The imperial mosques: free entry
All of Istanbul's mosques can be visited free of charge, with no booking. They close to visitors during the five daily prayers, and for longer at midday on Fridays. Dress code: shoulders and knees covered for everyone, hair covered for women; shoes come off at the entrance. Headscarves are often lent on site.
1. The Blue Mosque
Facing Hagia Sophia, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque owes its nickname to the thousands of tiles lining its interior. Its long restoration was completed in 2023 and the prayer hall has regained its full volume. Visiting hours and entry rules are set out in our Blue Mosque page.
2. The Süleymaniye
Built by the architect Sinan for Suleiman the Magnificent, the Süleymaniye Mosque crowns the third hill. After the prayer hall, walk around the grounds: the terrace on the north side offers one of the finest free views of the Golden Horn and Galata. The tombs of Suleiman and his wife Hürrem stand in the garden.
3. The Rüstem Pasha Mosque
In the busy shopping lanes of Eminönü, a discreet staircase leads up to this small Sinan mosque, perched above the shops. Its walls are covered in Iznik tiles with tulips and carnations, among the most beautiful in the city. Restored, it reopened in November 2020.
4. The New Mosque (Yeni Cami)
At the end of Galata Bridge, the Yeni Cami closes off Eminönü square, next to the Spice Bazaar. Its restoration was completed in January 2023: façades cleaned, domes covered with new lead. It is an easy stop between the two bazaars.
Sultanahmet and the old city without a ticket
5. The Hippodrome
Sultanahmet Square occupies the site of the Byzantine hippodrome. You can freely see the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column brought from Delphi, the Walled Obelisk and the German Fountain, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II.
6. Hagia Sophia from the outside, and what has changed
The garden between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque is open to all. The interior, however, is no longer free for tourists: since 2024, the ground floor has been reserved for prayer and visits go through the upper gallery, at €25 for foreign visitors.
7. Gülhane Park and the first courtyard of Topkapı
Once the palace garden, Gülhane Park slopes gently down towards Seraglio Point, shaded by tall plane trees. It is free to enter, as is the first courtyard of Topkapı Palace, just above: only the palace itself and the church of Hagia Irene, which stands in that courtyard, charge admission.
8. Wandering the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar
Both bazaars are free to enter. At the Grand Bazaar, open Monday to Saturday, follow the main street of jewellers, then get lost in the hans, the old caravanserais where craftsmen still work. At the Spice Bazaar, the spices, Turkish delight and teas can be looked at and smelled without buying anything: tastings are offered readily, with no obligation.
The Golden Horn and Beyoğlu
9. Galata Bridge and its anglers
From morning to night, dozens of anglers line the railing of Galata Bridge, above the ferries criss-crossing the Golden Horn. Walking across, from Eminönü to Karaköy, gives you views of the Süleymaniye and the Yeni Cami on one side and Galata Tower on the other. The lower level is taken up by fish restaurants, which are not free.
10. İstiklal Avenue
The pedestrian avenue runs for about 1.4 km from Taksim Square to the Tünel district, lined with late-Ottoman buildings, covered arcades and churches. In the evening, street musicians and strollers fill it.
11. Free galleries and ticket-free evenings
Several art venues in Beyoğlu can be visited without paying, always or on certain days:
- SALT Beyoğlu (İstiklal Caddesi 136) and SALT Galata (Bankalar Caddesi 11, Karaköy): free for everyone, Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 to 19:00 and Sunday 11:00 to 18:00. SALT Galata, housed in the former headquarters of the Ottoman Bank, has a permanent exhibition on the bank's history.
- Arter (Irmak Caddesi 13, Dolapdere): exhibitions are free for everyone on Thursdays, when the museum closes at 20:00 instead of 19:00. On other days a ticket costs 450 TL, but entry is free for under-25s. Closed on Mondays.
- Pera Museum (Tepebaşı): free for everyone on Fridays from 18:00 to 22:00, and free for students on Wednesdays. Full price: 450 TL.
Old neighbourhoods and the city walls
12. Balat and Fener
On the shore of the Golden Horn, these two former Greek and Jewish neighbourhoods line up wooden houses and colourful façades along sloping streets. In Fener, the Church of St George, seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, can be visited free of charge after a security check; avoid the long Sunday morning liturgy. A walking route is in our Balat and Fener page.
13. The Theodosian Walls
The 5th-century land walls run for about 6 km between the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. You can follow them freely, outside and inside, past crumbling towers and restored sections, especially around Edirnekapı and Topkapı. Wear good shoes and go during the day: some stretches are isolated.
14. Eyüp and Pierre Loti Hill
At the far end of the Golden Horn, the Eyüp Sultan Mosque is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Turkey; entry is free. To reach the Pierre Loti café, the cable car is paid with the Istanbulkart, but you can climb for free on foot along the path through the old cemetery. At the top, the view takes in the whole Golden Horn.
