Looking for a travel guide to Istanbul? Check out this travel guide to Istanbul with lots of great tips!
A trip to Istanbul is like traveling to two different worlds, where Europe meets Asia and where old meets new.
Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents at the same time and Istanbul is huge! In fact, Istanbul is so huge that it’s both the largest city in Turkey but also in all of Europe. As you walk around the center of the vibrant streets of central Istanbul, you’ll immediately feel the grandeur of this city.
Planning a trip to Istanbul can quickly become a big mouthful. Usually, there are hundreds of questions. How do you get around Istanbul? Where to stay in Istanbul and what to see?
All these questions are answered in this travel guide to Istanbul. So, if you’re planning a trip to Istanbul, you better hang on.
Table of Contents
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
The best time to visit Istanbul is during the spring and fall when there are pleasant temperatures.
I was in Istanbul in July and it was insanely hot and crowded with people at the tourist attractions in Istanbul. But note that it was still a great trip! So, you can also easily visit Istanbul during the summer months, but prepare for the heat and the crowds.
The only time I would definitely advise against is the winter months in Istanbul as it can be surprisingly cold.
How much time should you spend in Istanbul?
Of course, when planning your trip to Istanbul, it is important to know how much time you actually need to spend. Istanbul is a big city and most people can easily spend a lot of time exploring Istanbul.
I personally spent 7 days in Istanbul but could easily have spent even more time. It simply didn’t even feel like enough time to see all the things I really wanted.
If you just want to have enough time to explore all the major sights of Istanbul, I recommend that you spend at least 5 days in the city. This way, you have enough time to see many of the very best things to do in Istanbul. But don’t expect to achieve it all, especially not if you also want to enjoy some great food and go shopping a bit.
Where to stay in Istanbul?
The selection of hotels, hostels, and guestrooms in Istanbul is huge and there are at least thousands of accommodation options. There are probably also thousands of sites on the internet that recommend certain hotels in Istanbul, but I don’t like being limited to a few hotels.
Prices and selection of hotels are constantly changing, but I recommend that you look for offers on Hotels.com or Booking.com yourself.
When choosing a place to stay in Istanbul, two areas are perfect for tourists to stay in Istanbul – Sultanahmet, and Beyoglu.
Beyoglu is a modern district in the heart of Istanbul. The best place to stay in Beyoglu is around Taksim Square. This is where you’ll find the popular Istiklal Street, home to many great restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and shops. The great advantage of staying in Beyoglu is that you’re close to where most things happen. Oh, and you can easily walk home after a wonderful evening in Istanbul – a big plus!
Sultanahmet is the old town of Istanbul and is within walking distance to many of the main sights of Istanbul. Of course, there are also plenty of great restaurants, shops, bars and so on. If you’re visiting Istanbul for the first time, it’s a great advantage to stay in the Sultanahmet area. If you want to go to Taksim Square in the evening, however, the disadvantage of this area is that you’ll have to take a taxi or public transport in the evening.
When I visited Istanbul, I stayed in the Sultanahmet area, but I’ll definitely choose Beyoglu next time. It just feels easier and safer to take public transportation during the day rather than in the evening.
How to get around Istanbul?
Istanbul has a great transportation system that makes it easy to get around this huge city. You can get around Istanbul by tram, metro, bus, taxi, and ferry.
Of course, there’s also plenty of opportunities to walk around, but the city is extremely large. It can take a very, very long time to walk around – believe me, I’ve tried it! However, you can easily walk around the sights of the old town for example.
Finally, make sure you get a proper taxi driver. The first and only time we took a taxi in Istanbul, the driver suddenly chose that he didn’t bother to drive anymore. He held on to the side and took our suitcases out of the trunk.
Afterward, he just drove away, and we stood there in the middle of a scary neighborhood late at night. It was very creepy and uncomfortable, especially because we were walking around with all our valuables. So seriously, remember to make sure it’s a proper taxi driver!
Also, always make sure to ask the taxi driver to turn on the meter, otherwise, you’ll most likely pay much more than the trip is actually worth.
What sights to see in Istanbul?
Istanbul is one of the most interesting cities in Europe with a fascinating history, magnificent mosques, ancient churches, modern skyscrapers, huge shopping malls, and much more!
There are seriously so many fun things to do in Istanbul. In this travel guide to Istanbul, I’ll only tell about 5 very best things to do in Istanbul:
Blue Mosque, also called the Sultanahmet Mosque, is definitely one of the most popular and beautiful sights in Istanbul! The name comes from the thousands of blue ceramic tiles covering the majestic interior. With six minarets and several domes, this beautiful mosque seriously dominates the Istanbul skyline.
Hagia Sophia is another gigantic and popular mosque in Istanbul, but today it functions as a museum. Hagia Sophia is considered one of the most beautiful and popular mosques in the world. At the same time, this mosque is the largest and one of the most impressive buildings of Byzantine architecture.
