolma are stuffed vine leaves or vegetables. Sis Kebabs, skewers of cooked meat, are delicious. Doner is a meat sandwich made from lamb, beef, or chicken. Turkish delight (lokum) and baklava are two delicious options for dessert.

This half day food tour, led by a local guide, includes a visit to both sides of the Bosphorus. Try Kurdish foods, learn how to smoke a water pipe, cross the Bosphorus by ferry, and more. 

Doner

Lokum

13. Cruise the Bosphorus Strait

Istanbul is the only city to span two continents, Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus River divides these two continents. If you have the time, a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait is a great way to see more of this city.

The cruise leaves from Eminonu in the morning and travels north towards the Black Sea. Midday, have lunch in the small fishing village of Anadolu Kavagi. From Anadolu Kavagi, walk fifteen minutes uphill to the Yoros Castle. From here, you will have excellent views of the Black Sea.

By 5 pm you will arrive back at the Golden Horn in Istanbul. This is a low key day, a perfect day to put midway through your tour through the city. Most of the time you sit and watch Istanbul glide by as you cruise the Bosphorus.

Bosphorus River Cruise

Bosphorus Strait | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

 

Roros Castle

Yoros Castle | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

14. Take the Commuter Ferry

For the best, cheap experience in Istanbul, take the commuter ferry from Eminonu across the Bosphorus Strait to Kadikoy. This round trip excursion takes about an hour and when we did it, it cost just $1 per person.

If you don’t have time to do the full day Bosphorus Cruise, this journey on the commuter ferry is the perfect alternative. Mix in with the locals and enjoy the views back to the the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. If you are traveling with kids, bring some bread to feed the seagulls that follow the ferry. This is a great activity to do at sunset because the views back to the Sultanahmet District are amazing.

Istanbul Commuter Ferry

15. Ortakoy

Ortakoy is a trendy neighborhood in Istanbul. Stroll the shops, dine at one of the restaurants, and see the iconic Ortakoy Mosque.

16. Istiklal Street

Istiklal Street is a famous street in the New District of Istanbul. It is a pedestrian street that can get very crowded. This area definitely feels different than the rest of Istanbul. It is here that you will find Gap and Starbucks and Nike. But it is a beautiful street, especially with the tram that runs up and down the road.

Istiklal Street | Best things to do in Istanbul

Istiklal Street | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

17. The Spice Market

This is your place to buy Turkish Delight, fresh olives, figs, pistachios, and of course, spices.

Spice Market | Best things to do in Istanbul

18. The Neighborhoods of Fener and Balat

Leave behind the more popular tourist areas and stroll through the colorful neighborhoods of Fener and Balat. One of the best ways to visit these neighborhoods is with a local guide. This small group tour gets rave reviews and includes a ferry ride along the Golden Horn.

Fener

Balat Istanbul | Best things to do in Istanbul

19. Walls of Constantinople

These giant walls were built in the 5th century. They stretch for 3.5 miles from the Sea of Maramara to the Golden Horn. Designed to keep invaders out of Constantinople, these walls were only breached twice: first in the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and later by the Ottoman invasion in 1453.

While in Istanbul, you can walk a portion of these walls. From here, you are overlooking the neighborhoods of Fener and Balat, getting a unique perspective of the city.

Walls of Constantinople | Best things to do in Istanbul

Istanbul

View from the Walls of Constantinople | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

20. Eyup Sultan Mosque

This is a mosque much less visited by tourists than the other mosques on this list. Located in an area outside of the main touristic zone, when you are here, Istanbul really feels “authentic.” This is a beautiful area of the city. From the mosque, follow the walking trail uphill through the cemetery. It is a beautiful walk and from the top you get a great view of the Golden Horn and Istanbul.

Eyup Sultan Mosque | Best things to do in Istanbul

Eyup Sultan Mosque | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

 

Istanbul Cemetery

Golden Horn

21. The Hippodrome

Built in the 4th century AD, the Hippodrome was the site of chariot races.

In the Hippodrome are two obelisks. The Obelisk of Theodosius (the one with hieroglyphics in the photo below) is the ancient Egyptian obelisk of King Tuthmosis III. It was erected in the 15th century BC at the Temple of Karnak in Luxor. It was moved to Istanbul in the 4th century AD by Roman Emperor Theodosius I. 

