Istanbul
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Istanbul - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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21. Deniz Müzesi
BesiktasFounded in 1897 and located here since 1961, Istanbul's Naval Museum reopened in late 2013 with a new, state-of-the-art wing that impressively showcases its large collection of Ottoman-era boats and maritime paraphernalia. The multistory, hangar-like structure was built to house more than a dozen kayıks (caiques)—long, slim wooden boats rowed by oarsmen, that served as the primary mode of royal transportation in Istanbul for several hundred years. These graceful vessels are decorated with gorgeous painted patterns and intricate carvings and figureheads covered with gold leaf; most also have an equally ornate curtained wooden pavilion that was built for the sultan, his wife, or his mother. The underground level houses several exhibits of paintings, naval coats of arms, and other objects that give a good sense of the Ottoman Empire's onetime supremacy at sea. In the square just beside the museum are the tomb (usually locked) and a statue of Hayreddin Pasha, or "Barbarossa," the famous admiral of the empire's fleet in the Ottoman glory days of the early 16th century.
Beşiktaş Cad., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-327–4346Sight Details
Rate Includes: TL13, Closed Mon. -
22. Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate
Western DistrictsUpon being kicked out of Aya Sofya after the Turkish conquest of the city, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate wandered among several churches before settling here in the Church of St. George in 1601. Rebuilt after a fire in 1720, the church is a relatively simple basilica, though the (rather dark) interior has a refined atmosphere. Sarcophagi with the remains of some famous Byzantine saints, a Byzantine-era patriarchal throne, and two very old mosaic icons on the right side of the elaborate iconostasis are considered the most noteworthy features of the church. The main front gate of the compound has been welded shut ever since Sultan Mahmud II had Patriarch Gregory V hanged from it in 1821 as punishment for the Greek revolt. This small church is theoretically the center of the Orthodox world, though some Turks would like to claim that it serves only the dwindling community of Istanbul Greeks.
Dr. Sadık Ahmet Cad. 1, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
23. Eminönü
The Bazaar Quarter and EnvironsThe transportation hub of Old Istanbul, Eminönü teems with activity. There are docks for traditional ferryboats (including those making both short and daylong Bosphorus cruises) and faster "sea bus" catamarans that cross the Bosphorus, as well as the Eminönü tram stop, the Sirkeci train station, and the departure area for buses headed to Istanbul's western districts. Thousands of people and vehicles rush through this frenetic neighborhood by the hour, and the many street traders here sell everything from trinkets to designer knockoffs. From Eminönü, you can cross the Galata Bridge on foot or via the tramway to Karaköy, the gateway to the "new town."
View Tours and ActivitiesIstanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
24. Emirgan
BosphorusThis quiet European-side suburb is best known for its large, attractive, public park, Emirgan Korusu—formerly an estate owned by the Khedive of Egypt—which has flower gardens, a small pond, paths, and picnic areas. Three restored, 19th-century, wooden pavilions house restaurants and cafés. During Istanbul's Tulip Festival in April, visitors flock to Emirgan Korusu for its striking flower displays—each year, a million or more tulips in dozens of varieties are planted in this park alone. The flower, which takes its name from the Turkish word tülbend (turban), was most likely introduced to Europe in the late 16th century via the Ottoman Empire, setting off the famous "tulip craze" in the Netherlands. Emirgan is also where the Sakıp Sabancı Museum is located.
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
25. Eyüp Sultan Camii
Western DistrictsMuslim pilgrims from all over the world make their way to the brightly colored, tile-covered tomb of Eyüp Ensari (Ayyub al-Ansari)—a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who served as his standard-bearer—at this mosque complex on the Golden Horn. Ensari was killed during the first Arab siege of Constantinople (AD 674–78), and the eternal presence of a man so close to Muhammad makes this the holiest Islamic shrine in Turkey. His grave site was visited by Muslim pilgrims in Byzantine times and "rediscovered" during Mehmet the Conqueror's siege of Constantinople. After the conquest, Mehmet monumentalized the tomb and built a mosque, where investiture ceremonies were held for successive sultans. The mosque currently on the site was built after the original edifice was ruined in the 1766 earthquake. The plane-tree-shaded courtyards and large numbers of visitors imbue Eyüp Sultan Camii with a sense of peace and religious devotion not found in many other parts of this often frenetic city. A vast cemetery has grown up around the mosque. It's best to avoid visiting at prayer times.