Parks and the Bosphorus shore
15. Yıldız Park
In Beşiktaş, the former imperial garden of Yıldız Palace spreads its wooded paths above the Bosphorus. Entry on foot is free; only the cafés in the pavilions charge.
16. Emirgan Park and the Sakıp Sabancı Museum on Tuesdays
Further north, Emirgan Park is free for pedestrians. In April it hosts most of the Tulip Festival. Close by, the Sakıp Sabancı Museum is free for everyone on Tuesdays, from 10:00 to 18:00 (closed on Mondays; 450 TL on other days, free for under-12s).
17. From Ortaköy to Bebek along the Bosphorus
The waterfront along the European shore can be walked from Ortaköy, with its mosque set at the foot of the Bosphorus Bridge, to Arnavutköy and its yalı, the old wooden houses on the water, then on to Bebek and its bay. It is the most pleasant walk in the city in the late afternoon. Rumeli Hisarı fortress, a little further on, is closed for restoration: its walls can be seen from the quay.
The Asian side
18. Kadıköy and the Moda seafront
Kadıköy market, with its fishmongers and delis, can be explored without spending anything, and the seafront promenade then leads to Moda Park, facing the historic peninsula. The whole area is covered in our Kadıköy and Moda guide.
19. Sunset in Üsküdar
From the Salacak waterfront, south of Üsküdar, the sun sets behind the Maiden's Tower and the skyline of the old city, minarets and all. Arrive a little before sunset to find a spot on the rocks or the benches along the quay.
20. The ferry: almost free
The ferry is not free, but it is the best bargain in Istanbul. Since 20 July 2026, the Üsküdar–Eminönü crossing costs 58.52 TL with the Istanbulkart, about €1.05, and Kadıköy–Eminönü 65.21 TL, about €1.17. A crossing of the Bosphorus, with views of Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and Galata Tower, for the price of a tea. How the card works and the other lines are explained in our Istanbul transport guide.
Paid museums: who gets in free?
Museums run by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism give free entry to a few categories of foreign visitors: children aged 8 and under, people with disabilities, holders of an ICOM, ICOMOS or UNESCO card, and journalists with a press card. Museum Week, around 18 May, is often described as free: it applies to Turkish citizens, not to foreign visitors, who pay the usual price. Euro prices for the major sites and the Museum Pass calculation are set out in our money in Istanbul guide.
Summary table
| Place | Area | When to go | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mosque | Sultanahmet | Early morning | Closed to visitors during prayers |
| Süleymaniye | Süleymaniye (Fatih) | Late afternoon | Terrace with a view of the Golden Horn |
| Rüstem Pasha | Eminönü | Weekday mornings | Reached by a staircase above the shops |
| Yeni Cami | Eminönü | With the Spice Bazaar | Restored in 2023 |
| Hippodrome | Sultanahmet | Any time | Obelisks and the Serpent Column |
| Gülhane and Topkapı's first courtyard | Sultanahmet | Morning | Palace and Hagia Irene charge admission |
| Grand Bazaar | Beyazıt | Weekdays, at opening | Closed on Sundays |
| Galata Bridge | Eminönü–Karaköy | Sunset | Lower-level restaurants are paid |
| İstiklal Avenue | Beyoğlu | Evening | The nostalgic tram is paid |
| SALT Beyoğlu and Galata | Beyoğlu, Karaköy | Tuesday to Sunday | Always free |
| Arter | Dolapdere | Thursday | Free for everyone on Thursdays |
| Pera Museum | Tepebaşı | Friday, 18:00-22:00 | Free for everyone in this slot |
| Balat and Fener | Fatih | Morning | Patriarchate: security check |
| Theodosian Walls | Edirnekapı, Topkapı | Daytime | Some isolated stretches |
| Eyüp and Pierre Loti | Eyüpsultan | Late afternoon | Free climb on foot |
| Yıldız Park | Beşiktaş | Morning | Cafés are paid |
| Emirgan Park and Sakıp Sabancı Museum | Sarıyer | Tuesday; April for the tulips | Museum free on Tuesdays |
| Ortaköy–Bebek | Beşiktaş | Late afternoon | Rumeli Hisarı closed (works) |
| Kadıköy and Moda | Asian side | Saturday | Market and seafront |
| Üsküdar, Salacak | Asian side | Sunset | Facing the Maiden's Tower |
| Ferry | Bosphorus | Any time | 58.52 TL to 65.21 TL with the Istanbulkart |
Prices as observed in October 2026.
Further reading
To plan a whole trip on a small budget, from accommodation to meals, read our Istanbul travel budget guide. On the Asian side, the Üsküdar page covers the mosques and waterfront to see before sunset. And to string together the free sights of the old city in a single day, follow the one day in Istanbul itinerary.
