Istanbul, though not the capital of Turkey, is its largest and most visited city. With part of its territory on European and part on Asian borders, Istanbul is a wonderful city that knows how to bring out the best of both Western and Eastern culture. Washed by the waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus River, Istanbul is a city with a lot to see, full of beautiful and magical corners that will make you fall in love with it.
We’ll show you the must-see places to visit in Istanbul, as well as recommendations for possible excursions near Istanbul, such as the wonderful Princes Islands, so that you don’t miss anything on your trip to Istanbul. Read on to discover the best of Istanbul with Passporter, as well as some tips for your trip.
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6 Places to See in Istanbul, Turkey
1. Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia Mosque is the absolute star of Istanbul and no wonder, because, beyond its beauty, since it was built in the 13th century it has lived a long and interesting history. Hagia Sophia began as the Pope’s church, until almost a century later it was taken over by the Ottoman Empire and converted into a mosque. Centuries later, in 1936, it was converted into a museum and, finally, in 2020 it was converted into a mosque.
Due to its recent conversion into a mosque, the mosaic images that decorated the walls have been covered with curtains. But we still recommend visiting the interior of this jewel, which continues to dazzle visitors with its impressive dome.
Free admission. Open 24 hours, except during the five daily prayers.
2. Blue Mosque, one of the jewels to see in Istanbul
The Blue Mosque, as striking on the inside as it is on the outside, is a must-see on a trip to Istanbul. With a dome 23 metres in diameter and 43 metres high, the Blue Mosque and its six minarets is the temple that has come closest to challenging Mecca. In 1617, the year of its inauguration, Mecca also had six minarets, which caused great controversy as it sought to equalise the two temples. To solve the problem, a seventh minaret was added to Mecca.
In its dazzling interior, you can see the thousands of blue tiles of the dome illuminated by the light from the chandeliers and the light coming through the stained-glass windows.
Free admission. Hours: Mon-Sat, 8:30-16:30
3. Topkapi Palace
The Topkapi Palace is one of the most beautiful sights you will see in Istanbul. This huge palace of some 700,000 square metres was built from the 15th century onwards and was the residence of the sultans who ruled the empire. Among the many rooms, courtyards and halls of the various buildings that can be visited are the Treasury and the Harem. The treasury is displayed in 4 halls where you can see historical pieces such as the Topcapi dagger, the most expensive dagger in the world, made of gold, diamonds, emeralds and precious stones. The treasury of the Topkapi Palace is a real treat, transporting you back in time and civilisations past through the gifts of ancient foreign rulers.
The Topkapi Palace is also home to the Archaeological Museum.
Hours: M-F, 9:00-17:00 Price: palace €11, harem €6, palace and harem €16.
4. Grand Bazaar, an indispensable must-see in Istanbul
In the tourist district of Sultanahmet lies one of the wonders of Turkey. We are talking about the Grand Bazaar, which, with its 22 entrance gates and approximately 60 streets, offers its visitors more than 3,000 shops where you can find the most special souvenir of your trip to Istanbul.
The Grand Bazaar was built in the 15th century and was originally a place where fabrics, silks and luxury goods were sold. Today you can find precious Turkish handicrafts such as lamps, carpets, jewellery, dresses, as well as spices, food, drink…
Free admission. Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 8:30-19:30.
5. Galata Tower
Another of Istanbul’s iconic landmarks is its Galata Tower, one of the oldest in the world and the best place to see the city from above and get the best panoramic photo.
The Galata Tower was built in 1345 in the Romanesque style and is characterised by its thick stone walls, 3.75 metres wide at the base and tapering to 20 centimetres at the top. The tower is 67 metres high, and the silver tower stands at 51 metres, offering the best views of the city.
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9:00-20:00. Price €1’40
6. Basilica Cistern, the “submerged palace” to see in Istanbul
Although not the only cistern in Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern, or Yerebatan Cistern, is undoubtedly the most beautiful of them all and one of the must-see sights in Istanbul. This beautiful cistern was built in the 6th century in an ancient basilica that no longer exists, to supply water to the Byzantine Palace. It is characterised by the combination of different styles in its 336 columns, which were reused from other constructions and monuments, giving it a very special and unique character.
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9:00-17:30. Price: Adults 1,10 € and students 0’30€
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
2 Must-See Places to See Around Istanbul
1 Princes Islands, a summer paradise to see near Istanbul
The Princes Islands are a haven of peace in contrast to bustling Istanbul just 42km away. This archipelago of nine islands is a must-visit if you’re travelling to the city in summer and have an extra day’s holiday after you’ve toured it. Büyükada is the largest island and the one where the ferry docks, and you’ll fall in love with it as soon as you set foot on it. Beautiful beaches, overflowing nature growing over the beautiful wooden houses, seafood restaurants and fish restaurants… The princely islands are a true summer paradise with beautiful hidden coves, bathed by the waters of the Sea of Marmara and hidden corners to be discovered on a pleasant walk or bike ride.