Cami Kebir Cad., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
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26. Fatih Camii
The Bazaar Quarter and EnvironsThis complex consisting of a mosque, religious schools, and other buildings of a pious nature was the largest in the Ottoman empire, and is still one of the most culturally important mosques in the city. Today it remains the heart of Fatih, one of Istanbul's most religiously conservative neighborhoods. The original mosque, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1766, was built from 1463 to 1470 by Mehmet the Conqueror on the site of the demolished Church of the Twelve Apostles, the burial church of Byzantine emperors from Constantine on. The 18th-century replacement, which has been completely restored, is quite attractive—particularly the extensive stained-glass windows—though probably very little of what you're seeing is original. Behind the mosque is the reconstructed, baroque-style tomb of the Conqueror himself, along with the far plainer tomb of his wife Gülbahar. It's best to avoid visiting the mosque at prayer times.
Fevzi Paşa Cad., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
27. Galata Kulesi
GalataThe Galata area was a thriving Italian settlement both before and after the fall of Constantinople, and the Genoese rebuilt this tower as part of their fortifications in 1348 (the original structure dates back to the Byzantium Emperor Justinian in 527 AD), when they controlled the northern shore of the Golden Horn. The hillside location provided good defense, as well as a perch from which to monitor the comings and goings of vessels in the sea lanes below. The 220-foot tower later served at times as a jail and at other times as a fire tower and now houses a restaurant at the top. The viewing gallery, which offers fabulous panoramas of the city and across the Golden Horn and Sea of Marmara, is accessible by elevator and open during the day for a rather steep fee—it bears noting that similar views can be had at rooftop cafés and restaurants around the area.
View Tours and ActivitiesBüyük Hendek Cad., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-293–8180Sight Details
Rate Includes: TL100 -
28. Galata Mevlevihanesi Müzesi
BeyogluIstanbul's oldest Mevlevi dervish lodge, which served as a meeting place and residence for whirling dervishes (followers of the Sufi mystic Celaleddin Rumi), was founded on this site in 1491 and rebuilt after a fire in 1765. Recently restored, it now houses a small but interesting museum with displays of dervish garments, handicrafts, and other artifacts, along with background information about the Mevlevi order and Sufism more generally. On the upstairs floor of the lodge's semahane (ceremonial hall) are additional exhibits of calligraphy, ebru (traditional marbling art), and musical instruments. The serene, leafy grounds contain a handful of tombs and a small cemetery. The biggest draws, however, are the sema ceremonies (popularly known as whirling dervish ceremonies) that are performed by different Sufi groups at 5 pm each Sunday in the semahane. Tickets are sold in front of the museum on ceremony days only; it's best to buy them early in the day because performances can sell out.
Galip Dede Cad. 15, Istanbul, Istanbul, 34420, Turkey212-245–4141Sight Details
Rate Includes: TL25 -
29. Great Walls of Constantinople
Western DistrictsThe walls of Constantinople were the greatest fortifications of the medieval age and, although they were severely damaged by Sultan Mehmet II's canon in the siege leading up to the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453, large sections still stand more or less intact. The walls were built in the 5th century after the city outgrew the walls built by Constantine, and they stretched 6½ km (4 miles) from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn. The "wall" was actually made up of a large inner and smaller outer wall, with various towers and gates, as well as a moat. Parts have been restored, and you can even climb around on top; the easiest section on which to do this is near Edirnekapı, a short walk uphill from Chora.
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
30. Gülhane Parkı
SultanahmetCentral Istanbul has precious few public green spaces, which makes this park—once the private gardens of the adjacent Topkapı Palace—particularly inviting. Shaded by tall plane trees, the paved walkways, grassy areas, gazebos, and flower beds make this a relaxing escape from the nearby bustle of Sultanahmet. Walk all the way to the end of the park for excellent views of the Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara. The Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam is inside the park, as are a municipal-run café and a couple of places serving tea and snacks.
