What to See in Istanbul

last edited Dec 11, 2019

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Location Map of Istanbul

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Overview

Istanbul has the unique distinction of being built across two continents, on the Asian and European shores of the Bosphorus, which separates Asia from Europe. This clear division in the "urban landscape" makes orientation easy. What’s more, the European part of the city can itself be split into two areas: the "historic old town" and a more modern section (notably from the 19th to early 20th century), each on either side of the Golden Horn estuary.

Touristically, each area has its own character, neighborhoods, and sights to see. The old town (the former Stamboul) remains the most visited (Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar...), ahead of the other European side (Galata, Taksim...) and the Asian zone, which is less frequented by tourists.

Neighborhoods and Tourist Areas

Beyoğlu
This is the part of the city located on the European shore of the Bosphorus and separated from the old city by the Golden Horn. With its "19th-century" charm, the area exudes a certain atmosphere that isn’t disrupted by the bustling shopping streets and lively districts that make Beyoğlu the heart of Istanbul’s nightlife.

Bosphorus
This is the strait separating the European and Asian shores of Istanbul, between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Taking a boat tour (many excursions are available) is a great way to discover the city, its neighbourhoods, and monuments from a different perspective.

Golden Horn
It's the estuary between the two European parts of Istanbul that flows into the Bosphorus. Like the latter, you can take small cruises here.

Princes' Islands
This small car-free archipelago (where horse-drawn carriages are the main transport) of around ten islands in the Sea of Marmara is a popular summer destination for Istanbul residents and tourists alike. Beaches, charming wooden houses with gardens, and scenic walks are all on offer.

Kumkapı
Originally a working-class Greek-Armenian neighbourhood with its churches, it has become highly cosmopolitan over time. While the upper part is a hub of workshops and garment manufacturing (like Paris’s Sentier district), the lower area is packed with restaurants, bars, and more or less touristy clubs.

Ortaköy
Photographed for its beautiful white neo-Baroque mosque with the Bosphorus Bridge in the background, the Ortaköy district—once a fishing village—has retained all its charm with its pedestrian streets and colorful houses. It’s a lively, bustling area, especially popular with young people.

Usküdar
It's a fairly lively residential district on Istanbul's Asian shore, with many mosques and, above all, small shops and restaurants. Those along the waterfront are especially popular for the view they offer of the European side of the city.

Sultanahmet
This is Istanbul’s quintessential tourist district, featuring several museums, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and plenty of hotels and restaurants. However, it isn’t particularly lively in the evening.

Monuments and Architectural Landmarks

Valens Aqueduct
One of the last Roman remnants in Istanbul. Stretching 970 metres, it crosses Atatürk Boulevard, one of the main thoroughfares of the old city.

Baghdad Avenue
While Istanbul’s European side has Istiklal Caddesi, the Asian side boasts Bagdat Caddesi. This long, tree-lined avenue is an upscale residential area, with plenty of high-end shops and businesses that give it a lively atmosphere.

Pierre Loti Café
This is the café where Pierre Loti used to spend time, as evidenced by the writer’s works and illustrations on display. You get a great view of the city from its terrace. Right next to it, at the foot of the hill, lies the cemetery (the oldest in the city) and the Eyüp Mosque.

Basilica Cistern
Built beneath the courtyard of a basilica in the 6th century, this enormous underground cistern with columns and capitals, holding 80,000 m³, offers a rather unusual stroll.

Hippodrome de Constantinople, Istanbul, Turquie

Hippodrome of Constantinople
Little remains of the ancient Roman hippodrome except a vast square adorned with three obelisks. Today, it is primarily a popular promenade located right next to Hagia Sophia.

Istiklal Avenue
This is the main pedestrian and shopping street, with its trams, climbing from Galata Tower to Taksim Square. Lined with 19th-century buildings, it has retained all its charm and also offers lively nightlife in the surrounding side streets.

Murailles de Constantinople, Istanbul, Turquie

Walls of Constantinople
These are the last remnants of the fortifications that have protected the city since the 4th century.

Beylerbeyi Palace
On the Asian shore, this Baroque palace built of marble and stone in 1861 overlooks the Bosphorus. Visitors can explore its gardens and thirty or so rooms.

Dolmabahçe Palace
On the European side of the Bosphorus, this luxurious 285-room palace blending Eastern and Western styles was the residence of the sultans from 1853 to 1922. It is also where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk spent his final years.

Küçüksu Palace
Like Beylerbeyi Palace, this one was built on the shores of the Asian side of the Bosphorus. It also dates from the 1860s and is in Rococo style. It now houses a museum.

Topkapı Palace
The former residence of the Ottoman sultans overlooks the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, and the Sea of Marmara. Spanning 70 hectares, it houses four courtyards, gardens, fountains, a harem, and countless richly decorated rooms. A must-see when visiting the city...

Flower Passage
A stunning covered passage in the old style found in major cities. Rococo in design, it houses numerous taverns and is surrounded by a charming little market. The spot, which opens onto Istiklal, remains a lively place.

