If you are visiting Istanbul for the first time, you are probably busy making a travel plan, looking for must-sees, thinking about how not to miss anything… Save time and just use the guide from our travel expert who knows about the famous Turkish city everything.
Istanbul is located on two parts of the mainland – in Europe and Asia. This is a city of majestic mosques, palaces and cozy streets, where ancient architecture from different eras has been preserved: the Roman Empire, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire.
How to get from the airport to the city
The most convenient way to get from the airport to the city center (Sultanahmet district) is by Havaist shuttle. Travel time will be about 1.5 hours. The fare is 18 TL.
An alternative optimal way is a taxi. A trip on it will cost from 100 TL.
Where to stay
We have selected for you several accommodation options in Istanbul, different in cost and class:
- Tayahatun Hotel
- Rumours Inn
- Hotel Poem
Sultanahmet Square: Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
The first thing to do after you take a break from the flight is to go to Sultanahmet Square. This is the heart of the city. Here are two of the most important cathedrals and symbols of Istanbul: Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
The Blue Mosque is active, so to visit it you need to dress appropriately: clothes should completely cover your arms and legs, and girls need a headscarf to cover their hair. Skirts and scarves are offered for tourists at the entrance, but it is better to take care of special clothing in advance.
The mosque closes several times a day for prayer, which everyone can attend.
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, Fatih/İstanbul
Official website: Sultanahmet Camii
After passing through the park, you will come to the second famous landmark of Istanbul – the Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia). The cathedral was in the hands of the Byzantines and Ottomans, and now serves as a museum. Entrance there is paid, the ticket price is 72 TL (children under 8 years old – free).
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı, Fatih/İstanbul
Official website: Aya Sofya
Near Hagia Sophia there is a non-tourist mosque, Sultan Ahmet Türbesi. It’s worth visiting to see the magnificent paintings on the walls and ceilings.
Basilica Cistern and Theodosius Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is a former underground reservoir decorated with columns. There is a sculpture of the head of Medusa the Gorgon here, and bridges are laid over the water. The entire space is beautifully lit with lanterns.
Ticket price: 20 TL
Address: Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, Fatih/İstanbul Official website: The Basilica Cistern
There is another cistern in Istanbul – Theodosius Cistern. It is smaller in size, but no less interesting, and it is visited by much fewer tourists. Quiet music creates the atmosphere. Admission is free.
Address: Binbirdirek, Piyer Loti Cd. No:25, Fatih/İstanbul
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is perhaps the most colorful place in the city. There are hundreds of shops on 50 streets selling traditional Turkish goods and simple items. Their arsenal includes Turkish carpets, oriental lamps, handmade furniture, jewelry and sweets. Here you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an oriental bazaar and buy souvenirs. Most importantly, don’t forget to bargain.
Address: Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, Fatih/İstanbul
Topkapi
Visit the former palace of the Ottoman Sultans – Topkapi. The complex includes premises where the Sultan lived and worked and where his harem was located, as well as gardens. Also on its territory are the ruins of the Church of St. Irene, preserved from Byzantine times.
Ticket cost: to the museum – 72 TL, to the territory of the harem – 42 TL, and to the Church of St. Irene a ticket will cost 36 TL. For children under 8 years of age, admission is free (except for the harem premises).
Address: Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul
Official website: Topkapi Sarayi
Bosphorus and Golden Horn
To see Istanbul from the outside, take a Bosphorus cruise. From a ship sailing along the shores of the city, you will have a beautiful view of its sights, palaces and fortresses.
We recommend taking a morning or lunch cruise with Bosphorus Cruise. The duration of the trip will be about 4 hours, and the ticket price will be 30 EUR.
Galata Tower
The most famous observation deck in Istanbul is the ancient Galata Tower from the 14th century, which can be seen from almost all points of the city. In the past, the tower was used as a prison, and now from its balcony, located at an altitude of 61 meters, you can view the city and the Bosphorus Strait.
Ticket price: 35 TL
Address: Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi Sk., Beyoğlu/İstanbul
Sultan’s Palace Dolmabahce
In a picturesque location on the banks of the Bosphorus stands the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace. Its walls were home to 6 sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Here you will see luxurious halls, harem rooms and gardens with a stunning promenade.
Be sure to walk around the palace from all sides and admire its architecture from the gate that opens the entrance to the territory from the Bosphorus Strait.
Ticket price: 60 TL for entry to the main halls of the palace and 40 TL for entry to the harem territory.
Address: Vişnezade, Dolmabahçe Cd., Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Yıldız Park
Photo : NiglayNik/Shutterstock.com
Not far from Dolmabahce there is a green city park with ponds, streams and suspension bridges. In summer, flowers grow along the alleys, and under the trees you can hide from the heat. Although the park is quite large and finding a quiet, secluded place in it is not difficult, we still recommend going there on a weekday to feel the atmosphere of peace and the spirit of nature.
Address: Yıldız, Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Near the park on the Bosphorus embankment stands the elegant Ciragan Palace. Now its building belongs to a five-star hotel, but it’s quite possible to look at it from the outside and stroll along the picturesque embankment.
Asian side of Istanbul
Istanbul, on the Asian side, cannot boast of a variety of attractions and historical architecture, but it is worth going here to look at the non-tourist city and feel the rhythm of life and way of life of the local residents.
For some interesting architecture in this part of the city, head to the bright Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, whose ceilings are decorated with pinkish-green Islamic paintings and stained glass windows.
Miniature
Photo: Tekkol/Shutterstock.com
Outside the center of Istanbul, you can see small copies of Turkish cities and attractions in Miniaturk Park. Here are detailed mini copies of architectural masterpieces from the times of the Roman Empire, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire, which in reality are located throughout Turkey.
Ticket price: 15 TL
Address: Örnektepe, İmrahor Cd. 7/1, Beyoğlu/İstanbul
Official website: Miniaturk
Black Sea
If you’re visiting in the summer, don’t miss the chance to swim. Istanbul is located near the Black Sea coast. The beaches here are sandy and the entrance to the water is gentle. We suggest going to Tırmata Balık and Beach. For 40 TL per adult and 20 TL per child on weekdays you can soak up the sun while lying on sun loungers. There is a restaurant on site, and to get to the beach, you can take a shuttle that leaves from Hacıosman metro station at 10:00.
By the way, the paid beach is surrounded by many free ones. For example, the neighboring Suma beach.
Prince’s Islands
Prince’s Islands – a corner of nature and countryside atmosphere in the Sea of Marmara. There are no cars here, and travelers and locals are transported by public transport in the form of horse-drawn carriages. You can also rent a bicycle here. The archipelago consists of four small islands, the main of which is Buyukada Island with the city of Adalar. Having arrived here, go for a walk along its narrow streets, surrounded by flowers. The town has preserved Victorian-style houses and wooden buildings. You can travel between the islands for free by boats (vapur), which depart from the main piers.
How to get there: ferries run to the islands from Eminönü Pier in Istanbul. Travel time will be about 1.5 hours. The ferry stops at piers on all four islands. To get to the main thing, get off at the fourth stop. The ticket will cost 7 TL.
Expert advice
- To plan your movements in and between cities, use the Rome2Rio service.
- Use offline maps Citywalks.me and Maps.me.
