November becomes a more harder month for both locals and travelers due to its being the early start of winter in Istanbul, and with an average temperature of 14°C and precipitation 102 mm. The weather is gradually become colder and the city quiets down. We recommend you to bring a balancing wear in between cold and little cold, like a medium coat and portable umbrella.
The days are short, the sun set around 17:50. (Average Max Temp.: 15°C – Average Max Temp.: 9°C)
Public holidays, Festivals & Events
- Commemoration of Ataturk’s Death (National Holiday) (10th of November, ceremonies in all over Turkey)
- Efes Pilsen Blues Festival (early November, in several venues)
Top Venues
You can follow the calendar of exhibitions and events of our pick of top Istanbul venues from below.
- Istanbul Museum of Modern Art in Beyoglu (art, exhibition, film)
- Pera Museum in Taksim (art, exhibition, film)
- Sakip Sabanci Museum in Emirgan (art, exhibition, film)
- Salon IKSV in Beyoglu (concert)
- Bomontiada in Sisli (concert, theater)
- Akbank Sanat in Taksim (art, exhibition, film, concert)
- Zorlu PSM in Besiktas (concert, musical)
Istanbul’s November Top 10 Attractions
Things to do in Istanbul are endless and it is not possible to mention all the best attractions in Istanbul. We just put together below the most fascinating ones that best suit for November.
We also recommend you check out our Istanbul attractions opening hours & admissions, one day Istanbul itinerary or 3 day Istanbul itinerary to have a better idea before you plan your days in Istanbul.
1. Visit Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace & Basilica Cistern Trio
Hagia Sophia Museum
This place is what every Istanbul itinerary has for sure. If you had just one day in Istanbul the world-famous Hagia Sophia Museum would be the first stop.
Dating back to 325, it is a former church and mosque and declared as one of the world’s greatest architectural works and accepted as the 8th wonder of the world.
It’s like stepping into the holy world of Christianity and Islam, merged on the shell-like apse and under an impressive dome, in a mysterious and mystical ambiance, and a wide range of architectural and art works coming from thousands of years. Such as the golden Christian mosaics and colorful frescoes from the Byzantine era.
We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.
- Hagia Sophia Fast Track Entry Ticket with Audio Guide App in 10 Languages plus guidance with certified guide
- Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Historian Guide inc. fast track entry ticket
Wanna learn more about Hagia Sophia?
Topkapi Palace Museum
You’ll admire Topkapi Palace Museum and its famous Harem section and have a detailed look at the rooms, gardens, galleries, collections and the decoration from the past and today.
It is a magnificent oriental palace and one of the world’s greatest architectural works. Once a residence of the Ottoman Sultans, it is also one of world’s richest museums.
It houses the finest samples of seal, book binding, jewelry and box craftsmanship as well as inscriptions, as well as the finest collection of Chinese porcelain in the world.
We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.
- Topkapi Palace Fast Track Entry Ticket with Audio Guide App in 10 Languages plus guidance with certified guide
- Topkapi Palace & Harem Guided Tour with Historian Guide inc. fast track entry ticket
Wanna learn more about Topkapi Palace?
Basilica Cistern
Basilica Cistern Museum is one of the most impressive and mystical buildings in the city.
The two Medusa Heads, which are used as supports under the two columns at the northwest edge of the cistern, take the most interest and attracts the visitors.
We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.
- Basilica Cistern Fast Track Entry Ticket plus guidance with certified guide
Wanna learn more about Basilica Cistern?
We highly recommend you to visit and see all these three museums at once. It would take about 3 hours total. And you should get Skip-the-line-tickets to save yourself from the long queues.
Combo Tickets: Hagia Sophia + Topkapi Palace + Basilica Cistern
This is a great combo ticket. Our favorite. You can visit the above top 3 most visited sights in Sultanahmet with this combo ticket, with skip the lines access. Great value for money. Book your tickets online in advance as they are selling out quickly.
Buy Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace & Basilica Cistern Combo Ticket
Click the red button to buy Combo online tickets and skip the lines.
Our website visitors will get 5% extra discount.
