Top 15 incredible things to do in Istanbul
Are you going to visit Istanbul soon or just consider visiting Istanbul, then this article is exactly for you. As a local in Istanbul, I am going to show you all major touristic sights next to places which are very popular by locals.
All information in this article and more is also included in my YouTube video:
Overview top 15 sights in Istanbul
I will focus on the very central parts of Istanbul along the Bosphorus.
On this map, you see the most beautiful areas of Istanbul. They start with the beginning of the Bosphorus till the second bridge.
I will start off the list with seven major touristic sights on the historical peninsula of Fatih.
Then we will move to more modern, but still very touristy areas in Beyoğlu and Beşiktaş. (numbers 8-12)
After all these must see touristic sights, I will show 3 places which are very popular by Istanbul locals. Two of these places are on the Asian side.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque
- Topkapı palace
- Blue Mosque
- Basilica Cistern
- Grand Bazaar
- Spice Bazaar
- Süleymaniye Mosque
- Taksim and Istiklal street
- Galata Tower
- Galataport
- Ortaköy
- Bosphorus Cruise
- Üsküdar promenade
- Kadıköy Moda
- Arnavutköy – Bebek – Rumeli Hisarı promenades
1) Hagia Sophia Mosque
Top of the list is the most stunning historic sight in Istanbul. This is the Hagia Sophia.
The Hagia Sophia used to be a church, but then was converted to a mosque after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Nowadays, it is both a mosque and museum. The second floor serves as a museum.
Entrance to the second floor costs 25 Euros.
(all prices in this article are as of August 2024)
Only muslims can attend the ground floor during prayer times for free. If you are on a budget in Istanbul, then this is THE one attraction I definitely recommend to pay for.
One note regarding dress codes in mosques in general. Both men and women need to dress modestly and should wear clothing that covers theirs shoulders and knees. A headscarf is also required for women. If necessary, you can buy body covers and headscarfs at the entrance of the Hagia Sophia mosque for a few euros.
2) Topkapı palace
The Topkapı palace used to be the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for about 400 years. It has four main courtyards and showcases ottoman architecture. It has a very serene environment even though being quite touristy.
There are quite a few exhibitions, but one stands out very much. This is the holy relics exhibition. Most notably amongst these relics is the bow, sword and footprint of the prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him. Furthermore, you can also see the walking stick of prophet Moses, peace be upon him. This stick played a central role in parting the Red Sea while Moses, Aaron and the children of Israel were fleeing from the Egyptian pharaoh. For devout muslims, christians and jews, it is mesmerizing to see these relics.
Entrance to the Topkapı palace is around 40 euros or 45 US dollars (as of August 2024). There is an additional entrance fee to the Harem section.
Note the Topkapı palace is closed on Tuesdays.
3) Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque is also called Sultan Ahmed in Turkish. It is known for its six minarets and its beautiful courtyard.
Entrance to the Blue Mosque is for free. Actually except for the Hagia Sophia Mosque, any other mosque is free of charge.
The idea of a second mosque next to the Hagia Sophia mosque was to demonstrate muslims also have the knowledge and ability to built such a big construction and especially a huge dome.
Note the blue mosque is closed for tourists during congregational prayer times.
4) Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern provided a water filtration system for the palace of Constantinople and later it continued to provide water for the Topkapı palace in the Ottoman times.
Very notable are two Medusa heads which are used as pillars.
Entrance to the Basilica cistern is around 25 US dollars or 22 Euros (as of August 2024).
5) Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar was established in 1455 after the conquest of Constantinople.
It is the oldest shopping mall in the world and has over 4.000 shops. The Grand Bazaar attracts up to 400.000 visitors daily.
It offers a wide range of products like jewelry, carpets or spices.
Note, the Grand Bazaar closes at 7 pm and is also closed on Sundays
6) Spice Bazaar
Next is the Spice Bazaar, which is the second largest historic shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar.
Focus here is on spices, Turkish delight and dried fruits.
7) Süleymaniye Mosque
To my mind, the Süleymaniye Mosque is the most beautiful mosque in Istanbul.
