Things to do in Istanbul and Turkey
From Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque to Bosphorus cruises, hammams and the Grand Bazaar — plus day trips to Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale — experiences for every traveller
Top experiences in Istanbul
The most-loved activities by Istanbul Trip readers — instant booking, free cancellation on most tours.
Istanbul: Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Sunset Option
Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket & Museum Option
Istanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Skip-the-Line Access & Audio Guide
Cappadocia: Goreme Hot Air Balloon Flight at Sunrise
Istanbul: Hodjapasha Whirling Dervishes Show & Exhibition
Istanbul: Turkish Bath Experience (Cemberlitas Hamami)
Full-Day Walking Tour of Istanbul's Old City
From Istanbul: Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flight & Lunch
Browse by category
Istanbul highlights
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern and the must-see sights every first-timer plans around
8 guides
Museums & monuments
Hagia Sophia, Chora (Kariye), the Archaeology Museum, the Cistern and Istanbul's great monuments explained
10 guides
Palaces & mosques
Topkapi and Dolmabahçe palaces, the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye and visitor etiquette for Istanbul's mosques
8 guides
Bosphorus cruises
Which Bosphorus cruise to pick — short hop-on ferries, sunset cruises and dinner cruises compared honestly
8 guides
Neighborhoods
Sultanahmet, Beyoğlu, Karaköy, Kadıköy, Balat and Fener — where to wander and where to base yourself
8 guides
Food & drink
Turkish food in Istanbul — meze, kebabs, balık ekmek, Turkish breakfast, the best markets and food tours
10 guides
Hammam experiences
Historic Turkish baths — Çemberlitaş, Cağaloğlu and Kılıç Ali Paşa, what a hammam costs and what to expect
5 guides
Shows & nightlife
Whirling dervishes, Turkish nights, rooftop bars and the best evening shows in Istanbul
5 guides
Shopping & bazaars
The Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar and Arasta — how to shop, bargain and avoid the tourist-trap stalls
5 guides
Day trips
The honest reality of Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Bursa and the Princes' Islands as trips from Istanbul
9 guides
Cappadocia
Balloon rides, the Göreme open-air museum, underground cities and how to do Cappadocia from Istanbul properly
8 guides
Ephesus & Pamukkale
The ancient city of Ephesus and the Pamukkale travertines — what a day trip from Istanbul really involves
7 guides
History & culture
Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul, the Hippodrome, the city walls and the layered history of Constantinople
7 guides
Trip planning
How many days in Istanbul, where to stay, budgets in TRY, with kids, solo travel and the best photo spots
8 guides
Getting around
The Istanbulkart, IST and SAW airport transfers, the metro, trams, ferries and getting around the city
7 guides
Seasonal travel
Istanbul by season, Ramadan, the best months to visit and the Cappadocia balloon season month by month
5 guides
Comparisons
Hagia Sophia vs. Blue Mosque, IST vs. SAW airport, which Bosphorus cruise and which city pass is worth it
6 guides
Family travel
Istanbul with kids — family-friendly sights, the aquarium, ferries and what to skip with young children
3 guides
Honest Istanbul
Common scams, fast-track tickets you don't need, what to skip and honest advice for visiting Istanbul
8 guides
City passes
Museum Pass Istanbul, the E-pass and the Tourist Pass — break-even maths and which combo actually pays off
4 guides