City Guide! The best tips for Istanbul

If there is one thing Istanbul is definitely not, it is a city that can be explored in a short weekend. If you try it anyway, you quickly realize that a lot of things inevitably remain undiscovered and you have to come back.

Hectic, crowded and above all big: That is Istanbul. It is not easy for travelers coming to the metropolis on the Bosphorus for the first time to get an overview. “Let yourself be carried away” is what many hear when traveling to Istanbul for the first time. After all, almost everything in Istanbul is moving – more or less smoothly: the ferries on the Bosphorus, the traffic, the crowds in the shopping streets.

Even the choice of sights is difficult, there are so many, each significant in its own right and full of history and stories. Our guide aims to help you get an overview of Istanbul so you can discover the best of the city.

Eat and stroll in Karakoy and the Galata district

You get an overview in the literal sense from the Galata Tower in the district of the same name. Fans of boutique shops and creative cafes will love strolling the neighborhood’s streets. Galata is young, hip and lively – and the Galata Tower, built in 1348, can be seen from everywhere. It is conspicuous because it seems out of place between the narrow streets, you are often surprised by the sight of it at the end of an alley.

Be sure to stop by cool Karaköy as well. The neighborhood is right next to Galata and is one of the areas in Istanbul that has developed the most over the last few decades. It is above all the culinary highlights that attract people to the harbor district, so there are also some street food tours through Karaköy. It’s best to come in the afternoon to test your way through the restaurants and then to get to know the bar and club scene.

On the way to Karakoy and Galata you should definitely cross the Galata Bridge. The double-decker overpass is used by motorists, pedestrians and a tram. Actually, it only takes a few minutes to cross the bridge and get from Karaköy to Eminonu. And yet both locals and tourists sometimes linger here for hours. Either to stop at one of the countless restaurants that offer fish close together on the lower level of the bridge, or to fish from the bridge yourself.

Istanbul – the center of the world

It is just a small, inconspicuous pillar that is hardly noticed by many tourists, but once – when Emperor Constantine the Great declared Istanbul “New Rome” – the Millennium Stone marked the center of the world. All distances to the most important cities of the Byzantine Empire were measured from here. Today, the most important sights in the historic Sultanahmet district can be reached on foot from the pillar: just a few meters away is the Basilica Cistern, also known as the “sunken palace”. Directly opposite is the world-famous Hagia Sophia Mosque, next to it is the Blue Mosque.

The Sultanahmet district is also home to the impressive Topkapi Palace with Gülhane Park. For more than 400 years, the Ottoman sultans lived with their wives, children and court in the harem of the Topkapi Palace. Today the palace complex with a size of 70,000 square meters is a museum. Expect to pay around 200 TL per person for the ticket. That’s about 11 euros. If you want to see many more sights, you should get an Istanbul Museum Pass, which also includes entry to sights such as Hagia Sofia, the Chora Church and the Archaeological Museum. How long the pass should be valid is up to you. The 1-day pass costs 85 euros. If you plan to visit more than three attractions, then it’s definitely worth buying.

Shopping at the Grand Bazaar

You should plan enough budget for a visit to Istanbul. Not because the city is overpriced – it is even cheap compared to other metropolises – no, Istanbul is more suitable for extensive shopping tours than almost any other city in Europe. The Istanbul Shopping Fest (ISF) also takes place here once a year, a festival lasting several weeks, during which numerous malls and shops all over the city offer special discounts – in Turkish: “Indirim”.

No one should leave Istanbul without seeing the Grand Bazaar, Kapalı Çarşı at least once. It may be too crowded for regular visitors to the city and too uniform in what it offers from stand to stand. But its size alone, the architecture, the variety of scents (leather, spices, teas, soaps) make the bazaar built in the mid-15th century a must-see in Istanbul.

Exactly how big the bazaar is, however, is considered unclear: the figures vary between around 31,000 and 55,000 square meters. What is certain, however, is that the Kapalı Çarşı is one of the largest covered bazaars in the world. More than 4,000 shops are part of the approximately 60-lane complex in the Eminönü district. Even if everything seems to be thrown together at random, the Grand Bazaar follows an order and is divided into trades. For example, leather, carpet or jewelry dealers can be found in appropriately named streets. You will see: after a short while you will lose your orientation like in a labyrinth.