To get to the Princes Islands, take a ferry from the port of Kabatas. Ferries leave every half hour, take between 1 hour and 1.5 hours and cost €0.70 return.
2 Belgrade Forest
Especially if you’re travelling in spring or summer, to avoid the fog and rainfall, we recommend a visit to Belgrade Forest, just outside Istanbul, about 20km from the centre. A beautiful forest in which to stroll and contemplate nature in its purest form, from the impressive trees to the different animal species.
Entry is free, but you can book a guided walking tour. The routes are well marked and the path is clear, but we recommend downloading a GPS map to your mobile phone that you can use offline, just in case.
Where and what to eat in Istanbul?
Surely when you think of Turkish food, the first thing that pops into your head is the image of the fast-food doner kebab. However, Turkish cuisine is very varied and encompasses many more delicious dishes, such as lüfer (oily fish), lahmacun (Turkish “pizza”) and its many çorbas (soups), among others.
- Street food stalls: Of course, if you’re in a hurry and don’t want to waste time being served in a restaurant, it’s always a good option to buy something at a street food stall for even less than €1.
- Gulhane Sark Sofras: One of Istanbul’s best restaurants. With quality traditional Turkish food and exquisite service, Gulhane Sark Sofras? serves meat, fish and vegetarian options in a cosy, family-friendly atmosphere Price range: €8-17.
- Bitlisli: Delicious and hearty dishes of traditional Truca cuisine, such as stuffed mushrooms and a variety of roast meat recipes. Price range: €5-19.
Where to sleep in Istanbul?
One of the best areas to stay in Istanbul is the Sultanahmet district, that is, the historic centre of the city and the area where most of the tourist stops are concentrated. Sultanahmet is where most of the accommodation is located and is a very good area for getting to most places on foot without having to use public transport. The Galata neighbourhood is also a very good option, although a little further out, it is a very lively neighbourhood with plenty of entertainment and accommodation.
- Akbiyik Suite Boutique Hotel: An upscale bed & breakfast in the Sultanahmet district. It is only 600 metres from the Hagia Sophia and 700 metres from the Blue Mosque. It has a private bathroom and halal breakfast included. Average price per night: 74€.
- Alilass Hotel: Also in the centre of Istanbul, 200 metres from the Blue Mosque, Alilass Hotel is a comfortable and stylish accommodation serving buffet breakfast every morning. Average price per night: 85€.
- Miller Hotel: In the Galata district, 600 metres from the tower, is this fantastic hotel with rooms overlooking the sea and the Bosphorus. Price range: €140-85 depending on season.
What should I consider before travelling to Istanbul?
- The official currency of Turkey is the Turkish Lira.
- In Turkish “hello” is “merhaba” and thank you “teekkürler”.
- The best time to travel to Turkey is in spring or autumn, when the weather is milder. In the summer it is very hot.
- Always carry some cash, not all shops accept credit cards.
- Avoid changing money at the airport, as the exchange rate is often high.
- Tap water is not safe to drink, always drink bottled water and avoid ice.
- From Europe it is not necessary to have a visa if you are travelling for less than 90 days, but you must have a valid passport (valid for at least 6 months) and be able to justify with hotel reservations that the trip is a tourist trip.
- Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
- The country is generally safe, but you should always be careful with your belongings in crowded, touristy areas.
How to prepare what to see on your trip to Istanbul?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat. You can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference.
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Istanbul Turkey.
If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently Asked Questions about travelling to Istanbul
Summers are hot, with highs that usually exceed 30°C and lows that don’t drop below 20°C, and with little rainfall. Winters are very cold and quite rainy, with highs of 8°C and lows that can drop below 0°C, with frequent snowfall.
For us, the best times to travel to Istanbul are March-May and September-October. At these times the temperatures are more pleasant than in summer, there are fewer tourists and prices are lower.
The best way to get around Istanbul is by public transport. The city is very well connected, especially the main attractions via tram line 1. Lines 2 (European side) and 3 (Asian side) are very interesting because they follow a historical route and carry the famous “nostalgic trams of Istanbul”, beautiful little red wooden trams.
Alternatively, you can also use the metro and bus, although the tram is often easier and more useful.
You can pay the fare on the spot, but if you get the Istanbulkart, a public transport card, you’ll get cheaper fares. You can get it at the main metro stations.
Istanbul has an airport that is served by international airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Pegasus Airlines and others. If you are travelling from another city in Turkey or from a nearby country, you can also travel by train (Istanbul has 2 train stations) or by bus.
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