Istanbul spans the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia; the historic peninsula (Sultanahmet, Fatih) holds the Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, Beyoğlu and Karaköy across the Golden Horn hold most bars and restaurants, and Kadıköy and Üsküdar on the Asian side are where much of the city actually lives and eats. Ferries are part of daily transport, not just sightseeing.
Must-see
The sights to fit in even on a short trip.
- 01Hagia Sophia
- 02Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
- 03Topkapı Palace
- 04Basilica Cistern
- 05Grand Bazaar
- 06Süleymaniye Mosque
- 07Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)
- 08Galata Tower
- 09Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square)
- 10Dolmabahçe Palace
History & museums 64
- Süleymaniye Mosque
- Bulgarian St. Stephen Church
- Hagia Sophia
- Ortaköy Mosque
- Rahmi M. Koç Museum
- Beylerbeyi Palace
- Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
- Dolmabahçe Palace
- Maiden's Tower
- Rüstem Pasha Mosque
- Sakıp Sabancı Museum
- Basilica Cistern
- Galata Tower
- Istanbul Archaeological Museums
- Museum of Innocence
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
- Pera Museum
- Topkapı Palace
- Galata Mevlevi Lodge Museum
- Kariye Mosque (Chora)
- Rumeli Fortress
- Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)
- Yedikule Fortress
- Grand Bazaar
- Istanbul Modern
- Theodosius Cistern
- Hagia Irene
- Adalar Museum (Museum of the Princes' Islands)
- Ara Güler Museum
- Aşiyan Museum (Tevfik Fikret House)
- Atatürk Museum, Şişli
- Bakırköy Psychiatric Hospital Museum
- Beta Yeni Han 1554 Kahve Müzesi
- Borusan Contemporary (Perili Köşk)
- Bulgur Palas
- Çemberlitaş Hamamı
- Doğançay Museum
- Elgiz Museum
- Fatih Mosque
- Florya Atatürk Marine Mansion
- Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square)
- Ihlamur Pavilion
- İşbank Museum
- Istanbul Aviation Museum
- Istanbul Military Museum (Askeri Müze)
- Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture
- Istanbul Naval Museum
- Istanbul Toy Museum
- Jewish Museum of Turkey (Quincentennial Foundation Museum)
- Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque
- Küçüksu Pavilion
- Little Hagia Sophia
- Meşher
- Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
- Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam
- Müze Gazhane (Hasanpaşa Gasworks)
- Nuruosmaniye Mosque
- Sadberk Hanım Museum
- Sait Faik Abasıyanık Museum
- SALT Galata
- santralistanbul Energy Museum (Silahtarağa Power Station)
- Şehzade Mosque
- Süreyya Opera House
- Tekfur Sarayı Museum (Palace of the Porphyrogenitus)
Where to eat 157
- Deraliye
- Hafız Mustafa 1864
- Karadeniz Pide Vefa
- Kral Kokoreç Sirkeci
- TURK Fatih Tutak
- Aheste
- Yılmaz Usta Balık Dürüm
- Dürümzade
- Hocapaşa Pidecisi
- Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi
- Vefa Bozacısı
- Canım Ciğerim
- Dürümcü Raif Usta
- Karaköy Güllüoğlu
- Karaköy Lokantası
- Lades Menemen
- Mikla
- Neolokal
- Balkan Lokantası
- Cuma
- Hayvore
- Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta
- Pandeli
- Şampiyon Kokoreç
- Sunset Grill & Bar
- Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta
- Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası
- Çiya Sofrası
- Tatbak
- Hamdi Restaurant