The Walled Obelisk, the older looking of the two obelisks, is actually younger than the Egyptian obelisk. 

Hippodrome | Best things to do in Istanbul

The Hippodrome | Best Things to Do in Istanbul

22.  Meet the People

Istanbul is home to some of the friendliest people we have met while traveling. Are you visiting Turkey with kids? Your children will be treated like royalty. The warmth and friendliness of the Turkish people are one of the main reasons why we fell in love with this country.

Istanbul Friends | Best things to do in Istanbul

Istanbul Museum Pass

The Museum Pass is a card that covers your admission to several of the main museums in Istanbul. It is valid for 5 days and with this card you can skip the ticket lines. It costs 360 TL.

If you visit four of the main sites that are covered in the Museum Pass (Chora Church, Topkapi Palace and the Harem), your grand total is 264 TL. The Museum Pass offers no savings, although it does allow you to bypass the ticket lines. In my opinion, it is not worth it to purchase the Museum Pass, unless you plan on visiting more sites that we do not include in this article.

Click here to learn more about the Museum Pass. 

Tours of Istanbul

 


 

Where We Stayed

Hotel Uyan. This small hotel is located within walking distance of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. We stayed in the Blue Mosque Corner Room, a room that is relatively large for a European hotel. We had plenty of room for our family of four. From the windows we could see the Blue Mosque and the top of the Hagia Sophia. Every morning we awoke to the sound of the muezzin from the Blue Mosque. The hotel has an upper deck with awesome views over Istanbul.


If you have questions about the best things to do in Istanbul, comment below! For those of you who have been to Istanbul, what was your favorite experience?

More Information for Your Trip to Turkey:

TURKEY ITINERARY: Learn how to plan your visit to Turkey with our 10 day Turkey Itinerary, which includes Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus.

SELCUK & EPHESUS: In our guide to Selcuk, we cover the best things to do in Selcuk and how to plan your visit to Ephesus.

CAPPADOCIA: In our 3 Days in Cappadocia itinerary, learn how to plan your visit here, with daily itineraries, hotel and restaurant recommendations, and helpful tips. For short, thrilling hikes to do, read our Cappadocia Hiking Guide. And learn more about taking a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, one of our favorite experiences in Turkey.

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY: For more information about the camera gear we carry, check out our Travel Photography Gear Guide. And tips and tricks for taking great photos in our article How to Take Better Photos while Traveling.

Planning a trip to Turkey? Read all of our articles in our Turkey Travel Guide.

 

Istanbul Turkey Best Things To Do

Istanbul Turkey Best Things to Do

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Comments 41

  1. Avatar for judi raphaeli
    judi raphaeli

    Since we will be in Istanbul a few days we would like to know if it is possible to go around ourselves or should we take tours? Are there tours available from hotels? which is the best hotel to stay in?

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
  2. Avatar for Frank Hladek
    Frank Hladek

    In “22 best things to do in Istanbul “ a day cruise of the Bosporus is highlighted but there is no link to this particular cruise. We’ll be visiting in Sept and thought this cruise sounded right up our alley but could not find it in the myriad of options. Would appreciate any help you could give us.
    Thanks,

    Frank/Wendy

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      It’s been about 10 years since we have visited Istanbul. I don’t recall which company we used at the time and you are right, there are a lot of cruise options. You can look at TripAdvisor for which companies currently get good reviews. Sorry I don’t have any more information than this at this time. Cheers, Julie

    2. Avatar for Nikos
  3. Avatar for Kelly
    Kelly

    I love all of your guides! I have used many of your US National Parks itineraries and tips so thank you.. Do you recommend any audio guides or apps for audio tours for inside any of the sights in Istanbul? I’m headed there soon.
    Thanks

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      That’s very exciting that you will be traveling to Istanbul. I love that city. We had a Rick Steves guidebook and used his information during our visit. I found this audio guide for the Hagia Sophia on GetYourGuide that gets good reviews (it looks like you enter with a guide and then use an audio guide to tour the museum…I’m not sure if it is the Hagia Sophia’s audio guide or something offered by this tour company, but it gets good reviews). On GetYourGuide, there are also audio guides for the Bosphorus and other places in Istanbul. I hope you have a great trip! Cheers, Julie

  4. Avatar for Albert Khamidullin
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