Istanbul was the capital of empires for more than 1,600 years, and almost every corner of the city has a story. The top things to do in Istanbul fall into two broad groups: exploring the historic peninsula around Sultanahmet, and getting out on and along the Bosphorus. Add a few neighbourhood walks, a bazaar or two and a day on the islands, and you have the makings of a great trip. If you are still weighing up a trip, our reasons to visit Istanbul sum up what makes the city special.
Here are our favourite experiences, from the classic sights to the places locals go at the weekend.
Explore Historic Istanbul
1. Take a tour of Sultanahmet
Start in Sultanahmet Square, where monuments from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras stand side by side: the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace among them. Our guide to the historical places at Sultanahmet Square explains what you are looking at, and a guided Istanbul old city tour is the easiest way to see the highlights in a day. Remember that Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are working mosques: dress modestly and expect them to close to visitors at prayer times.
2. Shop the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar has been trading since the 1460s, and its maze of around 60 covered streets is easy to get lost in. Inside you will also find small restaurants and cafes serving simple, tasty food. Down the hill in Eminonu, the Spice Bazaar is smaller but full of the smell of spices, teas and dried fruit.
3. Wander through Balat and Fener
Balat and neighbouring Fener, on the Golden Horn, are made for slow walks. Brightly painted houses, steep cobbled lanes and cafes sit alongside the Bulgarian Church of St Stephen, the red-brick Phanar Greek Orthodox College, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and old mosques. In winter, finish at Vefa Bozacisi in nearby Vefa for a glass of boza, a thick fermented millet drink, dusted with cinnamon.
4. See the city from Galata Tower
The viewing gallery of Galata Tower gives a 360-degree view over the old city, the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, and it is one of the best places in Istanbul for photographs. The tower has been run as a museum since 2020.
Things to Do in Istanbul on the Bosphorus
5. Join a Bosphorus dinner cruise with a Turkish night show
An evening cruise with dinner and a Turkish night show is one of the most popular activities for visitors. You taste Turkish dishes while the illuminated palaces and bridges glide past, with belly dancing, a whirling dervish performance and folk dances from different regions. Details are on our Bosphorus dinner cruise page.
6. Spend a full day on the Bosphorus
A full-day trip takes you up the strait to Anadolu Kavagi, close to where the Bosphorus opens into the Black Sea. On the way you pass Ottoman palaces and the wooden yali mansions, each with its own story. Choose a shared Bosphorus and Black Sea cruise, or, if you would rather have the boat to yourselves, a private yacht. Our guide to which Bosphorus cruise to take compares the options.
7. Walk along the Bosphorus shore
Istanbul is best discovered on foot, and the waterfront has some lovely routes:
- Kabatas to Ortakoy, past Dolmabahce and Ciragan palaces
- Karakoy to Eminonu, across the Galata Bridge
- Taksim down to Karakoy through the backstreets of Beyoglu
- Asiyan to Bebek, below Rumeli Fortress
- Buyukdere to Yenikoy, along the upper Bosphorus
On the Asiyan to Bebek walk, step inside Rumeli Fortress and imagine how it was built in a matter of months in 1452.
8. Visit the Maiden's Tower
The Maiden's Tower stands on a tiny islet off Uskudar and reopened in 2023 after restoration. Small boats take visitors across, and the Uskudar waterfront opposite is a classic spot for tea at sunset.
9. Escape to Anadolu Kavagi and Poyrazkoy
Anadolu Kavagi is one of the most unspoilt corners of Istanbul. Walk up to Yoros Castle for views over the mouth of the Black Sea, browse the small artists' workshops that have opened in recent years, then sit down to a fish lunch by the water. Nearby Poyrazkoy has beaches with clean water. You can also reach the village by yacht on an Anadolu Kavagi yacht trip with fish lunch.
Seasonal Highlights in Istanbul
10. See the tulips at Emirgan Park
In tulip season, usually April, Emirgan Park on the Bosphorus is carpeted with flowers. Go early in the morning, before the crowds arrive.
11. Catch the Judas trees in bloom
In spring the Judas trees (erguvan) turn the hillsides of both shores purple. It is a beautiful time to walk on the European and Asian sides, climb Camlica Hill for the view, and take a boat trip on the Bosphorus.
Beyond the Historic Centre
12. Stroll and shop in Nisantasi
Nisantasi is Istanbul's chic side, with a touch of Paris and Milan. Walk Abdi Ipekci Avenue, explore the side streets around Tesvikiye, and continue towards Macka Park. It is easy to spend half a day here among the boutiques and cafes.
13. Take a day trip to the Princes' Islands
The Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara are a world away from the city: largely car-free, with historic wooden houses, pine woods and fish restaurants by the shore. Go by public ferry or join a Princes' Islands tour.
Tips for Planning Your Istanbul Itinerary
- Group sights by area: Sultanahmet one day, Beyoglu and Galata another, the Bosphorus on a third.
- Use ferries as well as trams: they are often quicker than the roads, and the views come included.
- Check opening days and times before you go, as they change and many sites close on certain days.
- For more ideas, see our Istanbul trip ideas and top things to eat in Istanbul.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in Istanbul?
Most visitors start with the historic sights of Sultanahmet, such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, and then take a cruise on the Bosphorus.
What can you do in Istanbul in the evening?
Popular choices are a Bosphorus dinner cruise with a Turkish night show, a sunset cruise, or dinner and drinks in Karakoy, Beyoglu or Ortakoy.
When is the best time to see the tulips in Istanbul?
Tulip season is usually in April, when Emirgan Park and other city parks are planted with millions of bulbs.
Are the Princes' Islands worth a day trip?
Yes, if you have more than three days. The islands are largely car-free, with wooden mansions, woods and seafood restaurants, and are reached by ferry or on a tour.
End your sightseeing day on the water
After the old city, see the palaces and mansions from the Bosphorus on a private sunset yacht cruise, only for your group.
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