View Tours and ActivitiesAlemdar Cad., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
31. Hippodrome
SultanahmetIt takes a bit of imagination to appreciate the Hippodrome—once a Byzantine stadium for chariot racing with seating for 100,000—since there isn't much here anymore. Notably absent are the rows of seats that once surrounded the track and the life-size bronze sculpture of four horses that once adorned the stadium (the Venetians looted the statue during the Fourth Crusade). You can, however, see several other monuments that once decorated the central podium. The Dikilitaş (Egyptian Obelisk) probably marked the finish line. The very partial Yılanlı Sütun (Serpentine Column) was taken from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece, where it was dedicated after the Greek victory over the invading Persians in the 5th century BC. The Örme Sütun (Column of Constantine Porphyrogenitus) was once entirely covered with gilt bronze, which was stripped off by vandals during the Fourth Crusade. Closer to the tram stop is a much more recent addition: a neo-Byzantine fountain that was a gift from the German government in 1901, commemorating Kaiser Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul three years earlier.
Atmeydanı, Istanbul, Istanbul, TurkeySight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
32. İstanbul İslam Bilim ve Teknoloji Tarihi Müzesi
SultanahmetOn the western side of Gülhane Parkı, this museum, located in the former stables of Topkapı Palace, chronicles the significant role played by medieval Muslim scientists, inventors, and physicians in advancing scientific knowledge and technology while Europe was still in the Dark Ages. Exhibits cover subjects such as astronomy, navigation, mathematics, physics, warfare, and medical expertise. Unfortunately, almost none of the items on display are actual historical artifacts, but the models and reproductions built especially for the museum are interesting nevertheless.
Gülhane Parkı, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-528–8065Sight Details
Rate Includes: TL25 -
33. Istanbul University
The Bazaar Quarter and EnvironsThe main campus of Turkey's oldest institution of higher learning originally served as the Ottoman war ministry—hence the magnificent gateway arch facing Beyazıt Square and the grandiose, martial style of the main buildings, which surround a long greensward filled with giant plane trees. The 279-foot, stone Beyazıt Tower, built in 1828 by Mahmud II as a fire-watch station, is the tallest structure in the Old City and is still one of its most recognizable landmarks. At night, it is lit with LED lights in different colors indicating weather conditions. Though it can no longer be climbed, it's worth seeing up close. Because of its history as a nexus of political activism over the past several decades, the campus is not very publicly accessible. Proceed along the main drive and past the rectorate building to the garden behind it, from which there is a stunning view overlooking the Süleymaniye Camii.
View Tours and ActivitiesFuat Paşa Cad., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
34. İstiklal Caddesi
BeyogluRunning for almost a mile between Taksim Square and Tünel Square, İstiklal Caddesi is the heart of modern Istanbul. The street was once known as "La Grande Rue de Péra," after the Pera neighborhood. In the 19th century, palatial European embassies were built here, away from the dirt and chaos of the Old City. The wealthy city folk soon followed, particularly after the short funicular called the Tünel—the first underground urban rail line in continental Europe—was built in 1875. The area was traditionally non-Muslim, and the Greek, Armenian, Catholic, and Protestant churches here are more prominent than the mosques. Today, İstiklal is a lively pedestrian thoroughfare, filled with shops (an increasing number of them international chains), restaurants, cafés, and a handful of cinemas. Turks love to promenade here, and, at times, it can turn into one great flow of humanity. Even in the wee hours of the morning it's still alive with people. This is the Istanbul that never sleeps.
View Tours and Activitiesİstiklal Cad., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
35. Jewish Museum of Turkey
GalataThe history of the Jews in Turkey is much more extensive and colorful than the size of this small museum might suggest. Nevertheless, the museum provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Turkish Jews, whose presence in Anatolia is traced back to as early as the 4th century BC. In 1492, the Spanish Inquisition drove Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal, and Sultan Beyazıt II welcomed the refugees to the Ottoman Empire. A large Jewish population thrived here for centuries, and some older Turkish Jews still speak a dialect of medieval Spanish called Ladino, or Judeo-Spanish. Today, Turkey's Jewish community numbers about 23,000. Most of them live in Istanbul, which has 18 active synagogues (three of which are on the Princes' Islands). The museum exhibits, most of them based on items donated by local Jewish families, include photographs, documents, and an ethnographic section with changing exhibits on subjects such as marriage traditions. There are also religious items brought from some very old (no longer active) synagogues in other parts of Turkey.