- Dönerci Şahin Usta
- Kanaat Lokantası
- Kurufasülyeci Ali Baba
- Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek
- 1924 İstanbul
- 400 Derece
- A'jia Restaurant
- Adana Ocakbaşı
- Adella Seafood Restaurant
- Aida - vino e cucina
- Ali Ocakbaşı Karaköy
- Antakya İşi Sokak Lezzetleri
- Antakya Mutfağı
- Aqua (Four Seasons Bosphorus)
- Arnavutköy Balıkçısı
- Asia Lounge Cafe, Restaurant and Cultural Center
- Aynen Dürüm
- Azur Yeniköy
- Basta Neo Bistro
- Basta! Street Food Bar
- Bayramoğlu Döner
- Bcante
- Bebek Balıkçı
- Beca
- Beyti
- Bi Nevi Deli
- Boris'in Yeri
- Borsam Taşfırın
- Bread&Burger
- Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu
- Çanak Kebap & Katmer
- Çengelköy Tarihi Çınaraltı
- Chacha Balık
- Chin Chin Etiler
- ÇiÇi Çiğ Börek
- Çok Çok Thai
- Çömlek Kuru Fasulye
- Cotto Gastro
- Da Mario
- Del Mare
- Deliorman Kebapçısı
- Elde Börek
- Emek Cafe
- Erol Lokantası
- Falafel House
- Falafel Zone
- Fıccın
- Forno Balat
- Foxy Nişantaşı
- Galaktion
- Gallada
- Gazebo
- Giritli
- Görele Pidecisi Şakir Usta
- Göreme Muhallebicisi (Kurtuluş)
- Hadramot Yemen Restaurant
- Halil Lahmacun
- Heyamola (Heya-Mola Bar)
- Hizmet Kardeşler Fırınlı Kasap
- Hünkar
- Hüsrev
- İnari Omakase
- İoki Nau
- Itsumi
- J Burger
- Jash
- Kale Cafe
- Karkas Ocakbaşı
- Kavurmacı Goze
- Kaya Döner
- Khorasani
- Kimyon
- Kompartıman
- Korkmaz Büfe
- La Plage No.14
- La Scarpetta
- Lacivert
- Lahmacun Sanatı
- Lezzet-i Şark Antep Sofrası
- Lokanta Feriye
- Lokma
- Mahir Lokantası
- Mahkeme Lokantası
- Mangerie
- Marinee Kaburga
- Maromi İstanbul
- Mavi Balık
- Mihrabat Korusu Restoran
- Monteverdi Ristorante
- Murat Kelle Paça
- Nappo Pizza
- Octo
- Oklava
- Olden 1545
- Öz Kilis Kebap ve Lahmacun Salonu
- Park Fora
- Perran Ocakbaşı
- Poyraz Sahil Balık Restaurant
- Restoran Modern
- Rumelihisarı İskele Restaurant
- Sade Beş Denizler Mutfağı
- Sankai by Nagaya
- Sapa İstanbul
- Sefa Restaurant
- Set Balık
- Sılaşara
- Suna'nın Yeri
- Sur Balık Arnavutköy
- Sur Ocakbaşı
- Sushi Mori & Whisky Bar
- Tarihi Mimoza
- The Himalayan Restaurant
- The Ordinary Bomonti
- Tiflisi
- Tihama Restaurant
- Uğur Büfe
- Uskumru
- Van Kahvaltı Evi
- Vegan Dükkan Lokanta
- Visorante
- White Pepper
- Yakamoz
- Yeni Lokanta
- Yüksel Uygur Restaurant
- Zapata Burger
- Zerze
- Zuma İstanbul
Night out 121
- Jin Terrace (Lazzoni Hotel)
- Celtic Irish Pub
- FLEKK
- Galata Meyhanesi
- N'evet İstanbul
- Solera Winery
- Artois Cadde
- Müşterek
- The Townhouse Suadiye
- Asmalı Cavit
- Izaka Terrace (CVK Park Bosphorus)
- Küçük Kulüp Meyhane
- Salon İKSV
- The Bank Roof Bar
- 16 Roof (Swissôtel The Bosphorus)
- Babylon
- Bova Jazz Club
- City Lights (InterContinental)
- Fahri Konsolos
- Gregor Jazz Club
- Mezme
- Nardis Jazz Club
- Neyle Meyle
- Summit Bar & Terrace (Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus)
- Ziba
- Ağaç Ev
- Agora Meyhanesi 1890
- Allen Kitchen & Cocktail
- Eleos Beyoğlu
- Karga Bar
- Le Fumoir (Georges Hotel terrace)
- Pera 77
- Taps Bebek
- The Populist
- Viktor Levi Şarap Evi
- Balkon Restaurant & Bar
- Barnathan
- Belfast Irish Pub
- Buddha Sahne
- Büyük Londra (Grand Hotel de Londres) bars
- Geyik
- Joker No:19
- Kiki
- Moretenders
- Tarihi Pano Şarap Evi
- Zihni Bar
- 11 Kadıköy
- Kozmonot Pub
- Riddim
- Sensus Galata
- Skull & Bones
