AsiaPhoto by Anna Berdnik on Unsplash
Istanbul
Fish sandwiches off the bridge, ferries between continents, domes at dusk.
Why visit
01 / 10The case for going
Istanbul is the only city on two continents, capital of Byzantium then the Ottomans, with Hagia Sophia trading between church and mosque for 1,500 years.
Skip the monument queues and ride the Bosphorus like a local: a few-lira ferry drops you in Kadikoy on the Asian side, all markets and meyhane, not a tour group in sight.
What to do
02 / 10Ways to spend a day
Activities €70–150 total
- 01Haggle through the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 02Ride a commuter ferry up the Bosphorus to Ortakoy and back. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 03Sweat and scrub in a historic hammam like Cemberlitas. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 04Cross to Kadikoy on the Asian side for its market and meyhane lane. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 05Watch the sunset over the domes from a Galata rooftop. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 06Day-trip by ferry to the car-free Princes' Islands. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
Book activities & tickets
Fish sandwiches off the bridge, ferries between continents, domes at dusk.
Where to stay
03 / 10The right base
Accommodation €30–60/night
Sultanahmet
the old-city sights at your door
Karakoy
hip waterfront, galleries and cafes
Kadikoy
the Asian side, local markets and bars
Balat
colourful and photogenic, steep old lanes
Find a place to stay
How to get there
04 / 10Easiest way in
Fly into:
- Istanbul Airport IST
- Sabiha Gokcen International SAW
Plan the journey
How to get around
05 / 10Once you land
The Istanbulkart taps you onto trams, the metro, funiculars and above all the Bosphorus ferries, the cheapest sightseeing in the city. Cross to the Asian side by ferry from Eminonu or Karakoy in about 20 minutes, and skip the rush-hour road taxis.
Get around
What to eat
06 / 10Order this
Food €15–30/day
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Balik ekmek
fish sandwich
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Doner
spit-roast meat
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Lahmacun
thin meat flatbread
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Midye dolma
stuffed mussels
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Simit
sesame ring
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Kunefe
cheese pastry
By the numbers
07 / 10Cards on the table
Safety index
70/100
General guide, not advisory data
Best seasons
Spring · Fall
When it's at its best
Stay for
4 days
The sweet spot
Daily spend
$$
Mid-range
How to fit in
08 / 10Read the room
Catch the first morning ferry to the Asian side and eat breakfast in Kadikoy before the crowds wake. Let the shopkeeper pour you cay before you talk price, and save your appetite for the raki and meze tables on Nevizade that run past midnight.
How to pack
09 / 10What goes in the bag
Best in Spring
Spring: mild and bright around 15 to 22C, with comfortable sun and the odd shower blowing off the Bosphorus.
- comfortable shoes for steep cobbled streets
- a light scarf for breezy ferry decks
- layers for cool evenings
- a daypack for all-day wandering
- a refillable water bottle
How to prepare
10 / 10The boring bits
Three things worth sorting before you fly.
Tomorrow's detour
One place worth the trip.
Curated destinations, one a day.