10+ Really Interesting Things to Do in Istanbul

Last Updated on January 15, 2025

If you’re contemplating a trip to Turkey, you’ll find many interesting things to do in Istanbul…

Updated for 2025

Estimated reading time: 18 minutes

By Jim Ferri and Marjorie Kean

It’s a safe bet many travelers remain unaware that Turkey has changed its name to Türkiye (pronounced Tur-kee-yeah) or even why it made the change in the first place. And that includes many of the Turks themselves.

However, the fascination that Istanbul holds for travelers has stayed the same. Although it’s not Türkiye’s capital (far off Ankara is), it’s well known as the city that links Europe and Asia. In addition, its food, shopping, and cultural sights push it high up on many traveler’s must-see lists.

Istanbul is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It’s a crowded, colorful metropolis where people are tolerant of religious beliefs and are polite and helpful to visitors. You’ll see everything from burkas to short skirts on its maze of streets. And there’s its history all about.

Istanbul Sights

Like few other cities, Istanbul takes you back in time—a very long time since it’s been inhabited for more than 5,000 years. During those 50 centuries, it was the capital of two of the most powerful empires in the world: the Byzantine (330 – 1453AD) and the Ottoman (1453 – 1922). Both empires left their marks on the city, which blends almost seamlessly into our 21st-century world.

You may stay in a modern hotel, but step onto its streets, and you see ancient minarets piercing the skyline. It’s also restaurant heaven, where you can dine in over 75 Michelin-ranked restaurants. Outdoors on the banks of the Bosporus, eat freshly caught fish right off a fisherman’s grill.

If you visit Istanbul for only two or three days, as most people do, forget all the guidebook hype. Instead, focus on these 10+ exciting things to do in Istanbul to make your trip memorable. And you can do them all independently, without hiring a guide.

Visit the Blue Mosque, One of the Things to Do in Istanbul

Among the most recognizable religious buildings in the world, the Blue Mosque was built by a 19-year-old sultan in 1616. It is so named because of its interior blue tiles, and its vast marble courtyard is as large as its interior prayer area. 

Visit in the morning, when the filtered sunlight gives the interior a spectacular feel. In the evening, the setting sun sets its minarets ablaze.

Whenever you visit, however, be ready for the muezzin’s call to prayer. Blaring loudly from the many loudspeakers hanging from the minarets, it’s a cacophony that will startle you if you haven’t heard it before. You’ll soon hear the call from other minarets across the city as well.

If possible, also visit the neighborhood in the evening when spotlights bathe the mosque in the soft evening light. Go to Sultanahmet Square, the former site of the ancient hippodrome, outside the mosque’s courtyard. Relax in a café with a drink or a bite to eat and enjoy the evening view of the mosque.

If You Go: Blue Mosque

Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7
Open 9am-7pm daily; closed at times of prayer.
Admission: free, although donations are welcome.
Note: To avoid prayer times when the mosque is not open to visitors, it’s best to visit early in the morning or mid-afternoon. Also, women must wear head coverings (scarves, etc.), and no shorts are allowed. During May-September, there is a sound and light performance each evening, alternating between Turkish, English, French, and German on different evenings..

Don’t Miss Hagia Sophia

Adjacent to the Blue Mosque is the beautiful Hagia Sophia, another of the best places to visit in the city. It’s one of Turkey’s most popular tourist attractions.

Originally built as a basilica (the Church of Holy Wisdom) and later turned into a mosque, it now enjoys a third life as a museum…well, perhaps not entirely.

Although a museum since 1934, the Turkish government has ruled that the iconic building must revert to being a mosque. As a result, oversight of the building was immediately transferred from Turkey’s Ministry of Culture to the Presidency of Religious Affairs to reopen it for worship. 

Visitors, however, can still visit this beautiful and incredible 1500-year-old masterpiece, which has endured countless earthquakes, wars, and fires and outlived two empires.

Nevertheless, Hagia Sophia remains an incredible building, all the more so since it is still standing after 1500 years. During those years is has endured countless earthquakes, wars, and fires. It’s also outlived two empires.

It was converted into a mosque in 1453, incorporating Christian and Muslim influences. It is one of the most spectacular buildings in Istanbul. Its vast dome is over 100 feet in diameter and nearly 200 feet high. The marble floors below it are cracked and worn away over time.

Take advantage of going to the upper level and visiting early in the morning before tour groups arrive. But be careful when walking outside since the large stones can be uneven in some places.

Contact your travel advisor or hotel regarding Hagia Sophia’s current opening hours.

If You Go: Hagia Sophia
Summer hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9am-6pm, except during midday prayers.|
Winter hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30-4:30pm, except during midday prayers.
Admission: no fee, although donations are welcome.
Since Hagia Sophia has only recently been reconverted to a mosque, check with your travel advisor or hotel regarding changes to the above.

One of the Places to Visit in Istanbul: Topkapi Palace

Home of the Sultans and the court of the Ottoman Empire until the 19th century, Topkapi Palace is set in a beautiful park just a few minute’s walk from Hagia Sophia.

