Istanbul is a city like no other—a mesmerizing blend of East and West, where ancient history meets modern energy. As someone who has explored its winding streets, breathtaking mosques, and bustling bazaars, I can confidently say this city belongs on every traveler’s bucket list.
Whether you're fascinated by Ottoman palaces, enchanted by Byzantine architecture, or craving authentic Turkish cuisine, Istanbul delivers an experience unlike any other.
One moment, you're admiring the majestic Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece that has stood for over 1,500 years; the next, you're haggling for spices in the lively Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest markets. The city’s skyline is punctuated by the stunning Blue Mosque, while the shimmering Bosphorus Strait separates its European and Asian sides, offering unforgettable ferry rides. From the opulent Topkapi Palace, once home to sultans, to the hip cafes of Karaköy, Istanbul seamlessly blends tradition with modernity.
In this guide, I’ll take you through the best places to visit in Istanbul, covering historical landmarks, hidden gems, and local favorites. Whether you're a history buff, foodie, or culture enthusiast, you’ll discover why this city remains one of the world’s most captivating destinations. Let’s dive into the must-see spots that make Istanbul truly unforgettable.
What to visit in Istanbul: 10 Top Places
Here are the 10 most beautiful places to visit in Istanbul:
1. Blue Mosque ( Sultanahmet Camii )
The Blue Mosque is one of the great jewels of Istanbul, and there is no shortage of mosques in the city. If it is monumental and imposing on the outside, inside it hides a sublime secret: 20,000 blue tiles that decorate the ceilings and walls and give it its nickname.
It was built by order of Sultan Ahmed I (between 1609-1616) in a decision that brought controversy: in an effort to make his mosque look better and more beautiful than the neighbouring Hagia Sophia, he decided to build it with 6 minarets . Until then, the only mosque in the world that had 6 minarets was the one in Mecca, and of course, that did not please the faithful. The solution? He commissioned the construction of a seventh minaret in the mosque in Mecca, the law made, the trap set.
The construction of the Blue Mosque was an unprecedented expense for Turkey: in addition to the thousands of high-quality tiles inside, all the stained glass windows were made in Venice and other decorative elements, such as the gigantic chandeliers , were even covered in gold and precious stones.
Entrance is free and remember that to visit a mosque you must enter barefoot, with your head covered (if you are a woman) and, of course, in decent clothing (no bare shoulders or showing your legs). You cannot visit during prayers either, we recommend that you take a look at the opening hours to organise yourself.
Go up to the rooftop of Seven Hills Restaurant
If you want to have a great view of the Blue Mosque, go up to the terrace of the Seven Hills hotel-restaurant (it has an elevator, yeah!) where you can have a tea, a beer, a hearty breakfast or just take a look around for a while. Here we tell you which are the 10 best views of Istanbul .
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2. Hagia Sophia
Just a few hundred metres away, on the other side of the square, stands Istanbul's other great star . In the game of choosing one (just like in football with Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe), we would be unable to choose between the two. The Blue Mosque may be more beautiful, but Istanbul would not be the same without Hagia Sophia.
It was born as an Orthodox basilica around the year 360 and, throughout its history, it was a Catholic church during the Crusaders, a mosque since 1453 when the Ottomans arrived, recently a museum and, unfortunately, since 2020, a mosque again.
We say “unfortunately” simply because you can NO LONGER see the fabulous Byzantine mosaics that decorate the interior of the mosque (the Muslim religion prohibits iconography) except for the one at the entrance above the main door. You can also no longer visit the upper floor of the old basilica. However, entry is now free…
Yet, once you take off your shoes and walk through the two doors, you'll be amazed. The main hall is enormous and impresses even the most boring person. It measures some 70 metres and is crowned by a colossal dome, some 56 metres high and 32 metres in diameter, which is considered the pinnacle of Byzantine art .
There is an entrance fee for non-Muslims (you can buy your ticket with an audio guide online to avoid queues ) and it is open all day, although it is best to go early in the morning to avoid the long queues. And another tip: visit Hagia Sophia both during the day and at night . The light changes completely and so does the atmosphere.
Other mosques to see in Istanbul
In addition to these two, there are several mosques that are definitely worth a visit. We are talking about:
- Ortaköy Mosque , on the banks of the Bosphorus and with a beautiful eclectic style.
