comScore

Istanbul Travel Guide

Turkey

#7 in Best Affordable Vacations in Europe

Free Things To Do in Istanbul

If you have extra time, Grand Bazaar (Kapaliçarsi) is worthwhile.
  1. All Things To Do
  2. Free

#1

#1 in Istanbul

Free
Sultan Ahmed I was determined to build a mosque that rivaled the nearby Hagia Sophia, and most would agree that he accomplished this task – or, at least, came close. Since the early 1600s, the Blue Mosque has been quite the sight to behold, with an array of domes, semidomes and minarets (or narrow towers). It's also one of the biggest tourist draws in Istanbul.
... more
Churches/Religious Sites Type
Less than 1 hour Time to Spend
Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
Sultan Ahmed I was determined to build a mosque that rivaled the nearby Hagia Sophia, and most would agree that he accomplished this task – or, at least, came close. Since the early 1600s, the Blue Mosque has been quite the sight to behold, with an array of domes, semidomes and minarets (or narrow towers). It's also one of the biggest tourist draws in Istanbul.
... more

#3

#3 in Istanbul

Free
Nestled within Istanbul's historic Fatih district by the Golden Horn, Istanbul University and the Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye Mosque is considered one of the city's most impressive Ottoman mosques. Built between 1550 and 1557 after being commissioned by its namesake, Süleyman I, this grand structure features multiple gardens and a large dome, plus high-end finishes like mother-of-pearl window shutters, painted corbels, traditional ceramic tiles and stained-glass windows.
... more
Churches/Religious Sites Type
Less than 1 hour Time to Spend
Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii)
Nestled within Istanbul's historic Fatih district by the Golden Horn, Istanbul University and the Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye Mosque is considered one of the city's most impressive Ottoman mosques. Built between 1550 and 1557 after being commissioned by its namesake, Süleyman I, this grand structure features multiple gardens and a large dome, plus high-end finishes like mother-of-pearl window shutters, painted corbels, traditional ceramic tiles and stained-glass windows.
... more

#5

#5 in Istanbul

Free
Located within walking distance of must-visit sights like the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and Süleymaniye Mosque, the Grand Bazaar is one of the biggest and oldest covered shopping markets in the world. It regularly overwhelms visitors with its 60 streets of 5,000-plus shops, each accompanied by an overzealous vendor. Products range from carpets and clothing to art and chessboards, and restaurants, cafes and even two hammams (or Turkish baths) can be found here.
... more
Shopping Type
1 to 2 hours Time to Spend
Grand Bazaar (Kapaliçarsi)
Located within walking distance of must-visit sights like the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and Süleymaniye Mosque, the Grand Bazaar is one of the biggest and oldest covered shopping markets in the world. It regularly overwhelms visitors with its 60 streets of 5,000-plus shops, each accompanied by an overzealous vendor. Products range from carpets and clothing to art and chessboards, and restaurants, cafes and even two hammams (or Turkish baths) can be found here.
... more
Powered by Viator

#6

#6 in Istanbul

Free
Taksim Square is a vibrant, modern area located in Istanbul's Beyoglu district. Scores of shops, restaurants and bars fill the surrounding streets, as well as popular hotels like the InterContinental Istanbul and the Grand Hyatt Istanbul. The square also features notable landmarks like the Taksim Republic Monument (Taksim Cumhuriyet Aniti), which commemorates the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
... more
Cafes Type
Half Day to Full Day Time to Spend
Taksim Square
Taksim Square is a vibrant, modern area located in Istanbul's Beyoglu district. Scores of shops, restaurants and bars fill the surrounding streets, as well as popular hotels like the InterContinental Istanbul and the Grand Hyatt Istanbul. The square also features notable landmarks like the Taksim Republic Monument (Taksim Cumhuriyet Aniti), which commemorates the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
... more

#7

#7 in Istanbul

Free
While the area surrounding Taksim Square draws the vast majority of partygoers, the small neighborhood of Ortaköy happily enjoys its less popular status. You won't simply stumble onto this cool enclave; located north of Beyoglu along the Bosphorus, you'll need to take a ferry or a bus from the Kabatas tram stop to reach it. Hopping a taxi will be a necessity in the nighttime, but the journey will be well worth it.
... more
Cafes Type
1 to 2 hours Time to Spend
Ortaköy
While the area surrounding Taksim Square draws the vast majority of partygoers, the small neighborhood of Ortaköy happily enjoys its less popular status. You won't simply stumble onto this cool enclave; located north of Beyoglu along the Bosphorus, you'll need to take a ferry or a bus from the Kabatas tram stop to reach it. Hopping a taxi will be a necessity in the nighttime, but the journey will be well worth it.
... more
Powered by Viator See more Tours & Tickets

Explore More of Istanbul

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

Best Hotels

See Best Hotels »
World Map

Map

See Map »
Hagia Sophia Museum (Ayasofya Müzesi)

When to Visit

See When to Visit »
Previous: Overview Next: Hotels

Recommended Articles

Best hotels

The 50 Best Hotels in the USA 2019

Feb 05, 2019

U.S. News ranked 3,877 top properties for 2019. Check out the 50 best.

New hotels

30 Hot New Hotels to Check Out in 2019

Feb 05, 2019

See which new properties offer surprising and fun features.

All-inclusive resorts

10 Top All-Inclusive Resorts in the USA

Feb 05, 2019

Go all-in for these luxe resorts flush with amenities.

New and renovated Caribbean hotels

The Caribbean Comeback: 12 New and Renovated Caribbean Hotels to Visit

Feb 05, 2019

These island properties are sure to impress travelers.

Best kids hotels

17 Amazing Kid-Friendly Hotels

Feb 05, 2019

Discover which properties offer ample amenities for children.

AAA Diamond hotels

AAA Announces 2019 Diamond Award Winners

Jan 31, 2019

Of the more than 27,000 properties evaluated, 1,843 hotels earned Four and Five Diamond awards.

Cheap beach vacations

30 Cheap Beach Vacations for Travelers on a Budget

Jan 24, 2019

See which waterfront escapes won't burn a hole in your wallet.

Black sand beaches

The 14 Most Exotic Black Sand Beaches in the World

Jan 14, 2019

Explore unusual shorelines across the globe.

Girls getaway

30 Great Girls Weekend Getaways

Dec 21, 2018

See which amazing locales around the globe are ideal for a girls-only vacation.

Airbus A380 flying in sky

How to Find Cheap Flights

Dec 13, 2018

These tips can help you see the world at prices you can afford.

Find the Best Price

Enter your check in and check out dates to find the best price

 -  [CHANGE DATES]

PriceFinder powered by TripAdvisor Primary Logo

Search the Best Vacation Destinations

U.S. News has ranked more than 250 vacation destinations across the world. Use our advanced search tool to find the vacation that is right for you.

Travel Rankings

U.S. News Best Vacations Badge

How We Rank:

Vacation Destinations
Hotels | Cruises

Vacation Destinations

All Destinations

Hotels

Hotels by Brand Hotels by Destination

Search the Best Vacations

Best Vacation Rankings

See the best vacations in the USA, the Caribbean, Mexico and more. See the rankings

Travel Rankings

Vacation Destinations

Hotels

Cruises

Rewards