Choose from 81 Fun Things to Do in Istanbul
Basilica Cistern
Atmospheric music, rosy flood lighting and the lilting sound of water lapping on marble – entering the Underground Cistern known in Turkish as Yerebatan Sarayi - or Basilica Cistern, is an experience that charms all the senses.
Built to store water, this has to be the fanciest and most enormous well you’ll ever see. The cistern dates back to Byzantine days when the city was called Constantinople.
Built by Emperor Justinian in the mid-500s, the cavernous underground water-storage area has a vaulted brick ceiling supported by a forest of Corinthian-carved marble columns.
If this eerie, magical place looks a little familiar, you may recognize it from a scene in the James Bond movie From Russia with Love.
On your walk around the Basilica Cistern, seek out the two pillars that have the face of Medusa carved onto their base.
Practical Info
The Basilica Cistern is in Sultanahmet. The entrance is opposite Hagia Sophia on Yerebatan Caddesi.
Goreme Open Air Museum
In the 4th century the area became known as the Land of the Three Saints after the theologians St. Basil the Great, his brother St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Gregory of Nazianzus. In the Middle Ages the importance of this area again soared and many monasteries, churches and chapels were dug out of the rock. The best of these still have vivid Byzantine frescoes of religious scenes.
Churches include Basil Kilise (St Basil’s Church), Elmali Kilise (Apple Church), and the richly decorated Tokali Kilise (Buckle Church), which is the oldest and lies just outside the gates of the museum. The best-preserved frescoes are in the Karanlık Kilise (Dark Church) which has been restored after being used as a pigeon house until the 1950s. The Göreme Open Air Museum is just a 15-minute walk (1 mile/1.5km) from Göreme or a short drive from Ürgüp.
Galata Bridge
- The Galata Bridge is a must-see for all first-time visitors to Istanbul.
- The bridge is a great spot for watching the ferry boats crossing the Bosphorus, and taking in the city’s mosque-dotted skyline at sunset.
- Wear comfortable shoes as you walk across the bridge and through the city.
Borusan Contemporary
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Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)
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Archaeological Museums (Arkeoloji Muzeleri)
Opened in 1891, the museum features archaeology in the main building, a grand classical affair with columns and pediments. The art of the ancient orient is housed in a separate building, and the historic Tiled Kiosk, commissioned by Sultan Mehmet II in 1472, houses a museum of Islamic art.
Practical Info
The Archaeology Museum is in Gulhane Park, near Topkapi in Istanbul’s Eminönü district.
Anadolu Kavagi
Anadolu Kavagi may be best known for Yoros Castle, a medieval castle perched on a hill high above the village overlooking the Bosphorus. In an area originally settled by the Phoenicians and Greeks, the castle was built in Byzantine times and was later restored and reinforced multiple times by both the Genoese and the Ottomans. However, it fell into disrepair after the 18th century and only ruins remain today, including portions of the citadel and the surrounding walls.
Although the walk up Caferbaba Sokagi to the castle is a steep one, taking nearly half an hour, the views when you reach the top are well worth it. Visitors have long had unrestricted access to the ruins of Yoros Castle, which is a popular picnic destination for locals. However, archaeological excavations began in 2010 and may impede access to some extent.
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Fountain of Kaiser Wilhelm II
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Cicek Pasaji (Cit e de P era)
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Balat
The most important attraction in the neighborhood may be the Chora Church, today known as the Kariye Museum. With its intricate mosaics and frescoes from the Byzantine era, it is a must-see. Also worth checking out are the ruins of the Byzantine palace, Tekfur Salay, which is built into the old city walls. Dating to the late 1200s or early 1300s, the palace was built for Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenetus but over time served as a menagerie, brothel, pottery workshop and poorhouse. It is currently closed, but you can catch a decent glimpse from outside.
While the area once had 19 synagogues, only two of importance remain today: the Ahrida Synagogue and the Yanbol Synagogue. Both are said to take their names from towns in Macedonia from where their founding congregations hailed. Nearby you’ll also find the site of a Jewish School and Jewish Hospital.
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Bosphorus Bridge
- The Bosphorus Bridge is an emblem of Istanbul and one of the Turkish city’s most photo-worthy sights.
- While you can admire the bridge from land, be aware you can’t cross it on foot.
- Note that it is a toll bridge and tolls can’t be paid with cash or card. If you are driving in a rental car, make sure it is equipped with a toll transponder.
Anzac Cove
Today, Anzac Cove is the site of an annual Anzac Day memorial service, held at dawn on April 25 and attended by thousands of Australian and New Zealand tourists every year. Until 1999, the service was held at the Ari Burnu War Cemetery, but has since moved to a new site on North Beach known as the Anzac Commemorative Site. A monolith at the Ari Burnu Cemetery displays the words of peace and reconciliation that Ataturk delivered to the first visitors to the Gallipoli battlefields in 1934.
A visit to Anzac Cove will likely be part of a larger exploration of the Gallipoli Peninsula, including the Kabatepe Information Center and Museum, the Salim Mutlu War Museum and several battlefields, monuments and war cemeteries.
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Church of St Saviour in Chora
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Ecumencial Orthodox Patriarchate
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Egyptian Spice Bazaar
- The Egyptian Spice Bazaar is a must-visit for all first-time visitors to Istanbul, especially foodies.
- Wear comfortable shoes to wander around the bazaar.
- Some vendors accept major credit cards but have some cash on hand.
- Don’t be afraid to haggle—in fact, it’s tradition and expected.
Constantine Column
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Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi)
The Grand Bazaar, or Kapali Carsi, is the mother of all markets, a treasure trove of gifts, souvenirs, essentials and fripperies. Heading into the cavernous bazaar from the daylight, it takes a minute for your eyes to adjust to this Arabian Nights visual feast of glimmering Turkish lights, brightly colored rugs and flickering candles.
Crammed into more than 60 domed alleys or streets, around 5,000 stallholders hold court in the labyrinthine covered market, parts of which date back to Byzantine days.
Calligraphy, carpets, beaded bracelets, gold and silver jewelry, curly-toed slippers, multicolored lanterns, flower-bedecked ceramics and belly-dancing outfits are just the tip of the iceberg in this shoppers’ cornucopia.
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The Grand Bazaar is a few streets back from the waterfront in Sultanahmet. It's best reached from Divan Yolu, Sultanahmet's main thoroughfare.
Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi)
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Dolmabahce Palace is on the European side of the Bosphorus, in the district of Besiktas. You can reach the palace by catching a tram from Sultanahmet Square, or by ferry. A guided group tour is required to step inside Dolmabahce.
Golden Horn
- The Golden Horn area is a must-see for all first-time visitors to Istanbul, especially history buffs.
- The green parks that line the banks of the Golden Horn are popular with locals.
- Watch the light change at sunset from one of the Golden Horn’s atmospheric bridges.
Egyptian Obelisk
Built at the same time as the Lateran Obelisk that stands in the Circus Maximus in Rome, the Egyptian Obelisk was made of red granite from Aswan and once stood 30 meters tall. Due to damage to the base during transport, today it stands just under 20 meters high, not including its pedestal. The four sides of the obelisk feature inscriptions celebrating a military victory by Thutmose III in 1450 B.C. and carvings on the marble pedestal date back to 390, when it was re-erected in the Hippodrome.