Istanbul Travel Guide

Istanbul is a paradise in terms of places to visit; a city that is a combination of history, culture and nature. With its historical structures, natural beauties and cultural riches, Istanbul has a wide range that will allow you to explore for days. This city, which served as the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, is the cultural and commercial center of Turkey. With a population of over 14 million, Istanbul has a great liveliness as the world's fifth largest city. However, this crowd and heavy traffic can sometimes make it difficult to visit the city. It is possible to explore the city more calmly outside of working hours on weekdays. Istanbul is the only city located on only two continents. Europe Bridges, ferries and the Marmaray Bosphorus Tunnel connecting Asia provide transportation between the two continents.

Istanbul is home to many historical monuments from the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. While touring the city, it is possible to come across countless mosques and churches. In addition, places of worship bearing the traces of the three heavenly religions and palaces and museums as a reflection of this religious diversity are among the important stops in the city. The Bosphorus, which adds a different elegance to the city, has become one of the symbols of Istanbul, presenting each hour and each season with a different beauty.

When to Go to Istanbul?

Istanbul is a city that experiences four seasons together and offers a different beauty in each season. Winters are usually rainy, and although temperatures are not extremely cold, snowfall can sometimes occur. Especially in winter, strong winds can also be effective from time to time. In summer, temperatures rise and dry weather generally prevails. The most ideal times to explore Istanbul are the spring months. Especially May and September are the most suitable months to visit the city; the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. In winter, the temperature is usually around 8-10 degrees, but on some days it can drop to zero degrees. In spring, the average temperature is around 20 degrees. In summer, the temperature can reach 30 degrees, but despite being located on the seaside, Istanbul is not preferred much in terms of summer tourism due to the pollution in the Marmara Sea.

How to Get to Istanbul?

Istanbul is an important transportation center that provides connections from Turkey to the world, being located at the intersection of sea, air and land transportation. Direct flights are organized to the city from many cities of the world. It is also possible to reach Istanbul by bus from every corner of Turkey and by train from some cities. There are various options for transportation within the city such as bus, metro, tram and ferry, and transportation is also provided by sea from Istanbul to many destinations. Istanbul Airport, located on the European side of Istanbul, Asia On the other side, domestic and international flights can be made from Sabiha Gökçen Airport. For land transportation, Esenler Bus Terminal on the European side and Harem Bus Terminal on the Asian side are the departure points of intercity buses.

What to Eat in Istanbul?

Istanbul fascinates its visitors as a city with a rich variety of both Turkish and world cuisines in terms of culinary culture. Among the city's unique flavors are bluefish, simit, Turkish delight, almond paste, Kanlıca yogurt, Beykoz kebab, Sarıyer börek, mastic pudding, Vefa Boza, Istanbul pilaf, salted bonito and fava. In addition to these historical flavors, Istanbul is also home to world-famous restaurants with its fish and kebab varieties. Döner, lahmacun and flavors from the Aegean cuisine are also options you will frequently encounter when you visit the city.

Kebab shops and fish restaurants on the coastline of Istanbul are concentrated especially in coastal districts such as Yeşilköy, Sarıyer, Anadolu Hisarı, Anadolu Kavağı and Küçükyalı. Luxury fish restaurants are also preferred in these areas. You can benefit from the city's quality kebab shops in districts such as Florya and Etiler. In popular areas such as Beyoğlu, Bağdat Caddesi, Karaköy and Nişantaşı, there are chain restaurants representing world cuisines. In addition, famous pide shops on the streets of Istanbul are among the flavors you can discover when you visit the city. Kumru and kumpir in Ortaköy, breakfast in the Bebek-Rumelihisarı area and traditional Turkish coffee in Eyüp Piyer-Loti will allow you to get to know the cultural texture of Istanbul more closely. For kokorec and mussel lovers, places such as Beyoğlu Balık Pazarı, Bostancı and Büyükada are ideal places.

Activities to Do in Istanbul

One of the most enjoyable activities to do in Istanbul is definitely the Bosphorus tour. The city is even more beautiful when viewed from the sea, so you should definitely try this tour. You can take a pleasant stroll along the coast on both the European and Anatolian sides and discover the fascinating view of Istanbul from different angles. Ship tours departing from areas such as Sirkeci, Ortaköy, Kabataş and Üsküdar offer great opportunities to discover the magnificent view that connects the two sides of the Bosphorus.

Among the important symbols in Istanbul, Sultanahmet Square, Taksim, Beyoğlu and Grand Bazaar are places you should definitely see. If you have time, you can visit these places in order and witness the history of each one up close. The city is also full of cultural riches; many cultural events such as concerts, theaters and museums are held every day.