Büyük Hendek Cad. 39, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-292–6333Sight Details
Rate Includes: TL45, Closed Sat. -
36. Kadıköy
Asian SideWith recently uncovered visible evidence of its beginnings as the ancient Greek colony of Chalcedon, the relaxed, suburban neighborhood of Kadıköy is a pleasant area to explore on foot once you get away from the busy area near the ferry. The area just up from the Kadıköy dock, to the south of busy Söğütlü Çeşme Caddesi, is known as the Çarşı, or "market"—a grid of narrow, pedestrian-only lanes filled with a small open-air food market, shops, cafés, nightlife venues, and a few modern churches. Güneşlibahçe Sokak, home to an assortment of fish restaurants and some bars, is particularly lively. Several streets up and farther to the right, Kadife Sokak, dubbed Barlar Sokağı, or "bars street," is the center of Kadıköy's nightlife, lined with small, wooden rowhouses occupied by bars with a casual, laid-back vibe. A tiny, nostalgic tram runs in a clockwise direction up General Asım Gündüz, from where it loops down to the lovely waterfront neighborhood of Moda before stopping at the Kadıköy dock. If you've come this far on foot, it's nice to ride the tram back to the dock.
View Tours and ActivitiesIstanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
37. Kanlıca
BosphorusJust north of the second Bosphorus bridge, this village-turned-suburb has been famous for its delicious yogurt for at least 300 years, and small restaurants around the square by the quay serve this treat. Nearby, white, 19th-century, wooden villas line the waterfront. Kanlıca is the first stop on the Asian shore on the full Bosphorus cruises leaving from Eminönü.
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey -
38. Kariye Camii
Western DistrictsTemporarily closed for renovation, the Chora Church, formerly a museum and now a mosque, contains dazzling mosaics and frescoes that are considered to be among the world's finest Byzantine artworks. Most of the mosaics, in 50 panels, depict scenes from the New Testament and date from the 14th century. They are in splendid condition, having been plastered over when the church became a mosque in the 16th century and not uncovered until the 1940s. "Chora" comes from the Greek word for countryside; the original church here was outside the city walls that were built by Constantine the Great, but at the beginning of the 5th century AD, Theodosius built new fortifications to expand the growing city, which brought the church inside the walls. The current edifice is believed to have been built in the 12th century. The easiest way to reach Kariye Camii is by taxi or by Edirnekapı-bound bus from Eminönu or Taksim Square. The tree-shaded café outside the mosque is a pleasant spot for lunch before you trek back into town.
View Tours and ActivitiesKariye Türbesi Sok., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey212-631–9241Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
39. Kız Kulesi
Asian SideFortified since Byzantine times, this little islet off the Asian shore guarded busy shipping lanes and has a restored, lighted, 18th-century tower that is now the star of the lower Bosphorus. Leander's Tower, as it was known in antiquity, ties the island to the legend of Leander, who was said to have swum the strait each night guided by the lamp of his lover, Hero—though this myth was, in fact, set in the Dardanelles to the southwest. The Turkish name "Maiden's Tower" comes from another legend, this one associated with several offshore castles. As the story goes, a princess was placed on an island to keep her safe after a prophecy foretold her death from a snakebite. Despite this precaution, she was bitten anyway, when a snake came ashore in a basket of fruit. The current tower is still undergoing some renovations, but it usually houses an expensive (and not all that impressive) café and restaurant.
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40. Küçük Aya Sofya
SultanahmetBuilt by Justinian as the Church of Sergius and Bacchus (patron saints of the Roman army), this church is commonly known as the "Little Aya Sofya" due to its resemblance to the great church up the hill. In fact, it was built just before Aya Sofya, in the 530s, and the architects here explored many of the same ideas of the larger church but on a smaller scale. The church was converted to a mosque around the year 1500 by Hüseyin Ağa, Beyazıt II's chief eunuch. Though the mosaics are long gone, a Greek inscription dedicated to Justinian, his wife Theodora, and the saints can still be seen running along the cornice of the colonnade. The marble and verd-antique columns, with their delicate, ornate capitals, are also quite impressive, and you can climb the stairway to the upper-level gallery for a closer look. An adjacent, shaded park has some small cafés and shops.
Küçük Aya Sofya Cad., Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
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