Things to Do in Istanbul: Neighbourhood Guide, Map and Itineraries
You could spend a month in Istanbul and still miss half of it. You can also see a great deal in two or three days, as long as you know where to start. This guide splits the city by area: the Old City, Galata and Beyoğlu, the Bosphorus shore, the Asian side, the Golden Horn and the Princes' Islands. Every place links to its own page with history, visiting tips and FAQs.
The Old City: Sultanahmet and Eminönü
Most first-time visitors start here. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Basilica Cistern are a few minutes' walk from each other. Take the T1 tram to Sultanahmet.
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya). Completed in 537, it held the world's largest dome for almost a thousand years. Today it is a working mosque. Since 2024 foreign visitors enter through a separate entrance to the upper gallery with a paid ticket; visits pause briefly at prayer times.
The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii). Named for the blue İznik tiles inside, it was built between 1609 and 1616. Entry is free. Cover shoulders and knees; women should bring a headscarf.
Topkapı Palace. Home of the Ottoman sultans for about four centuries. The Harem, the Holy Relics and the Treasury draw the biggest crowds. Arrive at opening time to skip the queue. The Harem needs a separate ticket even with Museum Pass Istanbul.
The Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı). A 6th-century underground reservoir with hundreds of columns, low light and two Medusa heads. It is run by the city, so Museum Pass Istanbul doesn't cover it.
The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest covered markets in the world; getting lost is part of the fun. The Spice Bazaar in Eminönü is the place for spices, Turkish delight and nuts. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays; the Spice Bazaar opens daily. See our Spice Bazaar guide for hours and what to buy.
Süleymaniye Mosque. Built by the architect Mimar Sinan in the 1550s, it crowns a hill above the Golden Horn. It is calmer than Sultanahmet, and the view from its courtyard is worth the climb on its own.
Also nearby: the Hippodrome, Gülhane Park, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts and Sirkeci Station, the old Orient Express terminus.
Galata and Beyoğlu
Walk across the Galata Bridge and another Istanbul begins: steep lanes, 19th-century apartment blocks, arcades and meyhanes (taverns). This side is best on foot; our Pera to Galata walking route links the highlights.
Galata Tower. Built by the Genoese in 1348 and now a museum. The terrace at the top takes in the Old City and the Bosphorus at once. Museum Pass Istanbul is valid. Tickets, hours and queue tips are in our Galata Tower guide.
İstiklal Avenue. The pedestrian street from Taksim to Tünel, with its red nostalgic tram, arcades and churches. Duck into the side streets: Çiçek Pasajı, the Pera Palace Hotel and the Camondo Stairs are steps away.
Pera Museum. Home to Osman Hamdi Bey's painting "The Tortoise Trainer", with a strong Orientalist collection and changing exhibitions.
Karaköy and Galataport. Karaköy, with its old banking street and ferry pier, deserves half a day; our Karaköy guide covers what to see and eat. Next door are the Galataport waterfront and Istanbul Modern. SALT Galata, the Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque and the Galata Mevlevi Lodge are all close by.
Along the Bosphorus
Istanbul looks its best from the water. The public long Bosphorus tour from Eminönü is cheap and unhurried; times and piers are in our Bosphorus cruise guide.
Dolmabahçe Palace. Completed in 1856, it was the seat of the late Ottoman court. Atatürk, the founder of the Republic, died here on 10 November 1938. Visits are guided and tickets are sold by the National Palaces administration.
Ortaköy. The Ortaköy Mosque under the Bosphorus Bridge is one of the city's most photographed sights. The square is lined with kumpir (stuffed baked potato) stalls. More in our Ortaköy guide.
Rumeli Fortress (Rumeli Hisarı). Built by Sultan Mehmed II in 1452, a year before the conquest of Constantinople, at the narrowest point of the strait. Pair it with nearby Emirgan Park and the Sakıp Sabancı Museum.
Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi). On a tiny islet off Üsküdar, reopened in 2023 after restoration and reached by boat from Karaköy or Salacak. Boat times, tickets and the legends are in our Maiden's Tower guide.
