Travel Guide of Istanbul in Turkey by Influencers and Travelers

Istanbul University is a prominent Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square in Fatih, the capital district of the province, on the European side of the city.

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Pictures and Stories of Istanbul from Influencers

20 pictures of Istanbul from Daniel Burka, Ali Arif Soydaş, David Monje and other travelers

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How to visit Istanbul ?

Why travel to Istanbul, Turkey?

Istanbul is a city that effortlessly blends rich history with modernity, making it one of the most unique and fascinating destinations in the world. It straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, separated by the Bosphorus strait. This vibrant city boasts stunning architecture, delectable cuisine, and a captivating atmosphere that draws millions of visitors each year.

How to get there?

Istanbul is well connected by air to major cities around the world. Istanbul Airport (IST) serves as the main international hub, while Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) caters to low-cost carriers and domestic flights. Visitors can also reach Istanbul by train or bus from various European cities, or by ferries from nearby Greek islands.

What to book in advance?

To save time and avoid long queues, book tickets in advance for popular attractions such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern. Also, consider purchasing an Istanbul Tourist Pass, which offers discounted entry to numerous attractions and includes public transportation.

What are the costs?

Istanbul can be relatively affordable for tourists, depending on your travel style. A budget traveler can expect to spend around $30-50 per day, while a mid-range budget would be around $60-100 per day. This includes accommodation, meals, transportation, and activities.

What are the best things to do?

Some must-see attractions include Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Bazaar. For a unique experience, take a Bosphorus cruise to enjoy stunning views of the city's skyline, or visit a traditional Turkish bath (hammam) for a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.

Where to eat?

1. Çiya Sofrası: Located in the Kadikoy district, Çiya Sofrası offers an array of delicious Turkish and Middle Eastern dishes.
2. Balıkçı Sabahattin: For a taste of fresh seafood, head to Balıkçı Sabahattin, a charming restaurant located near Topkapi Palace.
3. Kanaat Lokantası: This historic eatery in Uskudar serves mouthwatering Turkish comfort food at affordable prices.

Where to stay?

1. Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel: A luxurious hotel located within walking distance of the main attractions in Sultanahmet.
2. Vault Karaköy: A trendy boutique hotel situated in the vibrant Karaköy neighborhood, offering stylish rooms and a rooftop terrace.
3. Cheers Hostel: A budget-friendly option in Sultanahmet, providing a cozy atmosphere and a social environment for travelers.

Off the beaten path:

For an unusual travel experience, visit the district of Balat, a lesser-known gem with colorful houses, narrow streets, and a diverse history. Stroll through its picturesque alleys, visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, and enjoy a cup of Turkish tea at the local cafes. Another offbeat experience is exploring the Princes' Islands, a group of nine car-free islands in the Sea of Marmara, offering a peaceful respite from the bustling city. Rent a bike or take a horse-drawn carriage to explore these charming islands, and don't forget to try their famous ice cream!

The Best Things to Do and Visit around Istanbul

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1 - Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops on a total area of 30,700 m², attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.

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2 - Hagia Sophia Museum

Hagia Sophia, officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and formerly the Church of Hagia Sophia, is a Late Antique place of worship in Istanbul.

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3 - Tours & Sightseeing | Istanbul Bosphorus Cruises

Dive headfirst into the intoxicating beauty of Istanbul with the Bosphorous Cruise Tour - a two-hour spectacle of stunning landscapes and cultural immersion! Perfect for both locals and first-time visitors, the mesmerizing allure of the Bosphorous and Golden Horn promises to reel in all. Be it morning, afternoon, or the magical sunset hour, each tour promises breathtaking vistas that are a feast for the eyes. Don't forget the camera – these are snapshots destined for the memory box! The tour isn't just a visual spectacle though. A knowledgeable guide unravels Istanbul's vibrant tapestry of rich history and culture, with each landmark adding a unique brushstroke to the city's enchanting canvas. From ancient wonders to modern marvels, the tour presents Istanbul in all its glory. Whether bonding with loved ones or making new friends, the tour is a wonderful platform for connection and shared memory-making. op aboard the most captivating, friendly, and fun-filled Tour in Istanbul!

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4 - İstanbul

Istanbul University is a prominent Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square in Fatih, the capital district of the province, on the European side of the city.

