Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise from Eminonu Pier
Duration: 90 minutes
Istanbul
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Top attractions in Istanbul
Hagia Sophia: Skip-the-Line Ticket with Guided Tour
Duration: 1 hour
Likely to sell out
Topkapi Palace and Harem: Guided Tour with Admission Ticket
Duration: 3 hours
Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Small-Group Tour
Duration: 3 hours
Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on a Luxurious Yacht
Duration: 2.5 hours
Likely to sell out
The Whirling Dervishes Show at the HodjaPasha Culture Center
Duration: 60 minutes
Likely to sell out
Dolmabahce Palace Highlights Guided Tour w/ Fast Track Entry
Duration: 30 minutes
Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Duration: 30 minutes
Istanbul: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Duration: 24 - 72 hours
Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour
Duration: 7 hours - 3 days
Istanbul: Morning Bosphorus Boat Tour with Local Guide
Duration: 2 hours
Istanbul City Tourist Pass for 30+ Top Attractions/ Services
Valid: 3 - 7 days
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Top 10 things to do in Istanbul
Istanbul's strategic location between Europe and Asia on the ancient Silk Road has made it one of history's most important cities. A list of its points of interest would be long enough to bridge the Bosphorus, so here's a top 10 to make your itinerary more manageable!
Hagia Sophia
In Hagia Sophia, the immense dome crowning this church turned mosque turned museum was an architectural miracle in its time, although it took a lot of trial and error to get to that point: it collapsed twice!
Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Also commonly known as the Blue Mosque, the fine İznik tiles adorning this magnificent structure may make it appear bluer than it actually is!
Dolmabahçe Palace
The glorious Dolmabahçe Palace dominates the European shoreline of the Bosphorus where it served as the key administrative center in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire.
Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace, the one-time home of many Sultans, not only offers spectacular views of the city, but also houses treasures that make the Crown Jewels look like Claire's Accessories!
Galata Tower
As early as the 1600s, Ahmet Çelebi is said to have flown across the Bosphorus from the top of the Galata Tower. Most visitors will probably be content with the incredible views!
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest markets on the planet. A constant source of wonder, it's also one of the world's most visited places. Expect crowds at any time!
Süleymaniye Mosque
The stunning Süleymaniye Mosque was built for Suleiman the Magnificent by the great architect Sinan. If you're feeling peckish, Ali Baba across the road might be the best restaurant in town for Turkish beans!
Spice Bazaar
The Spice Bazaar otherwise known as the Egyptian Bazaar was created in 1660 and remains the place to go for spices, nuts, Turkish delight, and other divine tastes and smells!
Basilica Cistern
One of Istanbul's most unusual sights, Roman relics have been reappropriated by Byzantian builders to support this complex system that once brought drinking water into the city.
Maiden's Tower
Perched on top of a tiny islet in the Bosphorus strait, this historic lighthouse was once a watchtower. It now also serves as a popular restaurant and café with splendid views of the city's shoreline.
Planning Your Istanbul Visit
How many days?
Istanbul is a cartographical labyrinth with sights and experiences awaiting you round every corner. How long to stay depends on how immersed you want to get, but a week should be enough to cover the most famous attractions.
How to get from the airport to the city?
Havataş Shuttle Buses are available from outside the terminal and leave every half an hour for Taksim between 4:00AM and 1:00AM. Taking a taxi is, however, the most convenient way, and shouldn't be more expensive than the shuttle service between a group of four. Be sure to ignore the hustlers inside the airport and take an official vehicle from the taxi rank at the terminal exit.
Where to stay?
The key touristic areas are Fatih and Taksim, and which to stay in depends on the nature of your stay. Fatih is the old town and home to many of Istanbul's historic landmarks. Taksim, on the other hand, is modern and appeals more to those visiting the city to shop, dine, and party. Traveling between the two is simple, so don't worry if you fancy hitting the dancefloors after the Hagia Sophia!
Good to know
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- Language
- Turkish
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- Currency
- Turkish Lira (₺)
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- Time Zone
- UTC (+02:00)
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- Country Code
- +90
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- Best time to visit
- The weather is good at all times of the year, but it may be a good idea to avoid the summer if you do not like extreme heat.
Things to Do in Istanbul
Top Attractions in Istanbul
Cities in Turkey
Other Sightseeing Options in Istanbul
Want to discover all there is to do in Istanbul? Click here for a full list.
What people are saying about Istanbul
Great historical attraction brought to life.
Thank goodness we booked the tour. Our guide took us on a route around the whole palace, including the harem, bringing each place to life as we passed through. It all took a good three hours. Imagine how long it would have taken us if we had tried to do it alone ! Much, much longer. Or, more realistically, we would have missed a lot of places and missed out on the stories and the descriptions our guide provided to really understand palace life. The guide spoke very good, well articulated, English. Ours was a small group of seven, so it was easy to keep together, hear the guide and have the opportunity to ask questions. Sadly, there are still inaccessible areas under renovation, but that didn't detract too much from the experience. Skipping the ticket queue was a great time saver as well. Just be aware that there is a lot of walking with some flights of stairs too. But it is well worth it for this fascinating attraction. Wear comfortable footwear and have a bottle of water in your bag.
An amazing experience, extremely well organised, worth every penny.
I don't know where to start! Everything was extremely well organised. Everyone was very polite, always on time and very pleasant to be with. The local guides were very knowledgeable (and I am an art historian), friendly, polite, genuine. I am a woman in her 60s, I travel solo and never felt lonely or scared. I met wonderful people who shared the same tours. I could not recommend this tour enough. An amazing cultural and human experience.
Very pleasant experience, great activity
Very well organized by local agency in Istambul. The cruise trip is beautiful, food average. Suggestion: the trip should start earlier, to get the views of the Bosphorous chores at sunset and then full dark. The ship sails just at 21h00, so it's a full night scenario only and it's a pitty to loose the sunset.
Fantastic guide, great insights into life within the palace walls
Best tour we've had. Easy access. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide who has personally researched the records of the palace and the various sultans. Gave us an understanding of how the various levels of the people and the sultans lived their day to day lives. Unfortunately no flying carpets
Excellent knowledgeable and pleasant guide!
Mev was very pleasant, knowledgeable about history and culture of Istanbul historical sites. Very good listener and patient when questions are asked. Strongly recommend her as a professional guide! Thanks.
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