Istanbul

Bosphorus ferries, bazaar mornings & meyhane nights

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Istanbul is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Bomonti Flea Market, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Food lovers should not miss Ciya Sofrasi and Karakoy Lokantasi. Below you will find 43 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Istanbul at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Bomonti Flea Market and Hagia Sophia
Where to stay: Kadikoy and Sisli
Local picks: 43 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Istanbul

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsWhere to Stay in Istanbul: Best Neighborhoods for First-TimersWhere to stay in Istanbul? A local guide to the best neighbourhoods, from monument-packed Sultanahmet to lively Beyoglu, trendy Karakoy…

Local tips3 Days in Istanbul: The Perfect ItineraryA local's perfect 3-day Istanbul itinerary: imperial Sultanahmet, the bazaars and a Bosphorus cruise, plus the local Asian side and…

Where to stay in Istanbul

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Beyoğlu

Mikla

Sultanahmet

Old City Walking Tour

A guided walk through the historic peninsula, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Basilica Cistern, with the 2,000-year story of Byzantium and the Ottomans woven together. The essential first-day orientation.

★ 4.7

Besiktas

Ortakoy

A pretty Bosphorus-side neighbourhood beneath the great suspension bridge, its baroque waterfront mosque making one of the city’s most photographed scenes. Come for the square, the cafes and a stuffed baked potato (kumpir) by the water.

★ 4.5

Beyoğlu

Pera Museum

A polished private museum in a handsome Beyoğlu building near İstiklal, best known for its Orientalist paintings, including Osman Hamdi Bey’s ‘The Tortoise Trainer’, and its rotati

Beyoglu

Pera Palace Hotel

The legendary hotel built for Orient Express passengers in 1892, haunt of Agatha Christie and Ataturk, gloriously restored with a grand tearoom and old-world glamour in Beyoglu. History you can sleep in.

★ 4.6

$$$

Day trip

Princes Islands Day Trip

A ferry ride out to the car-free Princes’ Islands in the Sea of Marmara, where grand wooden mansions, pine woods and bicycles replace the city bustle. Buyukada is the largest; hire a bike and swim, or just eat fish by the harbour.

★ 4.5

Beşiktaş

Raffles Istanbul

Raffles brings sleek, contemporary luxury to the Zorlu Center above Beşiktaş, with a vast spa, art-filled interiors and skyline-and-Bosphorus views from the upper floors. It suits

$$$

Hasköy

Rahmi M. Koç Museum

Istanbul’s industrial museum, set in a former Ottoman anchor foundry and shipyard on the Golden Horn, is packed with vintage cars, trains, boats, a submarine you can board and hand

Fatih

Safa Meyhanesi

A gloriously atmospheric meyhane going back to 1895, its walls lined with old Kulup Raki bottles and antique chandeliers. Come for chilled raki, classic meze and a proper old-Istanbul evening away from the tourist trail.

★ 4.4

Emirgan

Sakıp Sabancı Museum

A refined art museum in a former villa above the Bosphorus in leafy Emirgan, known for calligraphy and painting collections and a strong programme of blockbuster visiting exhibitio

Sirkeci

Sirkeci Mansion

A warm, well-run boutique on a quiet street in the old city, with a small pool, a hammam and famously friendly service (and free walking tours and tastings). Great value and superbly placed for Sultanahmet.

★ 4.7

Beyoglu

Soho House Istanbul

A members’ club and hotel spread across a restored 19th-century Italian palazzo and a modern annexe in Beyoglu, with a rooftop pool, hammam and see-and-be-seen crowd. Rooms are open to non-members; stylish and central.

★ 4.5

$$$

Eminonu

Spice Bazaar

A fragrant L-shaped market by the waterfront piled with spices, teas, Turkish delight, dried fruit and nuts. Smaller and more manageable than the Grand Bazaar; taste before you buy and wander the lively streets around it.

★ 4.4

Fatih

Suleymaniye Mosque

The grandest of the imperial mosques, the masterpiece of the great architect Sinan, crowning the third hill with a serene, soaring interior. Free to enter, far quieter than the Blue Mosque, and its terrace has one of the best free views over the Golden Horn.

★ 4.8

Çengelköy

Sumahan on the Water

Sumahan is a boutique hotel in a converted 19th-century raki distillery on the Asian-side waterfront, with rooms that open to the Bosphorus and a free private boat across to the Eu

Ortakoy

The Stay Bosphorus

A sleek, design-led hotel right on the Bosphorus at Ortakoy, with a waterfront terrace and rooms looking across to Asia. A calmer, glamorous base away from the old-city crowds, with the strait at your feet.

★ 4.6

$$$

Karakoy

The Vault Karakoy

A striking design hotel in a monumental former bank on Karakoy’s old banking street, its soaring lobby and vault details intact. Handsome rooms and a hip neighbourhood of galleries, cafes and nightlife on the doorstep.

★ 4.6

Sultanahmet

Topkapi Palace

The opulent seat of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries, a series of courtyards, jewelled treasuries and tiled pavilions above the Bosphorus. Pay the extra for the Harem, the most beautiful part; allow half a day.

★ 4.7

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Book your trip to Istanbul

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Istanbul travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Istanbul?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Istanbul at a relaxed pace. See our Istanbul itinerary guide for a day-by-day plan.

Where is the best area to stay in Istanbul?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit. Our where to stay in Istanbul guide breaks down the best neighbourhoods.

What are the best things to do in Istanbul?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay.

What is the best time to visit Istanbul?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Istanbul is worth visiting year-round.