A series of pavilions renowned for intrigue and drama, Topkapi Palace once housed 5,000 people, including the Sultan and his concubines, enslaved people, and eunuchs. Today, its Treasury is home to an incredible display of wealth, including the 86-carat pear-shaped Spoonmaker Diamond.

We were disappointed, however, because although the grounds were beautiful, the displays were stoic museum-like. As we had experienced elsewhere, we expected a palace brimming with furniture and life-like displays that provided a sense of history and its occupants. It didn’t meet our expectations of being one of the country’s national treasures. Topkapi Palace

To help other readers and travelers, if you’ve visited Topkapi and had a different experience, please leave a comment at the end of this post. 

If You Go: Topkapi Palace
Cankurtaran Mh., 34122
[email protected]
Tel: +90 212 512 04 80
Open Wednesday-Monday 9am-4:45pm (6:45pm during the summer months).
Admission: 200TL (about US$24); admission to the Harem is an additional 100TL). Children under 8 years are free. Note: Ticket booths close at 4:00pm in the winter, 6pm in summer.

Walk About the Sultanahmet District

On the European side of the city, Sultanahmet is the end of the thumb of land where the Bosporus meets the Sea of Marmara. It’s the old heart of the ancient city, and it is fascinating, colorful, and energetic. 

Since many of its top sights are here, you’ll likely enjoy wandering about the area. These include Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, and many more. You’ll also find Sirkeci Station, the eastern terminus of the Orient Express.

In addition, the area provides a terrific sidewalk theater. Walking through Sultanahmet one day, I watched men at curbside tables having cigarettes and coffee. Numerous shops were selling everything imaginable. Further along were vendors selling hot chestnuts and corn, both meant to be eaten as you stroll.

A woman on a bench knitted as she fed a small flock of pigeons. Around the corner, an entrepreneur set a bathroom scale on the sidewalk and charged people to weigh themselves. It was a gaggle of sights that would be difficult to replicate anywhere else.

See the Basilica Cistern

Built during the 6th century as a vast underground water-storage tank to ensure a constant water supply for the city, the Basilica Cistern once held more than 18 million gallons of water. It covers an area of 105,000+ square feet; go down into it, and you’ll find a maze of Byzantine marble columns and some outstanding art displays.

If you’re short on time, give the Cistern a pass. But if this is the first time you’ve seen one, especially one this immense, it’s worth a look for the 30-lire entry fee. Used for the occasional movie location as well as concerts, it’s also Istanbul’s most unusual attraction.

You’ll also find a little café in it and (surprise!) a gift shop on the way out. Be careful, however, since the marble steps can be slippery, so take your time entering and exiting. You’ll find it less than 10 minutes from Hagia Sophia.

If You Go: Basilica Cistern
Yerebatan Cad 13
[email protected] 
Tel: 0 (212) 512 15 70
Open 9am-6:30pm daily.
Admission: 30TL (about $3.50)

Visit Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, One of the Top Things to Do

For many travelers, the fabled Grand Bazaar, piled high with carpets and uncountable other goods, epitomizes Istanbul. It is Ablaze with multi-colored lights and is the world’s oldest covered market, a mini-city of 4,500 shops, 60+ streets, and 22 entrances. There’s nothing quite like it anywhere.

It is a riot of color, confusion, and crowds that percolates with the hubbub of any Middle Eastern bazaar. It’s also a great place to wander and watch the show around you.

The fabled Bazaar, built in 1461, was once the trading heart of the 15th-century Ottoman Empire. Jim discovered it decades ago when it was obscenely crowded. During our recent visit, however, the crowd size was about the same as in any Western mall during the holidays.

Enter, and you’ll find yourself in a maze of alleyways surrounded by locals and tourists seeking deals, women in veils, tourists, and boys running about delivering little glasses of coffee here and there. Tiny cafés allow everyone to enjoy a drink or bite to eat.

Although legendary for its pickpockets and other elements, the old Bazaar has been cleaned up over the past decades. (However, hiding your wallet in the Bazaar or anywhere in the city is still wise.) Now, there’s even a police station among the legions of carpet sellers, jewelers, restaurants, cafés, lamp dealers, shoe shops, etc.

If You Go: Grand Bazaar
https://www.kapalicarsi.com.tr (Turkish only) 
Open: Monday-Saturday 8:30am-7pm
Admission: free
Note: The shops and markets outside the Grand Bazaar are usually open for longer hours and on Sundays.

How To Bargain In Istanbul

Istanbul is a place where you can often bargain for anything (mostly), and it is expected. Once, we had trouble finding a taxi and asked a local shop owner where we could get one. He immediately offered to help us flag one down and negotiate. Two other shop owners soon joined him, the three bargaining with different drivers.

If you are bargaining, your first counteroffer should be 50% of the price offered to you. The other person will then make you a counteroffer, after which you’ll make another offer, etc. At times, it may help to provide a reason for your offer, so always be prepared to walk away.

