https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/istanbul/best-things-to-do/100000004634
Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in Istanbul [2025]
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Hagia Sophia
4.8
/5
2866 reviews
9.7
From KRW 45575
Based on 45,574 reviews
Old City Sultanahmet | 457m from downtown
Phone +90 212 522 17 50
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Byzantine murals & balcony view
A historical symbol of multiculturalism
Saved by 1262 users2148 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
This iconic landmark of Istanbul, steeped in history and architectural masterpiece, bears witness to the fusion of diverse religions and cultures and is well worth a visit. It's not cheap, and the entrance is small and difficult to find. The first floor is closed for worship and is not open to non-Muslims. It's closed during worship hours, so be sure to time your visit accordingly.
Very beautiful, very worthwhile mosque, with a long history and unique features, it is my favorite attraction! It's a pity that non-Muslim tourists can only walk around the second floor, but I am already very satisfied. It can be said to be a treasure of history and culture. It was just that the ticket was issued after a while, and I was very anxious during the waiting process because we had to catch the plane. But fortunately, the customer service responded very quickly, and later the service provider also issued the ticket as soon as possible, without delay. So I am very satisfied with this trip, thank you! It is recommended that you book it some time in advance, which is safer.
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Basilica Cistern
4.6
/5
782 reviews
9.2
From KRW 49565
Based on 32,487 reviews
Old City Sultanahmet | 355m from downtown
Phone +90 212 512 15 70
Address: Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Medusa columns guard mysterious underground
Relive classic movie scenes
Saved by 1064 users412 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The exterior is magnificent and elegant. The first floor, formerly a museum, is now a place for Islamic prayer and is off-limits to visitors. The second floor is open to visitors, with some murals covered with white cloth. While Turkey is a secular Islamic country, it remains unfriendly to Christianity. The church is definitely worth a visit, as it boasts a rich history.
Прошли без очереди по qr коду. Впечатлило! Очень красиво и познавательно))
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Topkapi Palace
4.5
/5
648 reviews
8.7
From KRW 88250
Old City Sultanahmet | 879m from downtown
Phone +90-212-5120480
Address: Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Featured in 2025 Asia 100 – Best Things to Do
Highlights:
Bosphorus Strait view available
Overlook the magnificent bay view from the high point of the palace
Saved by 605 users305 positive reviews
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📍Topkapi Palace - the power center of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, one of the top ten palaces in the world. The core attractions are the Hall of the Holy Relics (holy relics of the Prophet Muhammad), the Strait Terrace (overlooking the Bosphorus, the boundary between Europe and Asia) and the luxurious harem (extra charge). A half-day in-depth tour is required, and the ticket price is relatively expensive (about 950 liras). It is recommended to rent an audio guide to avoid a cursory visit.
💎Simplified tips:
- A must-see for history lovers: The Relic Hall in the third courtyard is shocking, no photos are allowed, but the on-site chanting ceremony has a strong sense of ritual;
- Go straight to the scenery party: the terrace of the fourth courtyard, a panoramic view of the strait + Galata Tower in the same frame;
- A guide to avoid pitfalls: Buy a separate ticket for the harem (about 25 liras), and the entrance is easy to miss; there are many ticket bundling routines, so buy a museum pass first.
huge place. you can probably spend half a day in here . very beautiful place with a lot of things to see inside. if you like historical places and seeing historical items, theres a lot in this place.
No.
4
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Bosphorus
4.7
/5
788 reviews
8.6
Based on 10,488 reviews
27.2 km from downtown
Address: Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Featured in 2025 Asia 100 – Best Things to Do
Highlights:
Roman & Ottoman ruins abound
Night cruise to enjoy the light show on both sides of the river
Saved by 753 users318 positive reviews
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The iron floor of the ferry hurt my feet, and the smell of diesel mixed with salty smell penetrated my nose. The student next to me was sweating on the back of his school uniform, and he was still busy doing homework. The boat selling bagels came close to me, and the boatman hooked the railing with a rope to throw the bagels, almost hitting me in the face - what Europe and Asia, the locals only care about whether they can catch the boat in time for the five o'clock prayer. The hot sesame doughnuts bought with coins were hot, and I ate them while watching the Strait Bridge on the other side blocked like a parking lot, and the ferry farted away.