On the Asian shore of the strait, also look for Beylerbeyi Palace, Küçüksu Pavilion and Anadolu Fortress.
The Asian side: Kadıköy, Moda and Üsküdar
The 20-minute ferry from Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy is one of the best short rides in the city: gulls, simit and the old Haydarpaşa station on the shore.
Kadıköy and Moda. Kadıköy's market streets are full of fishmongers, delis and coffee roasters, with a local, lived-in feel. Walk down to Moda; the Moda seafront is one of Istanbul's favourite sunset spots.
Üsküdar and Kuzguncuk. Üsküdar's shore is the closest point to Maiden's Tower and home to several Mimar Sinan mosques. A little north, Kuzguncuk's wooden houses and quiet lanes look like a film set, and often are.
Çamlıca Hill. One of the highest points on the Asian side, with both Bosphorus bridges and the Old City skyline in one view.
The Golden Horn: Balat, Fener and Eyüp
Colourful houses, traces of Greek and Jewish neighbourhoods, vintage shops and cafés. Balat is also a favourite with Turkish TV series; our Balat filming locations walk shows where.
Chora (Kariye). Its 14th-century Byzantine mosaics and frescoes are among the finest anywhere. It reopened as a mosque in 2024; foreign visitors need a ticket.
Also here: the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Fener, the Rahmi M. Koç Museum and Pierre Loti Hill above the Golden Horn.
The Princes' Islands: Büyükada
Ferries run from Kabataş, Eminönü and Bostancı. There is no private car traffic on the island; you get around on foot, by bike or on the municipality's electric vehicles. Wooden mansions, pine woods and the hilltop Aya Yorgi monastery easily fill a day.
How many days do you need in Istanbul?
1 day: Morning in the Old City (Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern), afternoon at the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, then walk across the Galata Bridge to Galata Tower for sunset.
2 days: Add Topkapı Palace in the morning and a Bosphorus ferry or a trip to Kadıköy in the afternoon.
3 days: Spend the third day in Balat, Fener and Chora, and the evening in Beyoğlu. If you like walking, pick one of our self-guided routes:
Practical tips
- Museum Pass Istanbul: the visitor pass for state museums, valid five days from first use. Turkish citizens and residents use Müzekart instead. Which one you need is explained in our Museum Pass vs Müzekart guide.
- Free things to do: mosques, parks, the ferries and several museums; see our list of free museums in Istanbul.
- Getting around: one İstanbulkart works on the metro, tram, Marmaray, buses and ferries. Use the T1 tram for the Old City and the ferries or Marmaray to cross between continents.
- Visiting mosques: visits pause at prayer times. Cover shoulders and knees, women should bring a headscarf, and shoes come off at the door.
- Beating the crowds: big museums are quietest right at opening and late in the afternoon. Check opening days before you go, especially on Mondays and public holidays.
FAQ
What should I see in Istanbul on a first visit?
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower and a Bosphorus ferry. All fit into two days.
What are the best free things to do in Istanbul?
The Blue Mosque and Süleymaniye Mosque, Gülhane Park, İstiklal Avenue, the streets of Balat and the Moda seafront are all free. A public ferry costs little more than a bus.
Is Istanbul worth visiting on the Asian side?
Yes. Kadıköy, Moda, Üsküdar, Kuzguncuk and Çamlıca Hill show a more local Istanbul, and the ferry ride there is a highlight in itself.
Does Museum Pass Istanbul cover Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern?
No. Hagia Sophia's visitor gallery and the Basilica Cistern have their own tickets. The pass covers state museums such as Topkapı Palace, Galata Tower and the Archaeological Museums.
How many days do you need in Istanbul?
Two days for the main sights. Allow three or four to add the Bosphorus, the Asian side and Balat.
Is Istanbul walkable?
The Old City and Beyoğlu are very walkable, but hilly. Use trams and ferries to link areas and save your legs for the side streets.