Topkapi Palace was the residence of the Ottoman Sultans in Istanbul for almost 400 years. This palace is filled with peaceful courtyards, groves of trees, old buildings, weapons, and costumes from a bygone era. Oh, and then there’s a breathtaking view of Istanbul from the Palace
Basilica Cistern is the largest of the hundreds of underground cisterns that lie well hidden beneath the city. It was formerly used to store water in times of drought. The cistern is both mysterious and beautiful with 336 marble columns holding on to the huge underground ceiling.
Galata Tower is a 219 foot (67 meters) medieval tower that is one of the tallest and oldest towers in Istanbul. The view from the top of Galata Tower is stunning and provides a great overview of the greatness of Istanbul.
Read also: 18 Best Things to Do in Istanbul
Where to go shopping in Istanbul?
The range of shopping opportunities in Istanbul seems endless. There are so many places to shop in Istanbul and there’s something for everyone, whether you want expensive branded goods, discount goods or something in between.
My joy was hard to hide when I found out how many places I could go shopping in Istanbul – However, my credit card wasn’t so happy. Here’s a tiny selection of the best places to shop in Istanbul:
Istanbul Cevahir is definitely my favorite shopping mall in Istanbul and it’s huge! The center has far more than 200 stores spread over 6 floors. And by the way, there’s an amusement park in the basement with a roller coaster that goes through three floors! Istanbul Cevahir is the largest shopping mall in Europe and at the top 10 of the largest shopping malls in the world.
Grand Bazaar is one of the best places to visit in Istanbul, but it’s also a great place to go shopping. The bazaar has more than 4,000 stalls and shops spread over 60 streets! Here you can buy everything from clothes, shoes, bags, and souvenirs to rugs, spices and much more.
Nisantasi is one of the most exclusive areas in Istanbul. Here you can find expensive designer stores such as Louboutin, Rolex, Dior, Prada, and Gucci. Most of these shops are located on Abdi Ipekci Street.
Read also: Top 10 Best Places for Shopping in Istanbul
What to eat in Istanbul?
In Istanbul, there are thousands of restaurants with food from all corners of the world and at all price levels. But of course, you shouldn’t miss the Turkish cuisine which is considered to be the 3rd best in the world!
One of the best ways to experience Turkish cuisine is by ordering Meze, which is roughly Turkey’s answer to tapas. Also, don’t miss the delicious kebabs, Efes beer, Raki, lamb, and Turkish tea! There’s so much Turkish food that tastes delicious, so give it a try. I promise you won’t regret it.
Is it safe to visit Istanbul?
In this travel guide to Istanbul, we probably can’t really avoid talking about whether Istanbul is a safe travel destination or not. Most people have probably heard scary stories about terror and bombings in Istanbul, but it’s far better today than it was a few years ago.
Even though there have been terror in Istanbul, remember that it’s a very large city and there’s a very small chance that you’ll be where it happens – if it should happen again.
As a result of the previous terror, security in Istanbul has become really good. There are many guards near the major tourist attractions in Istanbul. And at many of the attractions, visitors need to be checked before they can enter.
So, Istanbul shouldn’t be a destination you should avoid because you are afraid of terror. Terrorism can just as well take place in another major city in Europe as Istanbul.
By the way, if you visit Taksim Square, you must avoid the area around Tarlabasi Street. This is one of Istanbul’s slums with thieves, drug dealers, and prostitutes. So be sure to avoid this area, especially after dark.
Important things to know before traveling to Istanbul
- In Istanbul and Turkey in general, payments are made with Turkish Lira and Euro. However, there’s a greater chance of getting the right price if paying with the Turkish Lira.
- Credit cards can be used at some restaurants and shops, but I recommend withdrawing some cash. Please note that staff must not take your credit card with them without supervision.
- Turkey is a Muslim country and you must respect their customs with appropriate clothing, especially in big cities like Istanbul and at holy places. Make sure your body is covered, especially if you’re a woman.
- In Turkey, there’s a law that tourists must always carry their passports with them. Remember to keep your passport safe from any pickpockets.
Tips for Istanbul
- It’s common to pay 10-15 percent of the bill in gratuities at the restaurants in Istanbul.
- It’s common to pay somewhere between 2-5 Turkish Lira per day to the cleaning staff at the hotel.
- If the sellers in Istanbul get too intrusive, you must be a little rude or ignore them completely.
- If you want to visit several different museums, it may be worthwhile to purchase a Museum Pass that gives access to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and other places. You can also buy the significantly more expensive Istanbul Tourist Pass, which in turn gives access to even more sights and discounts.
So, that was my travel guide to Istanbul, Turkey. What are you looking forward to on your trip to Istanbul? Did you like my travel guide to Istanbul? Feel free to leave a comment.
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