2. Visit Istanbul Archaeology Museums
One of the richest archaeology museums in the world, Istanbul Archaeology Museums consist of three separate museums on the site that include the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Tiled Pavilion. Museums house over one million immense collection from various civilizations such as Assyrian, Hittite, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations that had deep effect throughout the history. Continue reading…
3. Visit International Book Fair
Istanbul’s International Book Fair is a 8 days great fair for book lovers, that is held every year in association with the Turkish Publishers Association, at the TUYAP Fair Convention and Congress Center in the Buyukcekmece district of Istanbul, with an average of half a million visitors per day. During the fair, you can buy books from the 800 exhibitors from Turkey and abroad, and enjoy variety of events, book signings and some cultural activities. More information on istanbulkitapfuari.com
4. Historical Turkish Bath (Hammam) experience
This will is one of the one time experiences on your Istanbul visit. With a Turkish bath, also called Hammam, you can enjoy an authentic experience, relax your muscles, rest in a steam bath, refresh your body. It will a be unique experience, as well as you will be freshened up.
Buy Turkish Bath Tickets
5. Mystical night out with Whirling Dervishes Show
Whirling Dervishes Show is one of the most visited Istanbul attractions with the tourists. It is because that this ceremony is a very unusual event for the tourists and when they hear about it, majority of them try to catch this one hour show and witness the miracle of the whirling dervishes.
There are two popular venues that you can watch this show. Book your tickets online in advance as they are selling out quickly.
Buy Whirling Dervishes Show Tickets at Hodjapasha Culture Center
Buy Whirling Dervishes Show Tickets at Orient Express Hall
Wanna learn more about Whirling Dervishes Show?
6. Visit Grand Bazaar
Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) is a shopping adventure that you won’t want to miss. Covering an area of 47,000 m2, it is a 550+ years old covered market, also one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. A series of covered streets feature over 4,000 merchants all selling their products and wares.
You are able to find about anything here from the finest silky shawls and scarves in traditional patterns to traditional items, from antiques, leather goods, ceramics to the famous carpets, from spices, beautiful handicrafts to gold and jewelry.
Wanna learn more about Grand Bazaar?
7. Visit Rahmi Koc Transport Museum
The Rahmi Koc Museum in Haskoy, Golden Horn, Istanbul is housed in a former anchor foundry that this science and technology museum is a trove of machines and other eccentric exhibits. Continue reading…
8. Enjoy the lively atmosphere at Istiklal Street
Istiklal Street is probably the most famous street and entertainment area of the city. It is a long colorful pedestrian street full of all kind of shops, restaurants, cafes and street shows.
You can visit the fantastic Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the amazing St. Anthony of Padua Church and Pera Museum there.
In between strolling the Istiklal Street and enjoying the lively atmosphere, you can have a lunch/dinner/snack in one of the pretty restaurants along the way.
Wanna learn more about Istiklal Street?
9. Visit Sea Life Aquarium & Forum Istanbul Shopping Mall
Forum Istanbul is the largest Shopping and Residential Center in Europe. 495.000 m2, 286 domestic & international brands. Cinemaximum Movie Theaters, Funlab Entertainment World, Atlantis Bowling, Tiox Entertainment Center, Flyride Helicopter Simulation and Sand Castle apart from large-scale and tailor-made playgrounds. In addition, the famous Sea Life Istanbul Aquarium, which house the largest shark family in Europe, and the Legoland Discovery Center in Turkey also situated in Forum Istanbul.
Sea Life Istanbul Aquarium is the 5th largest aquarium in the world. Visitors may experience and enjoy the lovely sea creatures, the largest collection of sharks in Europe, the Digital Aquarium, the Turtle Hospital where you may see the injured turtles are getting healed, thematic zones, school trips, birthday parties and much more. You can also enjoy a great leisure time in the Forum Istanbul Shopping Mall.
We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.
- Buy Sea Life Istanbul Tickets Online via Get Your Guide
- Buy Sea Life Istanbul Tickets Online via IWC
Wanna learn more about Aquarium Sea Life Istanbul?
10. Enjoy Istanbul’s lively nights with its bars, pubs and clubs
Entertainment in Istanbul revolves around many of the entertainment venues that the city has to offer. The nightlife in Istanbul has really come alive in recent years and the locals will all tell you that the nightlife spreads out in all directions throughout the city.
With its numerous rooftop restaurants and cafes, music clubs, bars or pubs, cafes, night clubs, music venues and restaurants of Istanbul, you can easily spend the night bouncing from one venue to the next. Continue reading…
