Guides and trip ideas · Page 2 — Istanbul Authority

Practical info · 3 min read

Rules and etiquette in Istanbul: dress, alcohol, water, Ramadan, tipping

To behave well in Istanbul, remember five rules: shoulders and knees covered in mosques, no alcohol sold in...

Practical info · 4 min read

Mosque dress code and visiting rules in Istanbul: shoes, headscarf, prayer times

To enter a mosque in Istanbul you must have your shoulders and knees covered, take your shoes off before th...

Season & events · 5 min read

Festivals and major events in Istanbul: the year's calendar

Istanbul has a busy cultural calendar all year round: a film festival in spring, classical music and jazz i...

Top lists & comparisons · 4 min read

Antiques and flea markets in Istanbul: Çukurcuma, Feriköy, Horhor

Istanbul is a good city for browsing old things: chandeliers, paintings, copperware, rugs, old postcards, e...

Top lists & comparisons · 5 min read

Contemporary Art in Istanbul: Museums, Galleries and the Biennial

Istanbul has one of the most active contemporary art scenes in the region, and most of it can be visited on...

Itineraries · 5 min read

The best walks in Istanbul: 8 strolls on foot

Istanbul is a city of hills, bridges and stairways, but it is also one of the most pleasant to explore on f...

Top lists & comparisons · 5 min read

Cafés and tea houses in Istanbul: Turkish coffee, çay and the nargile

In Istanbul, people drink tea all day and Turkish coffee after a meal: the two drinks set the rhythm of the...

Practical info · 6 min read

First trip to Istanbul: 25 tips to know before you go

Istanbul is a huge city straddling two continents, where you get around by tram, ferry and on foot along st...

Neighborhood guides · 6 min read

The Golden Horn in Istanbul: what to see from Eminönü to Eyüp along the estuary

The Golden Horn (Haliç in Turkish) is the estuary, about 7 km long, that separates the old city of Sultanah...

Top lists & comparisons · 5 min read

Churches and synagogues in Istanbul: where to visit them and when

Istanbul is known for its mosques, but the city also has Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian and Jewish communitie...

Itineraries · 4 min read

Ephesus and Pamukkale from Istanbul: flights, buses and how many days

Ephesus, the great ancient city of the Aegean coast, and Pamukkale, with its white limestone terraces and t...

Itineraries · 5 min read

Layover in Istanbul: what to do in 6, 10 or 24 hours

With a layover in Istanbul, you can see the essentials of the old city, as long as you count honestly the t...

Practical info · 5 min read

Avoiding queues in Istanbul: opening hours and online tickets

Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower draw crowds all year, and at the wrong ...

Itineraries · 5 min read

Day trips from Istanbul: the 10 best

Istanbul is an excellent starting point: in a single day you can go from the islands of the Sea of Marmara ...

Getting around · 4 min read

Funiculars, cable cars and the nostalgic tram of Istanbul

Istanbul is built on hills: to climb from Karaköy to İstiklal Avenue, from Kabataş to Taksim or from the Go...

Season & events · 5 min read

Istanbul in spring: tulips, Judas trees and festivals

Spring is one of the best seasons to visit Istanbul. After a cool, damp winter the city fills with flowers:...

Itineraries · 10 min read

Byzantine Istanbul: the Monuments of Constantinople to See

For more than a thousand years, from 330 to 1453, Istanbul was called Constantinople and was the capital of...

Itineraries · 5 min read

Istanbul in 4 days: the complete itinerary

Four days let you see Istanbul without rushing: the three classic days (Sultanahmet, bazaars and Galata, th...

Itineraries · 4 min read

Istanbul in 5 days: the complete itinerary

Five days give you time to visit Istanbul at a comfortable pace: the old city, the bazaars and Galata, the ...

Top lists & comparisons · 5 min read

Istanbul for couples: 15 romantic ideas

Istanbul has everything for a trip for two: a strait crossed by ferries, hills covered in domes, cafés with...

Season & events · 4 min read

Istanbul in autumn: what to do from September to November

Autumn is the season many travellers choose for Istanbul: September keeps the mildness of summer without th...

Season & events · 4 min read

Istanbul in winter: what to do from December to February

Winter is Istanbul's quiet season: queues are the shortest of the year, hotels cost less outside the end-of...

Itineraries · 4 min read

Istanbul in one week: the 7-day itinerary

A week in Istanbul lets you see everything without rushing, and keep time to wander, take a hammam or spend...

Off the beaten path · 10 min read

Hidden Istanbul: 20 secret places off the beaten track

Once you have seen Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul still has a wealth of surprising pl...