Sightseeing
From majestic palaces and grand mosques to charming neighborhoods and scenic viewpoints, Istanbul is a city filled with incredible sights waiting to be explored.
Whether you’re interested in historical landmarks like Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, cruising along the Bosphorus, or discovering lesser-known attractions, our guides help you plan the perfect sightseeing itinerary.
Get insider tips, must-visit locations, and the best ways to experience Istanbul’s rich history and culture.
The Most Beautiful and Magnificent Mosques to See in Istanbul
In Istanbul, mosques don’t stand apart from daily life. They shape it. You hear the call to prayer between ferry horns. You step off...
The Most Beautiful and Historic Churches to Visit in Istanbul
The churches in Istanbul don’t compete with its mosques. They coexist quietly, often just a few steps away, carrying stories that run parallel rather...
Top Beautiful & Historical Fountains and Cisterns in Istanbul
Most visitors experience Istanbul at street level. Mosques rise. Squares open. Minarets frame the sky. What’s easy to miss is that some of the...
12 Best Viewpoints in Istanbul: Top Places for City Views
Most first-time visitors think finding the best views of Istanbul is about height. Go up. Look down. Take the photo. Done. That assumption causes...
Cycling in Istanbul: Top Routes, Bike Tours, E-Bikes, Segway, Rentals
Istanbul is usually explained in extremes. Too crowded. Too hilly. Too chaotic for bikes. And yet, once you get on two wheels, a different...
Our Istanbul Museum Pass Review: Is It Worth Buying For Your Trip?
There’s a moment every first time visitor has in Sultanahmet. You walk past Topkapi Palace Museum, see a line curling into the courtyard, and...
Istiklal Street Istanbul Guide: Things to Do, See, Eat & Nightlife
The first thing most first-time visitors notice on Istiklal Street isn’t a landmark in Istanbul. It’s the momentum. Music spilling from side doors. Footsteps...
Pierre Loti Hill Istanbul Guide: How to Visit, Tips & Best Views
If this is your first time in Istanbul, Pierre Loti Hill often comes up as one of those places everyone mentions. Photos look calm....
Eminönü Square Istanbul | Top Things to Do, See & Local Tips
Arriving at Eminönü Square feels immediate. Loud ferries. Ringing tram bells. The smell of grilled fish drifting from the shore. You don’t ease into...
Ortaköy Square Istanbul Guide: Things to Do, Walking Routes
Arriving at Ortaköy Square feels instantly familiar, even on a first visit. Water right in front of you. The bridge stretching overhead. People sitting...
Guide to Sultanahmet Square (Hippodrome) | Best Tips for First-Timers
Standing in Sultanahmet Square feels a little disorienting at first. Not because it’s confusing, but because so much history sits in one open space...
Taksim Square Istanbul | Things to Do, See, Info & Local Tips
Arriving at Taksim Square rarely feels planned. You surface from the metro, hear the city before you see it, and suddenly you’re in the...
Visiting Emirgan Park Istanbul Guide: Tulips, Cafés & Views
Emirgan Park (Emirgan Grove or Woods) sits right on the Istanbul Bosphorus in the leafy Emirgan neighborhood and spreads across a surprisingly large stretch...
Exploring Gulhane Park Istanbul: Our Best Tips for Your Visit
Located between the neighborhoods of Sirkeci and Sultanahmet in the Fatih district, Gulhane Park (Rose Garden), situated at the foot of the Topkapı Palace,...
Visiting Beylerbeyi Palace Museum, Istanbul | Complete Visitor Guide
Visiting Beylerbeyi Palace usually starts with a question we hear a lot. Is it really worth the trip when Istanbul already has Topkapı and...
Best Museums in Istanbul: First-Time Visitor’s Practical Guide
Istanbul can feel overwhelming on a first visit. There are palaces, mosques, towers, bazaars, and then an endless list of Istanbul museums competing for...