You can divide the coastal tours into two: On the European side, you can start from Ortaköy and explore neighborhoods such as Bebek, Arnavutköy, Rumelihisarı, İstinye, Tarabya and Sarıyer. On the Anatolian side, you can start from Üsküdar and continue to Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi, Çengelköy and Beykoz. Joining the Islands tour in the spring and summer months is also a great option to see the natural beauties of Istanbul.

Istanbul Night Life

Istanbul is one of the cities with the liveliest nightlife in Turkey. You can listen to live music in different venues every night in the city and dance to the performances of world-famous DJs. Famous nightclubs such as Reina and Sortie on the Kuruçeşme Bosphorus line are among the city's most popular entertainment spots. Apart from this, while the bars in Taksim and Beyoğlu are still popular, venues in districts such as Tünel and Karaköy have also increased rapidly in recent years.

Istanbul’s quality cafes are concentrated in the city’s trendy neighborhoods. Nişantaşı, Bağdat Caddesi, Bebek, Yeşilköy and Florya stand out with their stylish cafes and elegant venues. Young people’s favorites are social and energetic places like Kadıköy Barlar Sokağı and Nevizade in Beyoğlu. These areas are fun spots where nightlife is lively and you can eat and drink. Places like Kumkapı, Galata Bridge and Çiçek Pasajı are famous for their nostalgic atmospheres and taverns. In the summer months, Harbiye Open Air Theater fills the city with music with famous artists and concerts.

Shopping in Istanbul

Istanbul is a paradise for shoppers. The city is filled with stores of world-famous brands. Nişantaşı and Bağdat Caddesi are home to elegant stores of luxury brands, while large shopping malls such as İstinyepark, Zorlu Center, Akasya Acıbadem, Aqua Florya and Cevahir offer a wide range of shopping opportunities.

If you are looking for more original and local souvenirs, you can find unique products in historical bazaars such as the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. In addition, colorful bazaars in districts such as Kadıköy, Bakırköy and Beşiktaş offer great alternatives for shopaholics. It is possible to find all kinds of products from local and foreign brands in Istanbul. Especially foreign tourists prefer special souvenirs such as gold and silver jewelry and leather products when they visit the city.

Festivals and Fairs

Istanbul becomes the meeting point of culture and art with major festivals held at different times every year. Here are some important festivals that add color to the city:

These festivals offer unforgettable moments to those who visit the city to discover different cultural aspects of Istanbul.

Things To Consider

Since Istanbul is a large and busy city, it is important to consider traffic density when planning your trips. Traffic can be more congested, especially in the morning and evening hours. Therefore, it is very useful to prefer public transportation. Metro, metrobus, ferry and Marmaray are the most practical options for transportation within the city. In addition, walking or taking a taxi can be a comfortable solution for short distances. Cards called Istanbulkart, which you can load money into, are valid in all public transportation vehicles in Istanbul.

To make your trip more efficient, it would be more logical to visit the city by dividing it into regions. For example, it would be more time-efficient to explore regions such as Sultanahmet, the Bosphorus line, and Taksim-Beyoğlu separately. You can also easily reach districts such as Nişantaşı, Bağdat Caddesi and Yeşilköy from Taksim by yellow minibuses. Also, since there are many museums in Istanbul, museum card Getting it allows you to visit various museums more economically. There are Museum Pass cards for foreign tourists and Museum Cards for local visitors. You can get these cards from important touristic spots such as Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace or online.

Istanbul is generally a safe city, but be careful of pickpockets in crowded areas.

Transportation

In Istanbul, public transportation is provided through a wide network and it is possible to use metro, metrobus, bus, minibus, dolmuş and sea transportation for urban transportation. The metrobus line extending from Kadıköy to Beylikdüzü provides uninterrupted transportation between Asia and Europe and operates 24 hours a day. In addition, Maslak, Taksim, Yenikapı, AksarayThere is a metro line between important points such as the bus station and the airport. This metro line allows you to travel around the city quickly.

Apart from this, it is possible to cross the Bosphorus with ferry, motor and sea bus services from regions such as Üsküdar, Kadıköy, Kabataş, Bakırköy, Sirkeci and Beşiktaş. There is also the Marmaray rail system in Istanbul, which extends from Kadıköy-Üsküdar to Zeytinburnu and passes under the Bosphorus. The re-opening of city line trains is expected soon.

There are also faster and more frequent vehicles such as buses, minibuses and yellow shared taxis for urban transportation. Minibuses and shared taxis provide transportation with fewer stops and are generally preferred as a fast option. Most public transportation in Istanbul can be used with the Istanbulkart.

Istanbul is a city that offers countless places to explore with its historical and cultural riches. If you are planning to set foot in Istanbul, it is important to create a list of places to visit. Istanbul, which has a wide range of both historical structures and modern venues, promises a different discovery in every corner. In this article, we have compiled the main places you should visit in Istanbul for you. Detailed Places to Visit in Istanbul You can explore the most iconic spots of Istanbul with our guide.