Istanbul in September 2023 (Top 10 Things to Do & See, Festivals)

September is the start of Autumn in Istanbul, a superb month after a very hot summer season, and with an average temperature of 25°C and precipitation 64 mm. The early September can still be hot and muggy, but it starts to cool down after the first week and it becomes very ideal for strolling and exploring the city on foot.

City Life & Weather

The weather also becomes unpredictable that while one week is sunny, it can be rainy with thunderstorms.

The city is less crowded with locals due the school fervor of the parents. We recommend you to bring shorts, dresses, t-shirts for warm afternoons, long pants for cooler nights and light coat and portable umbrella in case of rainfalls.

The days are more shorter than in August, the sun set around 19:25. (Average Max Temp.: 24°C – Average Max Temp.: 17°C)

Public holidays, Festivals & Events

Istanbul Coffee Festival (gastronomy, istanbulcoffeefestival.com.tr)

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 September 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 September.

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. Historic Day Out in Sultanahmet

For the ones who are a true enthusiast of history and want to see the city’s historic sites, we highly recommend you to visit and see Sultanahmet neighborhood. It is the best way to get the most out of the city’s sights, sounds, and scents.

Sultanahmet hosts about all of the most visited historical and tourist sites in Istanbul, such as the Sultanahmet Square (Hippodrome), Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Istanbul Archaeology Museums and Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts are situated here and all can be explored by walking. Continue reading…

We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.

Sultanahmet Square guided tour & Blue Mosque with certified guide
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
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
Basilica Cistern Fast Track Entry Ticket plus guidance with certified guide

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. Tour city on Double Decker Tourist Bus

The Big Bus Istanbul hop on hop off tour provides service to 19 stops and at least 46 attractions (28 landmarks, 15 attractions and 3 shopping places) on two lines on just one ticket. is a cheap way to discover and explore the popular zones of Istanbul which you just couldn’t walk to and see in one day. It drives through the popular sights along the interesting and different districts and neighborhoods of Istanbul and offers informative pre-recorded commentary that is available in 8 languages.

The sightseeing bus runs every 30/60 minutes and lets you see the most popular popular sights along the interesting and different districts and neighborhoods of the city. And what is great that you can all do it in a couple of hours.

Book Your Big Bus City Sightseeing Tour

There are many channels to buy Big Bus ticket online, including their own website. Get Your Guide sells the cheapest ticket on the market. Buying their ticket online will guarantee your seat and be cheaper. Just click the red button above to buy your Big Bus ticket online.

Wanna learn more about Big Bus Istanbul City Sightseeing Bus?

3. Enjoy Istanbul Coffee Festival

Istanbul’s Coffee Festival is about 4 days long kind of a carnival, bringing coffee from all over the world to the coffee-lovers’ taste. The festival is held in the KüçükÇiftlik Park venue, located in Macka, close to Taksim. You can have a fantastic day out and taste coffee from numerous stands, as well as participate to coffee workshops, seminars, playground events and competitions. More information on istanbulcoffeefestival.com.tr

4. Explore the city’s popular sights on bike

Being outdoors and touring the popular tourist spots on bike is definitely a great attraction. Wind through the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sultanahmet. Explore the Golden Horn, the hub of culture and entertainment in the Beyoglu district. Navigate the maze of vendors selling Turkish rugs, spices and lamps in the Grand Bazaar. Marvel at the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia.

Wanna learn more about Istanbul on bike and best bike tours?

5. Take a Bosphorus Cruise / Boat Tour

This is a popular, unique and fantastic forms of entertainment and sightseeing during your Istanbul stay. It is also one of the best ways to discover and enjoy the most beautiful sights and sounds of the city over the sea. Typical Bosphorus Cruise start from the Eminonu pier in every hour.

You’ll be able to explore the city at your own pace on board of the boat, and enjoy all the famous landmarks on the Boshphorus such as Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, Maiden’s Tower and the Bosphorus Bridge.

We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.

Istanbul Bosphorus Boat Tour for 90 minutes with Ticket, Fast Track Entry on Boat, Free Map, Coffee or Tea, Free Internet on Pier, Meet & Greet by Marine Officer
2 Hour Golden Horn and Bosphorus Tour with English speaking tour guide
Dolmabahce Palace and Bosphorus Boat Tour Combo Ticket with skip the line tickets with a certified guide, Hop off at 4 different stops

Wanna learn more about Bosphorus Cruise?

6. A fantastic day out at the Princes’ Islands

Once was the pleasure island of Byzantine Princes, and with its stunning pinewood scenery, the Princes’ Islands are one of the best preserved natural areas and sights in Istanbul. It is one of the best attractions and weekend breaks in Istanbul both for locals and tourists.

You can take a 1 hour cruise to the islands, have a great day out by full tour of the island on the horse-drawn carriage, rest in a cafe by the sea, a lunch at a local fish restaurant. Or you can have a romantic overnight stay in one of the pretty hotels on the island.

We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.

Princes’ Islands Ferry Tickets – from Eminonu pier, enjoy a 75 minutes cruise to Princes’ Islands, enjoy island’s attractions, and come back to Eminonu
A Romantic Overnight at Princes’ Islands – you should take this if you have a long stay in the city

Wanna learn more about Princes’ Islands?

7. Enjoy Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Entertainment

This is one of the most popular night time entertainments in the city. Mostly preferred with the tourists who want to experience a unique attraction specific to Istanbul. Typical dinner cruises start from the Kabatas pier daily at about 20:00 pm and goes for about 3 hours.

While you cruise along Bosphorus and enjoy your meal, you’ll be entertained by traditional belly dancing, oriental show, a henna ceremony, a Romany dance, folk dancing, a live DJ, etc. You’ll be able to see city’s historical sites, including Ottoman palaces, and stunning bridges illuminated by night.

We recommend the below ticket options for the great value for money.

Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Oriental Show – our favorite with 3 course dinner, unlimited soft drinks, 6 different shows, Belly dance + 5% extra discount
Best Bosphorus Dinner Cruises – a list of all the best ones on Get Your Guide

Wanna learn more about Bosphorus Dinner Cruise?

8. Visit Galata Tower and admire the stunning views

Galata Tower is an old Genoese tower overlooking the beautiful Istanbul and has a luxurious restaurant at the top. You can enjoy the excellent panoramic views of Istanbul, Golden Horn and Bosphorus. Continue reading…

9. Visit Pierre Loti Hill and enjoy the impressive views of Golden Horn with Turkish Coffee

Pierre Loti Hill is a great leisure and tourist area in Eyup and one of the most popular sights and places to visit and see for both locals and tourists in the Golden Horn region of Istanbul. Pierre Loti Hill offers great views for the visitors. The hill is about 55 meters from sea level. Drinking your tea or Turkish coffee at the Pierre Loti Cafe and enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Golden Horn is a great activity at the Pierre Loti Hill. Continue reading…

10. Catch summer sales at Forum Istanbul Shopping Mall and visit Sea Life Aquarium inside

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.