Must-see
The 12 must-see places in Istanbul
In Istanbul, don't miss Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya), Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet), Topkapı Palace and Basilica Cistern: here are the 12 must-sees, ranked, with the time to allow, the price and a tip for each.
See all 12 on the map-
MonumentHagia Sophia (Ayasofya)
A Justinian basilica (532-537) under a 31 m dome, seen from the upper gallery.
Cover shoulders and knees, scarf for women; visits are suspended on Fridays from noon to 2 pm.
≈ 1 h See the page → -
MonumentBlue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet)
Six minarets and an Iznik-tiled interior built in 1609-1617, facing Hagia Sophia, free entry.
Closed to visitors during prayers; on Fridays from 2:30 pm. Bring your own scarf.
≈ 40 min See the page → -
CastleTopkapı Palace
The sultans' home for nearly four centuries: courtyards, pavilions, the harem and the treasury rooms.
Arrive at 9 am on a weekday and start with the harem and treasury; closed on Tuesdays.
≈ 4 h See the page → -
MonumentBasilica Cistern
A 6th-century Byzantine reservoir under Sultanahmet, explored on raised walkways.
Go at 9 am, before the groups; non-slip shoes and a bank card, buy only at the official ticket office.
≈ 40 min See the page → -
ShoppingGrand Bazaar Istanbul
One of the world's oldest covered markets: about 3,600 shops under vaulted streets.
Go on a weekday at opening; closed on Sundays. Pay in Turkish lira and ask for an itemised invoice.
≈ 2 h See the page → -
MonumentSüleymaniye Mosque
Sinan's masterpiece (1550-1557), with a 53 m dome and a garden overlooking the Golden Horn.
Visit on a weekday morning, between 9 and 11:30 am; closed to visitors during prayers.
≈ 1 h See the page → -
MonumentGalata Tower
A Genoese tower from 1348 whose balcony, at 51.65 m, gives a 360-degree view of the city.
Go up at 8:30 am for a shorter wait, or an hour before sunset.
≈ 50 min See the page → -
CastleDolmabahçe Palace
The sultans' marble palace on the Bosphorus, with 285 rooms and its original furnishings.
Arrive at 9 am when the ticket office opens; closed on Mondays. Allow 2 hours with the harem.
≈ 2 h See the page → -
CastleBosphorus cruise
Palaces, mosques, fortresses and yalı glide past on both shores, from Europe to Asia.
Pick the public Şehir Hatları cruise; check fares and times before you go.
≈ 2 h See the page → -
ShoppingSpice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) Istanbul
A vaulted bazaar from 1660 lined with spices, Turkish delight, teas and dried fruit by the Golden Horn.
Come in the morning, 8 to 10 am; ask for 100 or 250 g and compare prices.
≈ 45 min See the page → -
MonumentChora Church (Kariye Mosque)
Byzantine mosaics and frescoes from 1315-1321, among the finest in the city.
Check prayer times; closed on Fridays. Cover up, and women need a headscarf.
≈ 1 h See the page → -
Neighborhoodİstiklal Avenue and Taksim Square
A 1.4 km pedestrian street from Tünel to Taksim, with Art Nouveau facades, arcades and a red tram.
Walk downhill from Taksim to Tünel, before 11 am or in the evening; free and open day and night.
≈ 1 h See the page →
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MuseumIstanbul Archaeology Museums
Three museums around one garden, with collections from across the former Ottoman Empire.
Go in the early afternoon when it is quieter; ticket 15 euros, open every day.
≈ 2 h 30 See the page → -
MonumentRüstem Pasha Mosque
A small Sinan mosque whose interior is covered in around 2,300 Iznik tiles.
Look for the stone staircase between the shops on Hasırcılar street; free entry.
≈ 25 min See the page → -
NeighborhoodBalat and Fener
Steep cobbled streets, painted facades, Orthodox churches and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Come on a weekday morning before the groups; dress modestly and ask residents before photographing.
≈ 3 h See the page → -
NeighborhoodEyüp and Pierre Loti Hill
The tomb of Abu Ayyub and, above it, a hilltop with terraces overlooking the Golden Horn.
Mosque in the morning, hill late in the afternoon; avoid Fridays and religious holidays.
≈ 3 h See the page → -
CastlePrinces' Islands
A car-free Marmara archipelago of wooden villas, pine groves and public ferries.
Leave from Kabataş on a weekday on the 9:00 or 10:05 ferry; avoid summer Sundays.
≈ 6 h See the page → -
MuseumIstanbul Modern
Renzo Piano's modern art museum in Karaköy, with terraces opening onto the Bosphorus.
Come at opening, 10 am; closed on Mondays, open until 8 pm on Fridays.
≈ 2 h See the page → -
MonumentHippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square)
Constantinople's former racetrack, with the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpent Column.
Go early for photos without the crowds; free access, under 10 minutes from Hagia Sophia.
≈ 40 min See the page → -
CastleBeylerbeyi Palace
An 1863-1865 summer palace on the Asian shore, more intimate than Dolmabahçe.
Visit on a weekday morning; closed on Mondays, gardens can be entered separately.
≈ 1 h 30 See the page → -
MonumentTheodosian Walls
5.7 km of walls completed in 413: a double wall, 96 towers and a moat, walkable on foot.
Walk on the moat side, in daylight and in the morning; do not climb the walls.
≈ 3 h 30 See the page → -
MuseumOrhan Pamuk's Museum of Innocence
Orhan Pamuk's museum in Çukurcuma, where display cases follow the chapters of his novel.
Come at 10 am on a weekday, the rooms are small; closed on Mondays, last entry 5:30 pm.
≈ 1 h See the page → -
NeighborhoodÜsküdar
An old district on the Asian shore, with Sinan mosques and the Salacak promenade.
Come late in the afternoon and end at Salacak at sunset; avoid Friday midday.
≈ 3 h See the page → -
MuseumMuseum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Carpets and manuscripts in Ibrahim Pasha's palace, commissioned in 1520 by Suleiman the Magnificent.
Buy your ticket online at muze.gov.tr to skip the queue; open every day.
≈ 1 h 45 See the page →
