Istanbul

Things to do in Istanbul

Palaces, Bosphorus cruises, day trips, transfers, hotels and flights for Istanbul. This is our home city, and many of the tours here are run by our own team.

Photo: Adli Wahid, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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 and guided visits for the city’s best-known sights.

Photo: Hagia Sophia — Arild Vågen (CC BY-SA 3.0); Topkapı Palace — Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0); Basilica Cistern — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0); Blue Mosque — Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr) (CC BY-SA 3.0); Galata Tower — Alexxx1979 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Dolmabahçe Palace — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons

Run by our own team

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

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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.
Car rentalNot recommended inside the city. Useful only if you are heading on to the coast or the countryside.

Flights

Compare real fares and book your ticket here on Ontripo.

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Where to stay

Pick a neighbourhood first, then compare hotels.

Hotels in Istanbul
1

Sultanahmet

Walk to the main monuments. Quiet in the evening.
2

Galata & Karaköy

Cafes, galleries and views, a tram ride from the old city.
3

Beyoğlu & Taksim

Restaurants, shopping and nightlife along İstiklal Street.
4

Kadıköy

The Asian side: markets, food and a local feel, by ferry.
Hotels in Istanbul with live prices

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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.
AiraloYesimSaily
Travel insuranceCover for medical costs and cancellations.
Luggage storageLeave bags near the station or the sights.
Radical Storage
Flight delay compensationCheck whether a delayed or cancelled flight qualifies.
AirHelpCompensair

Everything for Istanbul

Ten services for the trip, all in one place.

Attraction ticketsMuseums and landmarks, with timed entry explained
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Tours & day tripsGuided and self-guided
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Airport transfersA driver waiting at arrivals
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HotelsLive prices, book in a few steps
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FlightsFind the cheapest route
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Car rentalLocal and international companies
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eSIMMobile data, bought before you travel
AiraloYesimSailyDrimsim
Travel insuranceCover for the whole tripHow it works
Trains & busesCity to city tickets
Klook (Europe trains)
Cruises & boatsSightseeing and dinner cruises
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Travel guide

Istanbul is best in April, May, September and October, and three to four days covers the main sights. Use the M11 metro or a Havaist bus from Istanbul Airport, and get an Istanbulkart for public transport.

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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, Yalova and Şile–Ağva day trips, the Bosphorus dinner cruise, the private yacht, the private car with driver and the airport transfers are run by our own licensed team. They are marked “Operated by Ontripo”.

Is Hagia Sophia free?

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