Old City Sultanahmet
0.2 miles from downtown
Begin your adventure in Sultanahmet Square: the gateway to the historic center. In Topkapi Palace, Byzantine artifacts shine proudly in the display cases. Hagia Sophia’s mosaics are time-worn, reflecting the history of a space that has been both mosque and church across 1.5 millennia. Funky bars and cozy cafes summon you to come enjoy a drink.
Places to stay from $5 a night
Taksim
2 miles from downtown
Street culture, energetic cafes and antique stores with unique treasures await in this cosmopolitan district. Fashionistas will have a field day at the boutiques on Istiklal Avenue. Concerts, movie theaters and exhibition centers provide family-friendly entertainment, and the trendy clubs and bars bring out the glamourous after dark.
Places to stay from $5 a night
Ortakoy
4 miles from downtown
Ortakoy’s residents are youthful and cosmopolitan. Among the swathes of modern art galleries, you'll find eateries tempting you with delicious local delicacies. One of the area's oldest buildings is the Turkish Bath, followed by the neo-Baroque Ortakoy Mosque. Take a cruise across the Bosporus, or shop for trinkets at the emporiums.
Places to stay from $13 a night
Kadikoy
3.8 miles from downtown
To stay in Kadıköy means immersing yourself in traditional Turkish culture, and it’s a fast ferry ride from this residential district to the city’s prime attractions. Elaborate wooden houses that creak with the passing of time, and remnants of the Roman Empire await as you wander the streets. Indulge in mouth-watering Turkish Delights from Akustik Market.
Places to stay from $6 a night
Besiktas
4 miles from downtown
Fragments of the Ottoman Empire remain in this district on the coast. Picnic or play in the flower-filled groves of Yildiz Park, followed by a walk to Ortakoy – inviting cafes by day and plush clubs by night. Salute the sea at the Turkish Naval Museum, see and be seen in trendy Bebek and Kurucesme, or crown your day at Dolmabahce Palace.
Places to stay from $13 a night
Sisli
3.3 miles from downtown
Sisli is a large district on the European side of Istanbul, near the Bosporus Bridge. A mix of mosques, churches and synagogues make the area eclectic. The Trump Towers and Cevahir Shopping Mall are reminders of the growing tide of commercialism sweeping through the area. The narrow streets of Nisantasi are loaded with boutiques and galleries.
Places to stay from $6 a night
Topkapi
1.9 miles from downtown
Take a decent pair of walking shoes to navigate the 3.4-mile stretch atop the 8th-century City Walls of Constantinople. Make sure to spend some time at Kara Ahmet Pasha Mosque, a medieval learning center that houses painstakingly detailed mosaics. The area maintains its scholarly nature, with many cafes and student haunts.
Places to stay from $11 a night
Beyazit
0.7 miles from downtown
There’s a sort of haze around the palaces, towers and gardens around Beyazit Mosque, giving the feeling of being lost in time. The mosque has stood proudly since 1506 and weathered many storms over its cut-stone exterior. The Grand Bazaar is filled with the sights, smells and sounds of an authentic Turkish market.
Places to stay from $7 a night
Asian Side
6.6 miles from downtown
The Asian side of Istanbul lives on the edge of the past and present. Kadıköy is a mix of scents and sounds; in Moda, buy tapas-style food from a quirky street vendor, then wander past tattoo parlors and street art for a live exhibition of urban Istanbul flow. Buy branded clothing on Bagdat Avenue, then dine out in style.
Places to stay from $6 a night
Istanbul is a timeless crossroads of cultures, religions, and civilizations, the meeting point of Europe and Western Asia.
Greek, Persian, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences are all over the city to this day. The breathtaking Hagia Sophia stood as an ornate church for over 1,000 years before being converted into an Imperial Mosque, which it remained for another 500 years. There's also Topkapi Palace, an extravagant complex of courtyards, halls, and terraces with beautiful views over the Bosphorus Strait. Today, both structures are religious museums that draw in millions of visitors every year.
The Blue Mosque is another striking example of Byzantine-Ottoman blended architecture, with its domes, towering minarets, and blue İznik tiles covering the interior. For a full view of the mosque’s design, enter through the crumbling remains of a Roman-era hippodrome in Sultanahmet Square.