- Rustem Pasa Mosque , small and full of tiles inside.
- Suleymaniye Mosque , built by the will of one of the greatest sultans who reigned over the city: Suleymaniye the Magnificent.
3. Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is one of the most original and curious places to visit in Istanbul. It is an underground construction that Justinian I ordered to be excavated in the 6th century, in order to conserve water that would be used to supply his Palace in case of enemy attacks. Its name derives from a large basilica that at the time was located right above this well.
The most amazing thing is that this cistern is far from being a mere water reservoir. Inside it (with 80,000 cubic metres, it is the largest of the ancient cisterns preserved underground in Istanbul) there are 336 columns about 9 metres high, which give it the appearance of an underground cathedral. Two of the cisterns have a peculiarity: at their base you will see the head of Medusa.
There is a fee for entry (25€ during the day and 35€ at night) and you can buy it online to skip the queues. More information on their official website .
Tip : If you plan to enter several paid sites on your trip to the Turkish capital, you should get a tourist card like the Istanbul E-pass , which includes access to many of the must-see attractions in Istanbul, with guided tours, a Bosphorus cruise and more!
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4. Bazaars to visit in Istanbul (Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar)
Don't expect wooden stalls and Aladdin-style fabric awnings, or caravanserais with camels and the smell of spices from the time of the Silk Road... The markets in Istanbul are touristy, very touristy. But you still have to live the (somewhat stressful) experience of haggling among baskets full of tea, Turkish delight, jewelry, furs... and really everything.
Because we are not exaggerating when we say that Istanbul is one big bazaar . On the streets, on the sidewalks, under the subways, in the stations… Any place is good to offer your products.
We recommend visiting two markets, where you can buy small-large treasures to take home a little piece of Istanbul:
Grand Bazaar
As the name suggests, it is the largest. Almost infinite. They say it occupies about 60 covered streets and has more than 3,000 little shops. Enough to see them all XD. Here you will find a bit of everything, from the typical colored glass lamps to clothes or dishes. Be patient, have a good mood and haggle!
Spice Bazaar
The kingdom of smells, from cinnamon to cumin, from saffron to apple tea. If you like cooking, you can't miss this place and grab a pack of spices. It's not too big, but it's pretty cool. If you come with the idea of getting a bargain (football shirts, imitation bags, etc.), it's best to take a stroll through the surrounding streets, for us the real market is there.
5. Boat trip on the Bosphorus
Due to its location, Istanbul has always been a meeting point for different cultures. It is also a meeting point for different continents. As you know, the city is divided into European and Asian parts , with the Bosphorus Strait acting as a natural border.
This feature allows you to travel to Asia simply by crossing a bridge. Although it is a much better plan to board a boat and sail along the Bosphorus, the canal that connects the waters of the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea .
There are various types and prices of cruises, but the most popular is the one that leaves from the ferry port of Eminönü (opposite the Spice Bazaar) and takes about 1 hour and a half to travel along the canal, first on the European side and then back on the Asian side. It costs only 30L (about 3€ at the current exchange rate) and the ticket can be purchased at the ticket office on the spot.
If you want to book the cruise in advance and also include a 1.5-hour guided walking tour, this is a good option .
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6. Galata and Taksim Tower
If you allow us, in one single point we are going to tell you about several places that you must visit in Istanbul. The Taksim and Galata districts are among the liveliest in the city, and you should dedicate at least half a day to get to know this area on the other side of the Golden Horn well.
It starts at the highest point, Taksim Square ( Taksim Meydanı ), one of the epicentres of modern social life in Istanbul. From there it begins to descend along the lively Istiklal Caddesi street , full of shops and fashion stores, until it reaches the emblematic Galata Tower .
This striking 67-metre building stands out from the rest of the buildings like a huge mushroom in a well-tended garden. Its construction dates back to the 14th century and is of Genoese origin. After some renovations, you can now enter and walk through its 6 floors until you reach the viewing platform on the top floor by lift , obviously after paying €30.
Is it worth it? It depends on you, if you have the budget, don't hesitate as the views are nice and being inside the building is cool. But if you don't feel like paying, we have an alternative plan...
Go up to the Galata Konak Cafe & Restaurant , where you will have similar views, but you will also be right next to the Galata Tower, which for us is even better. A great plan… and not so expensive (coffee or lemonades cost about €4). Here we tell you about 15 restaurants where you can eat in Istanbul (well and cheap) .