- Ulus 29
- Upperist
- Akbaba'lı Meyhane
- Efendi
- İsmet Baba
- Sky Karaköy (JW Marriott rooftop)
- 360 Istanbul
- Firuze
- Firuzende Olympos Rooftop (Anemon Galata)
- IF Performance Hall Beşiktaş
- Sortie
- Spago Istanbul
- Frankhan
- Frankie (Galataport)
- Koço
- Arkaoda
- Dorock XL Kadıköy
- Gizli Bahçe
- Monkey
- Şişko Perihan Meyhane
- BİNA
- Wu Bomonti
- Klein Garten
- Klein Phönix
- Altın Saatler
- Any
- Bakkal Moda
- Bart
- Beatrice (Adahan DeCamondo Pera terrace)
- Blind
- Blok Mekân
- Buselik Moda Teras
- C Bar (Çırağan Palace)
- Corridor Pera
- Çukur Meyhane
- Günbilir
- Hane
- HaNi
- İnciraltı Meyhanesi
- Jigger Kitchen & Bar
- Karas Wine Bar&Bites
- Kavanoz
- Kiva Bomonti
- Kült Kadıköy
- Kutup Moda
- Lelabbo Moda
- Manifest Roof Galata
- Mantar
- Mathilda's
- Mirror
- Mükellef Rooftop (Haze Hotel)
- Müsaade Meyhane
- Peyote (terrace)
- Prinkipo (Fıstık Ahmet'in Yeri)
- Révolte
- RHM Teras
- Roxy
- Sazzou terrace (Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus)
- Süreyya Teras (Four Seasons Sultanahmet rooftop bar)
- Taksim 9
- Taproomx
- Tarihi Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi
- Tarihi Degustasyon Ocakbaşı
- Tarihi Küçük Paris Meyhanesi
- Tarihi Safa Meyhanesi
- Thales
- Tone İstanbul (RUZ Hotels rooftop)
- Topside Bar (The Peninsula Istanbul)
- Walkers Bar
- Yakup 2
Locals only 134
- Aqueduct of Valens and Fatih Wednesday market
- Crimean Memorial Church
- Yıldız Park
- Ecumenical Patriarchate (Church of St. George)
- Emirgan Park
- Adile Sultan Palace
- Ahrida Synagogue
- Anadolu Hisarı and the Göksu creek
- Anemas Dungeons (Prison of Anemas)
- Arap Mosque
- Arnavutköy waterfront
- Ashkenazi Synagogue
- Atatürk Arboretumu
- Atatürk Kent Ormanı
- Atik Mustafa Paşa Mosque (Hazreti Cabir Camii)
- Atik Valide Mosque
- Avam Kahvesi
- Aya Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church, Büyükdere
- Aya Triada Greek Orthodox Church
- Ayazma Mosque
- Ayios Minas Church, Samatya
- Azapkapı Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Mosque
- Balıklı Monastery (Zoodochos Pege)
- Baylan Pastanesi
- Belgrad Ormanı
- Beyazıt Tower
- Binbirdirek Cistern (Cistern of Philoxenos)
- Bizim Ev
- Blum Coffee House
- Bodrum Mosque (Myrelaion)
- boter
- Burgazada
- Büyük Valide Han
- Büyük Yeni Han
- Caferağa Medrese
- Casa Cooklife
- Çengelköy waterfront
- Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Galata
- Church of St. Mary of Blachernae (Ayazma)
- Church of St. Mary of the Mongols (Kanlı Kilise)
- Çinili Cafe
- Çinili Mosque, Üsküdar
- Çınaraltı Tea Garden
- Cocodema
- Column of Arcadius (Avrat Taşı)
- Column of Constantine (Çemberlitaş)
- Column of Marcian (Kıztaşı)
- Column of the Goths
- Çukurbostan (Cistern of Aspar)
- Damla Dondurma Boza
- Defterdar Mahmut Efendi Mosque
- Değirmenburnu Nature Park, Heybeliada
- Ese Kapı Mescidi
- Eski İmaret Mosque (Christ Pantepoptes)
- Ethique Plant-Based
- Eyüp Cemetery
- Fatih Sarmacısı
- Fenari İsa Mosque (Lips Monastery)
- Feriköy Protestant Cemetery
- Firuz Ağa Mosque
- Fountain of Ahmed III
- Fountain of Ahmed III, Üsküdar
- Galatta 1950
- Gül Mosque
- Hacı Bekir
- Hadım İbrahim Paşa Mosque
- Halki Seminary (Heybeliada Theological School)
- Haseki Hürrem Sultan Complex
- Haydarpaşa British Cemetery
- Hekimoğlu Ali Paşa Mosque
- Hemdat Israel Synagogue