The Egyptian Bazaar / Spice Bazaar

Istanbul’s Egyptian Bazaar is about a 15-minute walk from the Grand Bazaar toward the Galata Bridge. It’s officially called the “Egyptian” since 1660 when taxes on Egyptian imports were levied to finance its construction.

It’s also known as the Spice Bazaar because spices are the main products sold within its walls. Much smaller and less raucous than the Grand, it is where more Turks buy foodstuffs than tourists search for trinkets.

In addition to spices and many other things, here you’ll sometimes find better-priced tourist knickknacks than at the Grand Bazaar.

If You Go: Egyptian Bazaar
Mısır Çarşısı No.: 92
[email protected] 
Tel: +90 212 513 65 97
Open: every day, 9:30am-7pm (winter) and, in the summer, 8am-7pm weekdays, 8am-7:30pm Saturday, and 9:30am-7pm Sunday. 
Admission: free
Note: the Bazaar is not open on all Islamic religious holidays and on October 29 (Republic Day)

Visit the Church of St. Savior in Chora

This is a gem—one of the world’s finest collections of Byzantine art. Unfortunately, although it’s one of the top things to see in Istanbul, most people never see it. That’s because it’s located outside the “city’s tourist area,” although it’s only a 20-minute / 22-lire cab ride away.

Unfortunately, like Hagia Sophia, its status has changed back to a mosque. To visit this incredible former church, you should check with your hotel or the tourist office regarding admission. 

That said, St. Savior in Chora is worth a visit, especially if you appreciate Byzantine art. It’s a beautiful 11th-century church, quaint and historic, with about 100 stunning 14th-century frescoes and mosaics depicting biblical images. (Unfortunately, the day I visited, the central part of the church was closed for restoration work, but it was still very much worth the trip.)

Leave yourself time to wander about the small neighborhood to see an authentic slice of working-class Istanbul. It’s all relatively clean and slightly hilly, but you’ll likely find its narrow cobbled lanes and old wooden houses interesting.

Take the Trolley, One of the Fun Things to Do in Istanbul

From the Galata Bridge, take a taxi to Taksim Square, the hub of busy Beyoglu, the modern area of the city. All is different here, though.

From the square, catch the old Taksim-Tünel bright-red trolley (the T2 Line) that winds along a crowded Istiklal Street back down to the area near the Galata Tower.

It’s a great, fun ride, much like those in San Francisco and Lisbon. It’s one of the fun things to do in Istanbul that many people miss. And watch the small boys who jump on the rear of the car as it begins its journey.

If You Go: Taksim-Tünel Trolley
Fare: 5TL (approximately $.60)
Note: you can board the trolley at either terminus: Taksim Square or Tünel Square

Stroll Through the Galata Tower Area

The Galata Tower is across the Bosporus from the old city. You can reach it by taxi or walking across the Galata Bridge. Go up to the top for a good view of Istanbul.

After you come down, walk around the streets of Karakoy, a great little area on the European side of Istanbul. Here, you’ll get a feel for the city’s real life. It’s safe and fantastic. Just follow the winding streets, always walking downhill towards the river.

When you reach the Galata Bridge, go down to the riverside on the right. You’ll find the bank lined with outdoor grills where chefs cook fish sandwiches (5 lire each) that you then eat at the tables along the water’s edge. You’ll find just as many Turks here as tourists.

If you go:

Turkish Tourist Office
821 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 687-2194

Take a Ferry To Another Continent

Taking a ferry to the opposite shore of the Bosporus is well worth the short, scenic ride. It’s a great ride that provides fantastic views of the city. 

It’s also the best way to cross from Europe to Asia, or vice versa, across the famous Bosporus. You’ll find dozens of ferries on both the European and Asian sides of the strait. 

However, you must purchase the Istanbul Card for a short ride across the Bosporus to ride the ferries. This specially designed card offers unlimited travel on Istanbul’s public transport network, including buses, trams, metros, metro buses, and ferries. 

It’s perfect for tourists who want to explore the city without worrying about frequent fare payments. However, the card doesn’t cover minibuses (dolmus), which still require cash. But buses can easily substitute minibusses for most routes.

Istanbul Airports

Istanbul has two airports: the new Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side of the city and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side. Always ensure from which your flight departs. The ride to IST from our hotel was 800 — 900 lira. 

The new airport (IST) is beautiful but also huge. In addition, it was also chaotic and noisy, even in the early morning. Linking to most major cities in Türkiye and worldwide, it’s always crowded with long security lines. Also, when we arrived, we had to walk for a very long time to get to passport control. On departure, we had to take several escalators to the gate, where we boarded a bus to the plane.

The terminal has many shops on departures, but unfortunately, we found few, if any, bargains. Comparing several items in five duty-free name-brand shops, we found the prices far higher than in the U.S.

You’ll also find a tsunami of little food shops and the occasional KFC and Starbucks in IST.

We flew to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, which we found quite good, and the staff was very helpful. However, as with any airline, expect to get a taste of the carrier’s home country. Meals, for example, will often reflect the carrier’s home-country customs.

Salad for breakfast, anyone?