The Bosphorus Strait is north of the Black Sea, the Marmara Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, separating Turkey into Asia and Europe. Istanbul is located on the two sides of the central and southern section of the Strait. It was built in 1973 to cross the Bosphorus Highway Bridge, which is 1560 meters long. There is a beautiful myth in the Bosphorus. It is said that Zeus, the first of the gods, had a lover named Io, who turned Io into a cow to hide it from his wife Hera. Hera later learned about it. She became a cow fly to harass the cow Io, to avoid the cow fly, Io crossed a water wall. In ancient Greek, "bous" means "cow", "phoros" means "water wall", the myth of the water wall is the Bosphorus. We were very lucky to enjoy the sunset on the cruise ship in the Bosphorus Strait, leaving a perfect termination for our three-week trip.
No.
5
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Galata Tower
4.5
/5
407 reviews
8.4
From KRW 55613
Based on 10,184 reviews
Galata | 2.3 km from downtown
Phone +90 212 249 03 44
Address: Bereketzade, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 hour
No.4 of Night Attractions in Istanbul
Highlights:
Istanbul's stunning sunset views
Nightclub with belly dance show
Saved by 589 users248 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Galata Tower is a must-visit when in Istanbul. It offers stunning panoramic views of the city and is the perfect spot to truly appreciate the beauty of Istanbul. We visited in the evening and absolutely loved the scenery. The skip-the-line ticket from Trip.com, though a bit pricey, was worth it as it saved us from waiting in the very long line at the ticket office.
I liked it very much. We passed quickly. There were few people, a stunningly beautiful place.
No.
6
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The Blue Mosque
4.8
/5
1926 reviews
8.3
Based on 35,536 reviews
Old City Sultanahmet | 20m from downtown
Phone +90-212-4584468
Address: Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd No:10, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 hour
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Byzantine & Ottoman architecture fusion
Blue tiles reflect the six spires
Saved by 1051 users1104 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey (also known as the Suleymaniye Mosque) combines Byzantine-style domes with Islamic architectural elements. The main dome is 27.5 meters in diameter, surrounded by 4 secondary domes and 30 small domes, without pillar support.
No iron nails were used during its construction, relying only on masonry structures, and it still stands tall after 400 years of earthquakes.
The central hall inside is nearly 5,000 square meters, with 260 small windows around it combined with stained glass windows to form a "light dance space" with changing light and shadow.
The designer Koca Mimar Sinan (April 15, 1489 - April 9, 1588) was Michelangelo in the Ottoman Empire.
Along the way, in addition to the Blue Mosque (Suleymaniye Mosque) in Istanbul, built from 1550 to 1557, we were very lucky to visit two other masterpieces of this great designer:
1️⃣ The Great Mosque (Gez Husserl Beg Mosque) in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, built in 1531;
2️⃣ The Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge in Visegrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina, built in 1577.
🕌 Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), Istanbul📍 Address: Sultan Ahmet Mah., Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, Fatih, Istanbul🕰 Hours: Daily 8:30 AM – one hour before sunset (Closed to tourists during prayer times)📝 Review:A must-visit landmark in Istanbul! Famous for its six minarets and beautiful blue İznik tiles inside, the Blue Mosque offers stunning Ottoman architecture and a peaceful atmosphere. Entry is free, but respectful clothing is required.✅ Tips: • Avoid prayer times (especially Friday noon) • Women should bring a scarf to cover hair • Plastic bags are provided for shoes⭐ Why Go?Historic, spiritual, and visually breathtaking — it’s right across from Hagia Sophia and perfect for photos and cultural insight.
No.
7
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Dolmabahce Palace
4.7
/5
408 reviews
8.3
From KRW 65241
Based on 8,292 reviews
Besiktas | 4.3 km from downtown
Phone +90 212 236 90 00
Address: Vişnezade, Dolmabahçe Cd., 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Highlights:
Ottoman center & ceiling decor
Crystal stairs & chandelier
Saved by 483 users218 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The last glory of the Ottoman Empire, the entire palace is expected to be built with 24 tons of gold, and the crystal chandeliers are all imported from the UK, which is very shocking and luxurious.
The ticket booking system is very convenient. You can enter by simply showing your mobile phone and scanning the QR code. You can also enter another palace by scanning the QR code. The experience is very good. You don’t have to worry about losing the paper ticket, and you don’t have to follow anyone. It’s very free.
No.
8
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Grand Bazaar
4.5
/5
519 reviews
7.6
Based on 12,691 reviews
Old City Sultanahmet | 959m from downtown
Phone +90 212 519 12 48
Address: Beyazıt, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Experience Turkish bargaining shopping
Taste kebabs for exotic experience
Saved by 609 users116 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
One of the most beautiful and attractive East bazaars. There are many confectionary, spices, teas and things. Must visit
So nice place to visit to buy bags and clothes in the cheap wayAddress: grand bazaar
No.