The next step is to go down to the Galata Bridge and watch the fishermen trying to catch their prey. If you arrive at sunset you will be in luck: the sky over Istanbul never disappoints and from the bridge you can get one of the best panoramic views of the city. You can also stay in the Karaköy area and have dinner in one of the fish restaurants facing the port.
7. Karaköy District
We already told you that around the Galata Bridge you can try one of the most typical street foods in Istanbul: Balik Ekmek (fish sandwich).
There are plenty of restaurants and even improvised stalls on the sidewalks themselves, but if you want to play it safe, one of the most famous is Tarihi Eminonu Balik Ekmek , which is located in the Karaköy neighborhood , one of the liveliest in Istanbul (full of street art, cafes and hipster-style restaurants).
Save dessert for Güllüoğlu , a bakery-café where you can try the best baklavas in the world.
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8. Topkapi Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace
Topkapi Palace is another of the top visits in Istanbul, but it has one downside: its price! In 2024 you will have to shell out around €50 to visit the Palace and the Harem (separate tickets). After reading this you may have doubts, although we believe that it is worth the effort (however exaggerated the price may be), especially if you have never been to India or Morocco, where the architecture is similar.
This palace is a real gem: it was built between 1460 and 1478 on a large plot of land on the banks of the Bosphorus and for 4 centuries it was the home of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire , until Sultan Abdülmecit I decided to move his court to the Dolmabahçe Palace, on the European side of Istanbul.
The Dolmabahce Palace is more modern and in keeping with the times (those times, as its neoclassical style is a bit too over-the-top for our taste). In this case, the entrance ticket, which includes a visit to the Harem, costs €38, a price that is somewhat more accessible for everyone, but still outrageous.
Fun fact: Dolmabahçe Palace was the residence of the Sultans until 1923, when the Ottoman Empire finally said goodbye and the Republic of Turkey was born. Paradoxically, the father of the Republic, Atatürk , also said his final farewell within its walls. The room where he died is shown here.
Here we leave you a (not so) brief summary of the history of Turkey .
9. Fener and Balat, Istanbul's trendy neighborhoods
Fener , the Greek quarter, and Balat , the former Jewish quarter of Istanbul, have managed to make a place for themselves on the tourist maps of the city and today they are the mecca for those who want to discover an Istanbul “beyond the typical”.
Hills (lots of them), cafes (lots of them) and colourful houses (some run-down, others very pretty) are what await you here, along with a local atmosphere and buildings full of history such as the Greek College or the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople.
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10. Üskudar, the Asian area of Istanbul
We cannot finish the post of the 10 best places to visit in Istanbul without recommending one of our favorite areas: Üskudar, on the Asian side. As we already mentioned and you probably already knew, a large part of Istanbul is located in European Turkey, but there is also part of it in Asian territory.
It's a huge district, but you can cross it by ferry and see some of its areas. Take note, for example, of the Kadiköy district with the Beylerbeyi Palace (where, by the way, you can eat wonderfully), the Moda district or the charming Kuzguncuk district , famous for appearing in many Turkish series. In addition, Üskudar is home to the largest mosque in Istanbul: we are talking about the Çamlıca mosque .
Another must-do here is to enjoy the sunset at the carpet café , with its wonderful views of the Bosphorus and the Maiden's Tower. Don't be confused by its name, it's actually a set of concrete steps in front of the Bosphorus where vendors of çay and sunflower seeds are stationed to make the moment more pleasant. We don't know if it's because of the Covid issue, but when we went there were NO carpets hehe.
As you can see, this district on the other side of the canal has a lot to offer and we recommend you spend a whole day (or at least half a day) discovering one of the most interesting and authentic areas of Istanbul. And in the process, you can say that you have been to Asia.
Other places to visit in Istanbul
Obviously there are still dozens, hundreds, thousands of things to do in this beautiful city. But these 10 seem like a great start 😉 If you want to know more, take a look at this post of 30 things to see and do in Istanbul . And if you want to know how to divide your time, we have a 3-day itinerary for you in Istanbul .
For us, this city has something special. It may be its history, its personality, whatever… but we are in love with ancient Constantinople and we are already looking forward to returning and, who knows, maybe spending some time here 😉
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