Things to do in Istanbul
Istanbul straddles two continents and 3,000 years of history, yet remains one of Europe's most affordable major cities where a filling street meal costs under $2 and world-class museums charge just a few dollars entry.
Why go to Istanbul
Hagia Sophia
A breathtaking 1,500-year-old cathedral-turned-mosque with soaring mosaics and an atmosphere unlike anywhere on earth.
Topkapi Palace
The opulent nerve center of the Ottoman Empire, packed with imperial treasures, jeweled daggers, and sweeping Bosphorus views.
Grand Bazaar
One of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, 4,000 shops of spices, carpets, and gold under vaulted ceilings.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
Six minarets and 20,000 hand-painted Iznik tiles make this free-entry mosque one of the most stunning interiors in the world.
Bosphorus Cruise
A cheap public ferry ride between Europe and Asia delivers jaw-dropping skyline views of palaces, fortresses, and minarets.
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Good to know in Istanbul
- Get an Istanbulkart (reloadable transit card, ~$1.50 to buy) for buses, trams, metro, and ferries, single rides drop from ~$0.75 to ~$0.50 each and transfers within 90 minutes are discounted.
- Tipping is appreciated but modest, round up or leave 10% at sit-down restaurants; street food and lokanta counters require no tip.
- Tap water is technically treated but locals and most travelers avoid drinking it; buy large 5L bottles from markets for under $0.75 rather than paying café prices.
- The Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are always free to enter (as active mosques); Istanbul Museum Pass (~$25) covers Topkapi, Archeology Museum, and more and pays off after just two major sites.
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