The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the magnificent and designed by the very famous imperial architect Mimar Sinan.
Nowadays, it is a UNESCO world heritage site. The Süleymaniye complex included a religious school, a public kitchen, a hospital. There you also find the tomb of Sultan Suleiman the magnificent himself.
From the outer wall, there is a beautiful view of the Beyoğlu district, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
8) Taksim and Istiklal street
All the places till now were on the historical peninsula in Fatih.
Next, let us move to the more modern districts of Beyoğlu and Beşiktaş. These two districts are on the other side of the Golden Horn, but still on the European side.
Number eight are Taksim square and Istiklal street.
Taksim square is probably the most central place in Istanbul and Istiklal street is a 1.4 kilometer long pedestrian street.
Istiklal street is busy day and night. On weekends, up to 3 million people cross Istiklal street. There are many shops, cafés and restaurants on and around it. It is nice just to walk along Istiklal street
9) Galata Tower
At the end of Istiklal street is the Galata Tower.
This tower is almost 700 years old and it is offers a great panoramic view of Istanbul. Entrance to the Galata Tower costs 30 Euros (as of August 2024).
10) Galataport
Galataport is a multi purpose complex. It’s main purpose is a cruise ship terminal. You can start and finish a cruise here and visit various places in the Aegean Sea in Türkiye and Greece.
Galataport also has an amazing promenade with stunning views. There are great restaurants, cafés and a shopping mall.
11) Ortaköy
Ortaköy offers an amazing view of the first Bosphorus bridge and the Ortaköy mosque in front of it.
It is well-known for waffles and kumpir. Kumpir are stuffed and baked potatoes.
12) Bosphorus cruise
A Bosphorus ride is a must in Istanbul.
To my mind, the Bosporus is one of the most beautiful places on this planet. Many Bosphorus cruise ships start in Eminönü in Fatih. But there are also many other starting points. The ships go till the second bridge along the European coast line and then turn back along the Asian coast line.
Many cruises cost around 5 Euros (as of August 2024) and they last around 90 minutes.
Next to touristic Bosphorus cruises, you can also take a public ferry.
13) Üsküdar promenade
Till now, all the places were predominantly touristy. There are many more tourists then locals in these places. In fact, many parts of Fatih and Beyoğlu are super touristy.
Numbers 13,14 and 15 are focusing on enjoying life in Istanbul. And they are visited mostly by locals.
Let us start the local places with Üsküdar on the Asian side. Üsküdar offers a beautiful 2 kilometers promenade overlooking the historic peninsula of Fatih and Beyoğlu. It is very popular by locals. The most beautiful part is just opposite of the Maiden’s tower. Focus is on enjoying the Bosphorus. There are a few cafés to sit and relax.
To get to Üsküdar, take a ferry from Eminönü, Karaköy, Kabataş or Beşiktaş. A ferry ride is amazing itself. There are very frequent connections to Üsküdar.
14) Kadıköy Moda
Moda is a very trendy and hipster neighborhood of Kadıköy.
Kadıköy Moda is the most popular place for locals to hang out in Istanbul. It is a bit like Istiklal street, but for locals.
There are many bars and pubs. It is probably the place with the highest alcohol consumption in Istanbul.
There are many also great casual restaurants and cafés. And it is very popular for foodie tours.
You can again take a ferry from any of the ports in Eminönü, Karaköy or Beşiktaş. From these ferry ports, there are very frequent connections to Kadıköy.
15) Arnavutköy – Bebek – Rumeli Hisarı promenades
Lastly on this list is one of my absolute favorite places on this planet. These are the stunning promenades in the neighborhoods of Arnavutköy, Bebek and Rumeli Hisarı.
Here, you have the most beautiful views of the Bosphorus. There is an almost uninterrupted promenade for 5 kilometers. Focus here is on enjoying life.
Bebek is the place where you might spot the famous, rich and stars of Türkiye.
The best and most enjoyable method to get to these places is via ferry. You can take the ferry starting from Eminönü to Arnavutköy or Bebek.
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