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5 - Sultanahmet

Sultanahmet is a neighbourhood of Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.

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6 - Morning | Istanbul Walks

Pull on your comfy shoes — it's a long trek through time on this 3-hour tour to the Roman Hippodrome, the majestic Blue Mosque, the German Fountain and the Grand Bazaar. Get the history, myths and legends surrounding each famous landmark from your guide. A must-do in Istanbul!

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7 - Sultan Ahmed Mosque

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8 - The Blue Mosque

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9 - Sightseeing | Istanbul

Discover the Basilica Cistern beneath the streets of Istanbul with a guided tour. Skip the long queues and wonder at the ancient site as you admire the architecture and Medusa heads.

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10 - Blue Mosque

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11 - Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey.

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12 - Evening | Istanbul Dinner Cruises

The Turkish can sing and dance like the best of 'em, and where better to let them wow you with their moves and vocal twists than on a boat as you cruise along the Bosphorus at sunset? This 4-hour cruise past some of Istanbul's most exciting sights is an easy and breezy way to enjoy the beauty of the city as the sun goes down, with unlimited drinks, too. Choose between mouthwatering dinner options, including a selection of Turkish meatballs, fish, chicken, or a vegetarian menu. Your choice will be served with various Turkish starters, salad, and a dessert. Thought this sunset cruise couldn't get any better? Just wait for the belly dancers to start.

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13 - New Mosque

The New Mosque and later New Valide Sultan Mosque after its partial reconstruction and completion between 1660 and 1665, is an Ottoman imperial mosque located in the Eminönü quarter of Istanbul, Turkey.

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14 - Little Hagia Sophia

Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, formerly the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, is a former Greek Eastern Orthodox church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople, built between 532 and 536, and converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire.

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15 - Fatih Mosque, Istanbul

The Fatih Mosque is an Ottoman mosque in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. The original mosque on the site was constructed between 1463 and 1470 on the site of the Church of the Holy Apostles.

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16 - Valens Aqueduct

The Aqueduct of Valens was a Roman aqueduct system supplying Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman empire. Completed by Roman Emperor Valens in the late 4th century AD, the Aqueduct of Valens was in use for many centuries, extended and maintained by the Byzantines and the Ottomans.

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17 - Column of Constantine

The Column of Constantine is a Roman monumental column built for Roman emperor Constantine the Great to commemorate the dedication of Constantinople on 11 May 330 AD. Built c.

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18 - Galata Tower

The Galata Tower — called Christea Turris by the Genoese — is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karaköy quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, just to the north of the Golden Horn's junction with the Bosphorus.

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19 - Golden Horn

The Golden Horn, also known by its modern Turkish name, Haliç, is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey.

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20 - Bulgarian St. Stephen Church

Bulgarian St Stephen Church, also known as the Bulgarian Iron Church, is a Bulgarian Orthodox church in Balat, Istanbul, Turkey. It is famous for being made of prefabricated cast iron elements in the neo-Gothic style. The church belongs to the Bulgarian minority in the city.

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21 - Gülhane Park

Gülhane Park is a historical urban park in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, Turkey; it is adjacent to and on the grounds of the Topkapı Palace. The south entrance of the park sports one of the larger gates of the palace. It is the oldest and one of the most expansive public parks in Istanbul.

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22 - The Museum of Innocence

The Museum of Innocence is a museum in a 19th-century house in Istanbul created by novelist Orhan Pamuk as a companion to his novel The Museum of Innocence. The museum and the novel were created in tandem, centred on the stories of two Istanbul families.

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23 - Galata Bridge

The Galata Bridge is a bridge that spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey. From the end of the 19th century in particular, the bridge has featured in Turkish literature, theater, poetry and novels.

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24 - Suleymaniye Mosque

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ISTANBUL: A CITY OF CONTRASTS AND DISCOVERIES

Where the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, and the Sea of Marmara meet

One of the largest cities in the world, the cultural and economic capital of Turkey. A striking contrast between modernity and tradition, with European and Middle Eastern influences, Istanbul is a city with a unique and completely different atmosphere

Istanbul between Europe and Asia 

Once called Byzantium, then Constantinople, Istanbul in Turkey is a city rich in culture and history. The vestiges of the past abound and the architecture of its infrastructures testifies to the different empires that have sat there. In this spring, the greyness of the buildings and the weather contrasts with the tulip beds and the Turkish flags that decorate the city.

