A Guide to Istanbul: What to Do and Where to Stay

Cosmopolitan Istanbul blends lavish palaces and historic markets with an exciting contemporary dining scene and stunning rooftop venues overlooking the Bosphorus. Sitting at the crossroads of two continents and the former capital of two mighty empires, Istanbul is home to some of Türkiye’s most famous sights. You won’t want to miss the monumental Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, for example. But this is also a city that stimulates the senses like few others – a place to feast on Ottoman cuisine, relax in traditional Turkish baths and feel the energy coursing through bustling bazaars.

The best neighbourhoods to visit in Istanbul

Sultanahmet

At nearly a millennium and a half old, Hagia Sophia rewards a long, leisurely exploration (Photo: Getty Images)

Istanbul’s atmospheric old quarter, Sultanahmet, is home to many of the city’s most interesting places to visit. Allow plenty of time to explore the Hagia Sophia – after all, at nearly a millennium and a half old, there is much to take in, not least the building's transformation from church to mosque. Its neighbour the Sultanahmet Camii, or Blue Mosque, is named after the stunning tiles that cover its interior. At nearby Topkapı Palace, meanwhile – formerly the epicentre of the Ottoman Empire – you can explore a diamond-filled Treasury, an Armoury crammed with huge swords, and what was once an opulent Harem, home to the sultan’s wives (and his many children).

Istanbul is one of the world’s finest food cities, and you’ll find some great places to eat tucked away down Sultanahmet’s side streets. Order an Iskender, a lamb kebab from Bursa in northwest Türkiye, or şakşuka, a classic meze dish of fried aubergines in tomato sauce.

One of the most fun things to do in Istanbul is a Whirling Dervishes show. The Dervishes are Mevlevi Sufis who are able to put themselves in a trance and spin around in circles with their eyes closed, without ever whirling out of control. The easiest way to see them in action is during one of the daily shows at the Hodjapasha Cultural Centre, which lies an easy 15-minute stroll northwest of Sultanahmet.

The Bazaar Quarter

With some four thousand shops, Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is the largest covered market in the world (Photo: Getty Images)

The area just west of Sultanahmet is known as the Bazaar Quarter, after the Kapalı Çarşı, or Grand Bazaar, the largest covered market in the world. This vast space, home to over four thousand shops, is the perfect place to pick up a carpet, a kilim rug or a hanging lamp, or to sample the numerous varieties of Turkish Delight that are piled up high on sweet stalls almost buckling under their weight. If you've a sweet tooth, keep an eye out, too, for baklava, buttery layers of filo pastry soaked in honey and topped with crushed nuts.

The warren of streets around the Grand Bazaar is perfect for wandering, with lots of hidden courtyards (known as hans) to peek into. A trip to a traditional Turkish bath is the ideal remedy after all this sightseeing, and you can soothe your weary muscles at the Çemberlitaş Hamami, near the Grand Bazaar. Wrap yourself in a peştamal (a cotton towel) before heading to the steam room for a vigorous body scrub and bubble wash.

Located just a short walk from the heady aromas of Sultanahmet’s Spice Bazaar and well placed for the Grand Bazaar, the Orientbank Hotel Istanbul is right in the heart of the action. The hotel’s historic interiors reflect its previous life as a bank, while the top-floor viewing terrace enjoys incredible views over nearby Sultanahmet and across the Golden Horn.

Beyoğlu

The landmark Galata Tower sits at the heart of the bohemian Galata neighbourhood (Photo: Getty Images)

Separated from Sultanahmet by the Golden Horn, and just a short stroll away via the Galata Bridge, the lively commercial district of Beyoğlu has a more modern atmosphere, particularly around the central shopping street of Istiklâl Caddesi. Climb up the hill behind the ferry pier at the end of the bridge (or take the antique funicular) to visit the landmark Galata Tower, at the heart of the bohemian Galata neighbourhood. Sunset is a great time to admire the 360-degree views across the Golden Horn and out over the Bosphorus. Wander the area’s cobbled alleyways, taking in some of its art galleries and music shops, before heading back down to the Bosphorus for a cruise along the world-famous waterway.

If you get peckish after all this exploring, grab a gözleme – these pancake-like flatbreads are stuffed with all sorts of savoury fillings (try spinach and feta or minced lamb) and then griddled.

Sitting right on the water’s edge, the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus enjoys one of the finest locations in the city and offers some amazing vistas from its rooftop bar. With its traditional hammam, the hotel’s elegant spa offers a refined take on the city’s Turkish baths. 

Beşiktaş

Take a tour of Dolmabahçe Palace and discover that its interior – particularly the enormous Ceremonial Room – is as impressive as its handsome exterior (Photo: Getty Images)

Further along the Bosphorus from Beyoğlu, reached by a short taxi ride or a bus from Taksim Square, the glamorous district of Beşiktaş became fashionable in the mid-19th century. Here, the river is lined with merchants’ mansions and sultans’ palaces, most notably the spectacular Dolmabahçe Palace. Take a guided tour to explore the sultan’s living quarters, his vast Ceremonial Room and the famous double-horseshoe staircase that’s made entirely out of glass. 

There are several great places to stay within walking distance of the palace, including The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul, an ultra-stylish skyscraper hotel that enjoys some of the best hotel views in Europe, and, further up the Bosphorus, the W Istanbul, set within the historic Akaretler Row Houses.

Beşiktaş offers the opportunity to unwind in the leafy surroundings of Yıldız Park, the gardens of another former palace, or to enjoy some retail therapy in the boutiques of upscale Nişantaşı. The St. Regis Istanbul, overlooking Maçka Park, is home to Spago Istanbul, the original international outpost of Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant and one of the best places to eat in Istanbul.

Asian Istanbul

That you can cross the Bosphorus from one continent to another is one of the most special things about visiting Istanbul (Photo: Getty Images)

That you can cross from Europe into Asia without leaving Istanbul is one of the most amazing things about the city. The emerging residential and business districts on the Asian side of the Bosphorus receive fewer visitors than Sultanahmet, Beyoğlu and Beşiktaş, but there are several interesting sights in this part of the city. The ferry ride here is half the fun: across the Bosphorus, from one continent to another, passing the romantic little Maiden’s Tower on the way. In Haydarpaşa, pop into the grand Haydarpaşa Station, once the western terminus for the Baghdad Railway, and wander among the colourful old wooden houses of Yeldeğirmeni.

Kadiköy, further south, is home to one of the biggest concentrations of produce stalls in Istanbul; a stroll along Güneşli Bahçe Sokak will take you past shops selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, and fish stalls piled high with calamari and jumbo-sized prawns. Istanbul Marriott Hotel Asia, in neighbouring Ataşehır, is well located for the whole area and less than 30km from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

Go deeper

Morning coffee is an integral part of the Istanbul routine. Look out for a kahvehane (coffeehouse) and order a rich, thick, unfiltered cup of Turkish coffee, served with some lokum (Turkish Delight) on the side.

Published: October 07, 2024

Article Tags:  Istanbul , Türkiye