Istanbul Travel Guide

Few buildings in the world carry as much history as Hagia Sophia. For nearly 1,500 years, this extraordinary structure has stood at the heart of Istanbul.

With more than 4,000 shops along 61 covered streets, the Grand Bazaar has been a centre of Istanbul trade since the 1450s. Here is what to buy, how to bargain, and when it is open.

The strait that divides Istanbul between Europe and Asia is one of the world's busiest waterways, and the best way to see it is from the water. Cruise times and fares as of October 2026.

For nearly 400 years, Topkapi Palace was the seat of Ottoman power and home to the sultans. Today it is one of the world's great museums, housing imperial treasures, sacred relics, and the legendary Harem.

Rising 67 metres above the Beyoğlu district, the Galata Tower has watched over Istanbul for nearly 700 years and offers the finest 360-degree panorama of the city from its observation deck.

The ancient peninsula where Byzantine and Ottoman civilisations left their greatest monuments side by side — and the essential starting point for any visit to Istanbul.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known worldwide as the Blue Mosque, has six minarets and an interior lined with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles. Free to enter; closed to visitors at prayer times. Hours, dress code and tips inside.

Galata Bridge links Eminönü and Karaköy across the Golden Horn. Fishermen, commuters, trams and street food vendors share the deck, and walking across is free. A simple place to watch Istanbul at work.

Built in 532 AD beneath the streets of Sultanahmet, the Basilica Cistern is one of the most atmospheric ancient sites in the world — a vast underground lake supported by 336 marble columns, including the mysterious Medusa heads.

Stretching 600 metres along the European shore of the Bosphorus, Dolmabahçe Palace is the largest palace in Turkey and the most lavish expression of Ottoman imperial power ever built — a breathtaking fusion of European baroque and Ottoman tradition.

Pine forests, wooden mansions and streets without private cars: the Princes’ Islands are 20 minutes to 1 h 45 by ferry from Istanbul, depending on the pier. Fares, timetable and 2027 bike-rental changes inside.

Home to Ottoman mosques, waterfront tea gardens, and postcard views of the historic peninsula, Üsküdar offers a quieter, more authentic side of Istanbul just a short ferry ride across the Bosphorus.

Florentia Village Istanbul opened in September 2026 next to Istanbul Airport: open daily 10:00–22:00, 180+ outlet stores, M11 İhsaniye metro, tax free.