However, Istanbul’s oldest landmarks can easily be overlooked. Several hundred ancient cisterns lie deep beneath the ground where water was delivered from a local reservoir through 12 miles of aqueducts. The largest of these is the Basilica Cistern, which you can explore along raised wooden platforms.
Back on ground level, the Grand Bazaar will blow you away with its maze-like network of artisanal shops and cozy teahouses. Work up an appetitie while exploring, before grabbing a Dürüm wrap on a street corner, or some delicious meze in a bistro-style restaurant in Sultanahmet.
Tonight
From $10 per night
Next weekend
From $44 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | € 1 = $1.07 |
| Language | Turkish |
| Average weekend price | $87 per night |
| Average weekday price | $89 per night |
| Average stay | 2 nights |
Taksim Square
2.1 miles from downtown
Blue Mosque
0.2 miles from downtown
Topkapi Palace
0.6 miles from downtown
Grand Bazaar
0.4 miles from downtown
Hagia Sophia
0.3 miles from downtown
Istiklal Street
2 miles from downtown
Bosphorus Bridge
4 miles from downtown
Galata Tower
1.2 miles from downtown
Pierre Loti
3.8 miles from downtown
Suleymaniye Mosque
0.8 miles from downtown
A beautiful city full of contrasts old blending with new.
April 27, 2024
A beautiful city full of contrasts old blending with new. Loved the kahvlatis ( traditional Turkish breakfast cafes) a must experience Recommend Dogaciyiz Gourmet and Van kahvalti Evi in Beyoglu. area and Cesme Bazlama in Sisli./ Nisantasi area - the latter was worth the trek from our hotel in Beyoglu truly a sultans feast of an experience so memorable. One tip be on your guard against professional scammers at the Istanbulkart top up machines pretending to help you especially at airports but in reality attempt to distract your attention whilst scamming you of travel credit on your card The machines have clear English language options and are easy to fathom eventually so try not accept help.
A bustling city that never sleeps!
April 27, 2024
A bustling city that never sleeps! Plenty of things to see and do for all age groups. Particularly enjoyed the breakfast cruise on the Bosphorus. Plenty of fast/street food outlets but traditional Turkish restaurants need searching for. Travelling around the city is easy on the tram but beware of taxis as they can overcharge tourists a lot.
We love Istanbul but it’s too expensive compared to 2 years...
April 25, 2024
We love Istanbul but it’s too expensive compared to 2 years previous prices are more than 3 times eg dinner a 1 course a beer and Iran was almost 40 we did then go to the pudding shop and the cost was 24£ it was the only place we could find reasonable but basically it was chicken and potatoes a slice of green and red pepper and 1/4 tomato. To visit any attraction was at least £20 each luckily we have visited previous 3 times and saw them either free or very minimal cost £5. The Cakes you see were 400turkish lira - £10
A beautiful place to visit on a sunny, breezy day.
April 24, 2024
A beautiful place to visit on a sunny, breezy day. Take a boat ride on Bosphorus or take a tram to go around town. By the way, trams are excellent in taking you around the city - and very, very cheap. The town is steeped in history. You will see the signs of its grand past all over. People are very friendly and smiling. It was our third trip and we will go back soon.
A perfect destination for Food lovers, combines history, art...
April 24, 2024
A perfect destination for Food lovers, combines history, art, modern architecture and shopping. It offers both luxury and simple lifestyle option with great nature and many options for transportation. The only disadvantage is that its very crowded so choosing the right time to come is essential.
- Topkapi Palace : to be done but expensive for what it is.
April 24, 2024
- Topkapi Palace : to be done but expensive for what it is. The Harem is the best place - Blue Mosquee : beautiful and free - Grand Bazar / Spice Bazar : just to feel the atmosphere, not to buy something - Hammam : the must of the trip, with scrub, foam & oil massage - Princess Islands (the last one) : beautiful, like if you are in a seaside resort + an icecream of course ! - Bosphorus cruise but only if you didn't take the boat for Princess Islands - Fatih, Balat & Fener with colored houses - Citerne Basilique : too expensive for what is it, in 15 minutes, you make the tour - Basilique Sainte Sophie : not done +++ : The restaurants and also a fish sandwich on Eminonu !
Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $184 per night
Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $288 per night
Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
From $299 per night
Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
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Old City Sultanahmet, Istanbul
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