9
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Istanbul Archaeological Museums
4.5
/5
164 reviews
7.2
Based on 4,566 reviews
Old City Sultanahmet | 802m from downtown
Phone +90 212 520 77 41
Address: Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Near Gülhane Park & Topkapi Palace
1 million artifacts from various cultures
Saved by 175 users35% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Istanbul Archaeology Museum is the most important archaeological museum in Turkey and one of the most outstanding in the world. It is located in the outer courtyard of Topkapi Palace and houses more than 1 million artifacts, covering civilizations from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome to Byzantium and Ottoman Empire. It is almost zero distance from the remains of ancient civilizations and can be called a "time container". #One of my favorite museums
The Istanbul Archaeological Museum is one of the richest archaeological museums in the world, with its rich collection of artifacts. It houses more than 1 million artifacts belonging to civilizations that existed within the territory of the late Ottoman Empire.
The main building of the complex, the Archaeological Museum, is one of the few buildings in the world that was built primarily as a museum.
While the dominant trend of idealism during the Classical period had a considerable impact, Hellenistic sculpture adapted classical techniques to create more realistic images that were in line with contemporary philosophical trends. One of the most important innovations of this period was the development of portrait sculpture, which reflected not only the psychological state of an individual but also social status. While the repertoire of the Classical period consisted mainly of sculptures of gods, goddesses, and heroes, the Hellenistic period saw the addition of realistic depictions of people from all walks of life, such as kings, philosophers, orators, great commanders, politicians, poets, and athletes. For example, heroes from Homer's epics and tragedies were often depicted, but there were also characters from everyday life, such as old fishermen, peasants, women, and children. Athens, Pergamon, Rhodes, Delos, Antioch, and Alexandria were the main centers of the school of sculpture. In the middle of the Hellenistic period, the Pergamon school of sculpture developed a new style, known as the "Hellenistic Baroque", characterized by an emphasis on depicting emotions.
Feel the different characters in the long river of history, learn about history and feel history through a museum tour.
No.
10
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Istiklal Avenue
4.7
/5
386 reviews
7.0
Based on 6,021 reviews
Taksim | 3.2 km from downtown
Phone +90-532-4216164
Address: Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
No.6 of Night Attractions in Istanbul
Highlights:
3-mile walk through medieval Genoa
Consulates & churches along the street
Saved by 397 users127 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Istanbul Riverside
I said before that the Grand Bazaar is the big alley in Istanbul, and Istiklal Street is the Istanbul Riverside.
On the first day, we went to Taksim Square with a group tour, and only had one hour to go shopping. Of course, we didn't go shopping enough, so we arranged our time here for the second day's free travel.
We took the bus from the hotel to this area (it is said that the taxi price in Istanbul is expensive and there is traffic jam, because the traffic jam will be more expensive, so we chose to take the bus). We first went to the Rainbow Stairs, and then walked through a residential area to the nearby Carrefour. In the middle, we also went into a drugstore. The owner was very talkative and said that he had been to many places in China, and even to Tianjin and Hohhot. He was very kind. It was a mistake to go to Carrefour first. I bought a lot of things, which caused us to carry these things behind me.
After buying snacks and souvenirs, we came to Istiklal Street, which may be the busiest pedestrian street in Istanbul. There were a lot of people on the day we went. It can be seen that not only foreign tourists came to visit, but also locals came to shop. There are large and small shopping malls, restaurants, jewelry stores, souvenir shops, and clothing stores on the street. The types of shops are very complete. We went to Pandora, Mado, St. Anthony's Church, a baked potato shop, a regular restaurant barbecue shop, a street stall barbecue shop, a candy store, many clothing stores, Watsons, two shopping malls... I don't know if I have said it all. I walked around for a whole day and went back when it was dark. I bought a lot of things and ate local special barbecue. Although I spent the whole day on this street and didn't go anywhere else, there are really a lot of food, drinks and shopping on this street. Although it's a bit tiring, I had a great time. The food is much better when traveling independently than when traveling with a group.
Istiklal Street in Istanbul, Turkey is one of the busiest streets in Turkey. It gathers tourists from all over the world and is crowded with people. There are not only local specialties but also all kinds of shopping malls and clothing.
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