Compared to the big bazaar, Mısır Çarşısı is a bit clearer. It is also called Egyptian or Spice Bazaar and is located directly opposite the new mosque. Nowhere does Istanbul smell more diverse and inviting. Lokum, the sweet delicacies that many also know as “Turkish Delight”, can be found here in around 100 shops as well as countless types of spices and teas.

Discover the Asian side of Istanbul

The special thing about Istanbul is that the city stretches across two continents. So a trip to the part of the city that is in Asia should be part of any visit to Istanbul. Most worth seeing are Kadikoy and Moda. The districts are right next to each other and can be reached either via the cheap ferry, the subway or the famous Bosphorus Bridge, which connects Asia and Europe.

The hip youth meet on Moda Caddesi and Bahariye Street. There you can sip coffee and have to pay significantly less than on the European side of the city. In addition to the cool cafes and bars, you should definitely visit the Kadıköy Balık Pazarı, the fish market in Kadıköy. Contrary to what the smell might suggest, the fish market not only sells aquatic animals, but also delicacies typical of Istanbul’s markets, such as nuts, tea and honey.

Our tip: don’t miss the sunset, which can be seen particularly well from the Asian side of the city.

Drink coffee in Balat and Fener

Our guide includes two other must-visit neighborhoods: Once Istanbul’s Greek Orthodox district, Fener and the city’s Jewish district, Balat, are now known for their ramshackle but beautiful old houses and hidden churches. The Greek-Orthodox high school immediately catches your eye, which is probably best compared to Hogwarts. The oldest school in the city, which is still in operation, is hidden behind the castle-like facade. Today, however, only 50 to 60 students are taught in the huge building.

Balat is also known for its colorful houses, which may not have students, but hip students do. Pure boho flair: The cafés and vintage shops here are particularly creative and definitely worth a visit. If you stroll along the cobblestone streets with the colorful houses, you will find it difficult to leave your camera in your pocket.

Busy Istiklal Avenue

There is always something going on on the 1.4-kilometer Istiklal Street: Some travel blogs even describe the street as the busiest in Turkey. On the avenue, which is only accessible to pedestrians, you can stroll, admire street art and, of course, shop. Those who don’t want to negotiate prices are in good hands when shopping right on Istiklal Avenue. Because with the shops of the international chains that are located on the street, there is usually no room for negotiation for customers. The situation is different with the local shopkeepers in the side streets. Tea is served and prices are passionately negotiated.

Particularly popular with tourists is the only means of transport that is allowed to travel down Istiklal Avenue: the tram, which transports passengers in just a single red car, has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Istanbul. But beware: In the high season, the tram can get very crowded. The route runs along the entire Istiklal Avenue and ends at Taksim Square.

Relax in the Princes’ Islands

Like any big city, Istanbul can be exhausting: the constant honking of cars, the congested streets and sidewalks, the shouting of vendors. If you need some rest, you should go to “Adalar”. That’s what the people of Istanbul call an archipelago in the Sea of ​​Marmara. The Prince Islands, as they are also called, can be reached by ferry, for example from the port in Kabatas. It takes just under an hour to get to Kinaliada, the first stop. Next come the islands of Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada, the largest of the group.

Those visiting the Princes’ Islands for the first time should stop at Heybeliada and Büyükada. The latter is a little more lively, and the actual sights of the Princes’ Islands can also be found here. You don’t have to be afraid of being hit by a car like in the center of Istanbul – the islands are almost completely car-free. For a long time it was horses that literally chauffeured people from A to B here. In order to protect the animals, electric vehicles should now take over.

Heybeliada, on the other hand, is the ideal destination for nature lovers. Just a few meters after the fishing village at the ferry port, a kind of spa park begins. Hikers can start their island tour here, which takes around two and a half hours. On the way, the forest always offers a view of the beautiful bays of the islands. However, a jump into the Sea of ​​Marmara is not easily possible. The swimming areas all belong to clubs that charge admission. In addition, the small stretches of coast are so densely packed with sun loungers that they don’t seem to fit in with the rest of the island. On the other hand, the sight of the Cam harbor is all the more beautiful.

İstanbul Travel Tips, Guide
The 25 most beautiful cities in Turkey
4 things to know when visiting a mosque