The narrow streets are animated at any time of the day. Here the Turks call out to the tourists to sell them treasures, there they drink a hot tea while observing the permanent flow of pedestrians.
As background noise, the horns of cars trying to make their way, and the call to prayer from a mosque nearby. 

The shopping streets are bustling. The atmosphere is dizzying and the traffic chaotic. Locals line up for the best coffee in town or go shopping, while tourists try to keep up with the hectic pace. 
In the crowded shops, bargaining is going on; the soft, distinctive sounds of the Turkish language can be heard. 

At the same time, tea vendors move from one shop to another to serve the regulars. Deliverymen carry huge trays or pushcarts overloaded with goods of all kinds. Food and spice stalls follow one another, overwhelming passersby with an infinite array of smells, flavors, and colors.

The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul

Inside, it is another world: the largest shopping center in the world is a real labyrinth of streets and corridors. The overcrowded shops follow one another: antiques and handicrafts, lamps, crockery and silverware, jewelry and clothing, carpets and textiles, tea and spices, pastries and loukoums... Here, negotiations are not an option.

On the Galata Bridge, fishermen cast their lines into the peaceful waters of the Golden Horn; anchovies and sardines squirm in the stinking buckets at their feet. 
Here, the view of Istanbul and its hills is unforgettable.


To the south: the famous Sultanahmet district, home to many majestic monuments, such as the Aya Sofia Basilica and the Topkapi Palace.

To the north: the Beyoğlu district, overlooked by the Galata Tower and whose main avenue, Istiklal Caddesi, is the heart of modern Istanbul.

Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers planning a trip to Istanbul

What to do and see on a weekend in Istanbul?

List of must-see things to do during a trip to Istanbul or a weekend in Istanbul on the European side of the city:

• Get lost in the Grand Bazaar:

Whether it's just to stroll through the maze of streets or to do some shopping, a visit to the Grand Bazaar is a must. Go early in the morning, there are fewer tourists and the vendors are less insistent.

• Visit the Basilica Aya Sofia:

Direction Sultanahmet park, dominated in the north by Aya Sofia, imposing building, originally built as a basilica, become a mosque, then a museum. Here Islamic ornaments rub shoulders with Christian frescoes, testifying to the turbulent past of the city. A guided tour is required to fully appreciate this impressive building and its history.

Book your seat here with Get Your Guide to enjoy the guided tour of the Hagia Sophia Basilica which has an extraordinary history.

• Eat a fish sandwich at Eminönü Port:

On the southern bank of the Golden Horn is Eminönü Port, a popular place for locals and tourists. It is the ideal place to enjoy a balik ekmek (fish sandwich) on one of the small terraces along the river, where a small boat docked serves as a kitchen. 

The more adventurous tourists will dare to indulge in a turnip juice with cabbage and pickles.

• Stroll along the Galata Bridge:

You can stop to watch dozens of fishermen casting their lines into the water or to drink tea to the sound of the call to prayer from the Suleymaniye Mosque which dominates the landscape not far from there.

• Discovering your future at the bottom of your coffee cup:

Turkish coffee is made in a very different way than what we are used to. Watching it being prepared is a spectacle in itself! Once your coffee is finished, turn your cup upside down and let a "highly qualified" person interpret your future from the coffee residue.

When to go to Istanbul?

The best time to visit Istanbul is during the mid-season, in spring and early fall.

If you are still unsure about when to go to Istanbul, plan your trip to Istanbul between May and June or between September and October for the best weather!

Read more about Istanbul :

Discover the Wonders of Topkapi Palace: A Historical Marvel in Istanbul

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Discover more travel spots to explore around Istanbul

  🗼 Landmark spots     🏘️ Town spots     🌊‍ Ocean spots     🌉 Bridge spots     🌲 Forest spots     🏰 Mosque spots     🏰 Place of worship spots     🏰 Temple spots     🏞️ Waterway spots     🌉 Suspension bridge spots     🐾 Wildlife spots     🏖️ Coast spots     🚢 Pier spots     🏞️ Watercourse spots     🌆 Skyline spots  

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