Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here. In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain. The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.
In the heart of Istanbul, where Europe and Asia converge, a mesmerizing narrative of opulence and history unfolds. The splendor of the city is etched into palaces such as Çırağan, Topkapı, Dolmabahçe, Yıldız, and Beylerbeyi, each a testament to imperial grandeur. Pavilions, steeped in Ottoman tradition, epitomize leisure and hospitality, safeguarding Ottoman heritage in places like Kucuksu, İhlamur, Beykoz Mecidiye, and Aynalıkavak. The iconic Galata Tower, dating back to the 14th century, offers sweeping panoramic views, while Maiden's Tower, a fortress on a Bosphorus islet, adds an air of mystique to the city's skyline. Constructed by Mehmed the Conqueror in the 15th century, the Rumelian and Anatolian fortresses stand as sentinels of the Bosphorus, preserving a rich and enthralling cultural heritage.
Best things to do in Istanbul
Marvel at the Hagia Sophia
History resonates when you visit the majestic Byzantine basilica of Hagia Sophia. Built by order of the Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, its soaring dome, huge nave and glittering gold mosaics contribute to its reputation as one of the world's most beautiful buildings, and its fascinating history as church, mosque and museum make it the city's most revealing time capsule. Looted by marauding Crusaders in the 13th century, stormed by Ottoman invaders during the Conquest in 1453 and visited by millions of tourists after being converted into a museum in 1935, it is one of Türkiye's greatest treasures.
Lose yourself in Istanbul's Bazaar District
The chaotic and colorful Grand Bazaar is the best-known shopping destination on Istanbul's historic peninsula, but it certainly isn't the only one. After exploring its labyrinthine lanes and hidden caravanserais, follow the steady stream of local shoppers heading downhill into the busy shopping precinct of Tahtakale, which has at its hub the seductively scented Spice Bazaar. From there, head back up toward the Blue Mosque and its adjacent arasta (an arcade-style Ottoman bazaar that typically featured practitioners of a single trade), where you may well find a lasting memento of your trip.
Ride Istanbul’s ferries
Climbing aboard one of the city's famous flotilla of ferries is the quintessential Istanbul experience. The trip between Asia and Europe on a commuter ferry is hard to beat, but the Bosphorus tourist ferries that travel the great strait from Eminönü toward the mouth of the Black Sea are even better, offering passengers views of palaces, parks and ornate timber mansions on both the Asian and European shores.
Sample the flavors of Istanbul
More than anything else, Istanbullus love to eat, and food is much more than mere fuel. Instead, it’s a celebration of community. Meals unfurl with great ceremony – they are joyful, boisterous and almost inevitably communal.
The national cuisine has been refined over centuries and is treated more reverently than any museum collection in the country. That’s not to say it’s fussy, though, because what differentiates Turkish food from other national noshes is its rustic and honest base. The small meze dishes you’ll eat will be simple, the kebaps austere, the salads unstructured and the seafood unsauced. Flavors will explode in your mouth because ingredients are used in season.
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