Things to do in Istanbul

Palaces, Bosphorus cruises, day trips, transfers, hotels and flights for Istanbul. This is our home city: some tours here are run by our own team, the rest by partners, and every card says which.

AirportsIstanbul Airport (IST), Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
Getting aroundTram, metro and ferries with an Istanbulkart
CurrencyTurkish lira (TRY)
Best monthsApril, May, September, October

Istanbul in brief

Istanbul is two continents and several cities in one. The old peninsula, Sultanahmet, holds the Byzantine and Ottoman monuments within a ten-minute walk of each other. Across the Golden Horn, Galata and Beyoğlu are the 19th-century city of arcades, rooftops and restaurants. Across the Bosphorus, Kadıköy and Üsküdar are Asia, a twenty-minute ferry away.

The monuments have different closing days, and that is what catches visitors out. Topkapı Palace closes on Tuesdays, Dolmabahçe Palace on Mondays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays. Check before you fix your days.

Leave room for the water. A ferry ride or a Bosphorus cruise explains the shape of the city better than any map, and the day trips out of town, to the Princes’ Islands, Sapanca or Bursa, are an easy change of pace.

Top attractions in Istanbul

Tickets for these are sold by booking partners. Every card names who provides it.

Hagia Sophia
Attraction · Partner

Hagia Sophia

The 6th-century domed church that became a mosque. Visitors enter the upper gallery on a ticket.
Partner booking opens soon
Topkapı Palace
Attraction · Partner

Topkapı Palace

Home of the Ottoman sultans, with the Harem and the treasury. Closed on Tuesdays.
Partner booking opens soon
Basilica Cistern
Attraction · Partner

Basilica Cistern

An underground Byzantine reservoir of columns and water, opposite Hagia Sophia.
Partner booking opens soon
Blue Mosque
Attraction · Partner

Blue Mosque

The Sultanahmet Mosque. Free to enter, closed to visitors at prayer times.
Partner booking opens soon
Galata Tower
Attraction · Partner

Galata Tower

A medieval Genoese tower with a 360-degree view over the Golden Horn.
Partner booking opens soon
Dolmabahçe Palace
Attraction · Partner

Dolmabahçe Palace

The 19th-century palace on the Bosphorus shore. Closed on Mondays.
Partner booking opens soon

Run by our own team

These leave from Istanbul and are operated by us, with member prices for account holders.

All our tours

Tours and day trips

Guided options from partners, with the provider named on each card.

Bosphorus sightseeing cruise
Cruise · Partner

Bosphorus sightseeing cruise

Along both shores past the palaces, fortresses and bridges.
Partner booking opens soon
Old city guided walk
Walking tour · Partner

Old city guided walk

Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar with a guide.
Partner booking opens soon
Two continents food tour
Food tour · Partner

Two continents food tour

Tastings on the European side, a ferry, and more in the markets of Kadıköy.
Partner booking opens soon
Cappadocia from Istanbul
Day trip · Partner

Cappadocia from Istanbul

By domestic flight, usually with at least one night there for the balloons.
Partner booking opens soon

Getting there and around

Airport transfer (IST and SAW)Both airports are far from the hotel districts. We run private transfers ourselves at a fixed price, and airport buses and the metro are the budget options.Operated by Ontripo
Public transportOne Istanbulkart works on trams, metro, buses and ferries. The T1 tram links Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar and Karaköy.Partner
Car rentalNot recommended inside the city. Useful only if you are heading on to the coast or the countryside.Partner

Where to stay

Pick a neighbourhood first, then compare hotels.

Sultanahmet

Sultanahmet

Walk to the main monuments. Quiet in the evening.
Galata & Karaköy

Galata & Karaköy

Cafes, galleries and views, a tram ride from the old city.
Beyoğlu & Taksim

Beyoğlu & Taksim

Restaurants, shopping and nightlife along İstiklal Street.
Kadıköy

Kadıköy

The Asian side: markets, food and a local feel, by ferry.

Istanbul day by day

  1. Day 1: The old cityHagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque in the morning, Topkapı Palace after lunch, the Grand Bazaar on the way back.
  2. Day 2: Bosphorus and BeyoğluDolmabahçe Palace, a Bosphorus cruise, then Galata Tower and İstiklal Street in the evening.
  3. Day 3: Asia or the islandsFerry to Kadıköy for the market, or a full day on the Princes’ Islands.
  4. With more daysTake a day trip to Sapanca Lake, Bursa and Uludağ, or Yalova.

Local tips

  • Mosques are free. Dress modestly, take off your shoes, and women cover their hair. Avoid prayer times.
  • Buy an Istanbulkart at the airport or any station and top it up as you go.
  • Use the yellow or turquoise taxis with the meter on, or a ride app.
  • Tap water is treated, but most people drink bottled water.
  • Friday midday prayers make the big mosques very busy.

Before you go

eSIMMobile data for Türkiye. Buy and install it before you travel.
Travel insuranceCover for medical costs and cancellations.
Luggage storageLeave bags near the station or the sights.
Flight delay compensationCheck whether a delayed or cancelled flight qualifies.

These services are provided by partners. Booking links open once our partner connections are active.

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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Istanbul?

Spring and autumn. Summer is hot and crowded, winter is cold and wet but quiet.

How many days do I need in Istanbul?

Three days for the city itself. Add one or two for day trips.

Which airport is better, IST or SAW?

IST is on the European side and SAW on the Asian side. For hotels in Sultanahmet or Taksim both are a long drive, and SAW is usually the longer one. Pick by flight price and time, then book a transfer.

Which tours does Ontripo run itself?

The Princes’ Islands, Sapanca, Bursa and Yalova day trips and the airport transfers are run by our own licensed team. They are marked “Operated by Ontripo”. Everything else is booked with a partner.

Is Hagia Sophia free?

Worshippers enter free. Visitors buy a ticket and enter the upper gallery.