- Heybeliada
- Hırami Ahmet Paşa Mescidi
- Hristos Monastery, Kınalıada
- Kalenderhane Mosque
- Kanlıca yoghurt by the pier
- Kara Ahmed Paşa Mosque
- Karacaahmet Cemetery
- Kasım Ağa Mescidi
- Kefeli Mescidi
- Khedive's Palace (Hıdiv Kasrı)
- Koca Mustafa Paşa Mosque (Sünbül Efendi Camii)
- Köprülü Library
- Kürkçü Han
- Kurtuluş Pastanesi
- Kuzguncuk
- Laleli Mosque
- Lyre Moda
- Mahmut Paşa Mosque
- Meşhur Dondurmacı Ali Usta
- Mesih Mehmed Paşa Mosque
- Mimar Sinan Teras Cafe (Mimar Sinan Roof)
- Moda seafront and pier
- Molla Çelebi Mosque (Fındıklı Camii)
- Montag Coffee Roasters
- Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church
- Neve Shalom Synagogue
- Nusretiye Mosque
- Ohayo Matcha Bar
- Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque (Aksaray Valide)
- Phanar Greek Orthodox College (Red Castle)
- Piyale Paşa Mosque (Tersane Camii)
- Posa Coffee Roastery
- Prinkipo Greek Orphanage
- Rum Mehmed Paşa Mosque
- Rumelikavağı
- Rüstem Paşa Medrese
- Saint Benoît Church
- Sakarya Tatlıcısı
- Şakirin Mosque
- Sancaktar Hayrettin Mescidi
- Santa Maria Draperis
- Şekerci Cafer Erol
- Şemsi Pasha Mosque
- Şeyh Süleyman Mescidi
- Sinan Paşa Mosque, Beşiktaş
- Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque
- Stoudios Monastery (İmrahor Mosque)
- Süleymaniye Hamam
- Surp Kevork Church (Sulu Manastır), Samatya
- Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Armenian Church, Galata
- Tomb of Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha
- Tophane Fountain
- Vefa Kilise Mosque
- Walter's Coffee Roastery
- Yanbol Synagogue
- Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque
- YedideYedi
- Yeldeğirmeni Sanat
- Yeni Valide Mosque, Üsküdar
- Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque
- Yoros Castle (Genoese Castle)
- Zal Mahmud Paşa Mosque
- Zeyrek Mosque (Pantokrator Monastery)
Walking routes 7
- 01Sultanahmet core: Hagia Sophia to Little Hagia SophiaThe Byzantine and Ottoman heart of the city on foot: palace, two great mosques, the Hippodrome and two cisterns, finishing downhill at the quieter Little Hagia Sophia.
- 02Bazaar quarter: Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye and the Spice BazaarFrom the covered bazaar up to Sinan's hilltop mosque and down through the wholesale market streets of Tahtakale to the Golden Horn.
- 03Karaköy, Galata and ÇukurcumaUp the steep lanes from the Karaköy waterfront past the Galata Tower and dervish lodge, then along İstiklal's south end into the antique streets of Çukurcuma.
- 04Balat, Fener and the land wallsAlong the Golden Horn's old Greek, Jewish and Armenian quarters, uphill past the Phanar Greek school to the Byzantine mosaics of Chora and the Theodosian walls.
- 05Kadıköy market to Moda shoreThe Asian side as locals use it: the food market lanes behind the ferry pier, the Yeldeğirmeni murals, then south to the Moda seafront promenade.
- 06Bosphorus shore: Ortaköy to Rumeli FortressFlat waterfront walk under the Bosphorus Bridge through Arnavutköy's wooden mansions and Bebek bay to Mehmed II's fortress; return by bus along the shore road.
- 07Üsküdar, Kuzguncuk and BeylerbeyiFrom the Maiden's Tower shoreline north along the Asian shore to the village-like lanes of Kuzguncuk and the 19th-century palace under the Bosphorus Bridge.