Pera Palace
Built in 1892 for travelers on the Orient Express, this hotel is a landmark Istanbul institution that has hosted numerous crowned heads as well as personalities like Agatha Christie, Sarah Bernhardt, and Josephine Baker. Traces of that era remain in the hotel’s decor and atmosphere.

Taksim Square
At the top of Istiklal Caddesi, this lively and bustling square is a hub for urban transport. The surrounding area offers plenty of hotels, bars, restaurants, and other entertainment spots.

Galata Bridge
This iconic bridge in Istanbul connects the two European sides of the city. It has long been home to fishermen and houses numerous fish restaurants beneath it.

Rumeli Hisari
This is a 15th-century Ottoman fortress with its crenellated walls overlooking the Bosphorus (great panorama). Today, it serves as a museum and a venue for the Istanbul International Festival.

Galata Tower
Built in 1348 on a hill, this remnant of the Genoese era stands 68 metres tall and offers a superb view of the city from its panoramic balcony. You can reach it via the "funicular" or on foot through a maze of lively streets.

Leander's Tower
Perched on its islet in the Bosphorus, this small lighthouse now houses a café-restaurant offering a beautiful view of the city, especially at dusk.

Markets and Bazaars

Egyptian Bazaar
This is Istanbul’s second covered market. Historically dedicated to spices, it has long since welcomed other types of vendors and businesses (jewellery, copper, etc.).

Caravansérail de la Sultane-mère, Istanbul, Turquie

Caravanserai of the Sultan's Mother
This is the largest caravanserai in Istanbul, built in the mid-17th century. Today, it has been converted into warehouses and lively shops.

Grand bazar d'Istanbul, Istanbul, Turquie

Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
This is a must-visit, being one of the world’s largest bazaars, with origins dating back to the 15th century. In total, over 4,000 shops are organized by trade (jewelry, carpets, textiles, etc.), offering the chance to get lost in its countless alleys.

Religious Buildings

Pammakaristos Church
This is the best-known Greek Orthodox church in Istanbul. It houses an extensive collection of Byzantine mosaics.

Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
This stunning Byzantine church, dating from the 5th century, was also a mosque before becoming a museum in 1948 and reverting to a mosque in 2020. Its interior is covered with magnificent mosaics and frescoes.

Blue Mosque
With its six minarets, it is the most famous mosque in Istanbul. It faces Hagia Sophia, with which Sultan Ahmet I, the project's originator, sought to compete nearly a millennium after its construction. Its interior is covered with 20,000 blue faience tiles, which give it its name.

Fatih Mosque
One of the largest examples of Ottoman and Islamic architecture in Istanbul, located in the district of the same name.

Prince's Mosque
Also known as the Şehzade Mosque (or Prince Mehmet Mosque), it is part of a complex that includes three mausoleums, a public kitchen, a caravanserai, and two Quranic schools.

Mosquée de Rüstem Pacha, Istanbul, Turquie

Rüstem Pasha Mosque
Not far from the Egyptian Bazaar, this small mosque is one of the prettiest in the city thanks to its stunning blue tiles that adorn its façade and interior.

Mosquée Sokollu Mehmet Pacha, Istanbul, Turquie

Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque
This Ottoman imperial mosque dates from the late 16th century. It is one of the prettiest, with its inner courtyard adorned with the traditional ablution fountain.

Süleymaniye Mosque
Perched on its hill overlooking the Golden Horn, this imposing 16th-century mosque is a landmark of the city. Less visited than the Blue Mosque, it is no less remarkable.

Little Hagia Sophia
It’s thanks to its resemblance to its famous neighbor that the former Byzantine church of Saints Peter and Bacchus got its name (Küçük Ayasofya in Turkish). It’s surrounded by a quiet little garden.

Hagia Sophia
This 6th-century basilica, converted into a mosque in the 15th century, then a museum in 1934, and again a mosque in 2020, is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and a "must-see" for any visit to Istanbul. It is located directly opposite the Blue Mosque.

Museums

Musée archéologique d'Istanbul, Istanbul, Turquie

Istanbul Archaeological Museum
This museum, divided into three sections (antiquities, ancient Oriental works, and ceramics), is one of the most comprehensive in its field and is widely recognized as such. It is located between Hagia Sophia and Topkapi.

Istanbul Museum of Modern Art
Housed in a former warehouse on the Bosphorus, the museum showcases paintings, sculptures, photos, and videos representing modern and contemporary Turkish art.

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
In a former palace in the Sultanahmet district, next to the Blue Mosque, the museum primarily showcases collections of carpets, ceramics, copperware, manuscripts, and calligraphy from the 11th century to the present day.

Istanbul Naval Museum
Established in the late 19th century, this museum houses around 4,000 items related to its theme, including caïques used by Ottoman sultans.

Pera Museum
Housed in a former hotel dating from the late 19th century, this museum features, among other things, over 300 paintings inspired by the Ottoman world from the 17th to the early 19th century.