Welcome to
Istanbul
Turkey
Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents, and its position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia has made it one of history's great meeting points of civilisation. The skyline is defined by the minarets of the Blue Mosque and the dome of Hagia Sophia — a building that has served as cathedral, mosque, and museum over its 1,500-year history. Visitors are drawn by the Grand Bazaar's labyrinthine lanes, the fresh fish sandwiches sold on the Galata Bridge, the melancholy beauty of a Bosphorus sunset, and a food culture — from mezze to baklava — that is among the richest in the world.
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Balat
A crumbling, colorful Ottoman neighborhood where Istanbul's layers are still visible.
Basilica Cistern
A drowned palace of columns lurking beneath Istanbul's oldest streets.
Blue Mosque
Six minarets and twenty million mosaic tiles inside Istanbul's most iconic skyline fixture.
Bosphorus Cruise
Two continents, one waterway, and 2,500 years of history sliding past.
Chora Church
Byzantine mosaics so vivid they look freshly painted, hidden in a quiet Istanbul neighborhood.
Dolmabahçe Palace
The Ottoman Empire's last great palace, built to impress — and it still does.
Eyüp Sultan Mosque
The holiest mosque in Istanbul, built over a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
Galata Tower
A 500-year-old medieval tower with some of Istanbul's most dramatic panoramic views.
Grand Bazaar
A 500-year-old labyrinth of 4,000 shops built on commerce, carpets, and controlled chaos.
Hagia Sophia
Fifteen centuries of history, three religions, one building that changed the world.
Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Three museums in one complex, home to artifacts spanning 5,000 years of human civilization.
Istanbul Modern
Turkey's leading modern art museum, right on the Bosphorus waterfront.
Kadıköy
Istanbul's Asian side serves up its best self in one walkable district.
Karaköy
Istanbul's coolest waterfront district, where ferries meet third-wave coffee and art galleries.
Mikla Restaurant
Rooftop fine dining where Anatolian ingredients meet Scandinavian-Turkish culinary vision.
Ortaköy
Bosphorus waterfront neighborhood where mosques, nightclubs, and street food collide.
Pierre Loti Hill
A hilltop tea garden with sweeping Golden Horn views and a romantic literary past.
Princes' Islands
Car-free islands off Istanbul's coast where horse-drawn carriages and pine forests rule.
Rumeli Fortress
The Ottoman fortress that sealed Constantinople's fate in four months.
Spice Bazaar
A 400-year-old covered market where Istanbul's spice trade still thrives.
Sultanahmet District
Where three empires left their greatest monuments on a single hill.
Süleymaniye Mosque
Sinan's masterpiece sits above the Golden Horn, quietly outclassing almost everything around it.
Topkapi Palace
Four centuries of Ottoman imperial power, compressed into one extraordinary hilltop complex.
İstiklal Caddesi
Istanbul's mile-long pedestrian artery pulses with the city's modern soul.
Why should you go to Istanbul
What other travelers have to say, based on real reviews.