Must SeeFree
Süleymaniye Mosque
Fatih
Sinan’s magnificent mosque, with a huge dome, a peaceful courtyard and a great view over the Golden Horn.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Photographers
Daily; closed at prayer times
Istanbul
A city on two continents, of mosques, bazaars and Bosphorus ferries.
Plan your Istanbul trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Istanbul
Istanbul stretches across Europe and Asia and is layered with Byzantine and Ottoman history. It rewards a mix of big-ticket monuments, ferry rides across the Bosphorus and long meals in neighbourhood restaurants.
- Where
- Marmara, Turkey
- Recommended stay
- 3–5 nights
- Best time to go
- April–June and September–November; summers are hot and winter can be rainy.
- Approx. daily budget
- £45–95 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Istanbul cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£40–60a day
- Mid-range traveller£85–125a day
- Luxury traveller£170+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 32 Top picks in Istanbul
Must See~£14
Dolmabahçe Palace
Beşiktaş
An opulent 19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus with crystal chandeliers and the biggest chandelier in the world.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Tuesday–Sunday; closed Mondays
Must SeeFree
İstiklal Avenue and Taksim
Beyoğlu
A long, lively pedestrian avenue of shops, historic cinemas and side-street bars, with a nostalgic red tram.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Nightlife fans
Open-air; shops open daily
Must See~£22
Hagia Sophia
Sultanahmet
A 1,500-year-old former cathedral and mosque with a vast dome and glittering mosaics.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily, roughly 9:00–19:00 (check prayer-time restrictions)
Hidden Gems
See all 9 Beyond the checklist
Hidden GemsFree
Chora Church (Kariye)
Edirnekapı
A small Byzantine church whose interior is covered in beautiful 14th-century mosaics and frescoes.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hidden GemsFree
Rüstem Pasha Mosque
Eminönü
A small mosque up a staircase from the Spice Bazaar, lined with exquisite Iznik tiles.
- Suggested time: 30 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; closed at prayer times
Hidden GemsFree
Pierre Loti Hill
Eyüp
A hilltop café with a wide Golden Horn view, reached by cable car from the Eyüp Sultan mosque area.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Photographers
Open-air; cable car runs daily
Hidden Gems~£3
Bosphorus Ferry to Anadolu Kavağı
Eminönü
A public ferry along the whole Bosphorus to the fishing village at the Black Sea end, at bargain prices.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Daily ferries; check times
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Istanbul
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Mid-Range Hotel
Example listingSultanahmet Courtyard Hotel
Sultanahmet, Istanbul
Excellent valueValue score 87 out of 100
Rated 8.9/10, about 9% below typical 4★ prices in Istanbul, in a central location.
From £85 per night · check current availability
Best Luxury ValueBest for Families
Example listingBosphorus Terrace Hotel
Beşiktaş, Istanbul
Excellent valueValue score 87 out of 100
Rated 9.1/10, priced in line with similar 5★ hotels in Istanbul, in a central location.
From £150 per night · check current availability
Example listing
Galata Loft Hotel
Galata, Istanbul
Very good valueValue score 75 out of 100
Rated 8.7/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Istanbul, in a central location.
From £95 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 12 Where to eat
Karaköy Güllüoğlu
A famous baklava shop, part of a family that has been making baklava since 1949, with pistachio-rich layers.
Known for: Baklava, börek
Under about £8 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Çiya Sofrası
A celebrated restaurant on the Asian side, serving regional Turkish dishes from all over Anatolia.
Known for: Regional Anatolian dishes
About £8–16 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Karaköy Lokantası
A stylish lokanta in a former bank, serving traditional Turkish home-style dishes.
Known for: Meze, fish, stews
About £8–16 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Hamdi Restaurant
A well-known kebab house with a rooftop terrace overlooking the Golden Horn.
Known for: Kebabs, pistachio dishes
About £8–16 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A suggested Istanbul itinerary
3 nights Couple
Istanbul · Highlights
Istanbul in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Istanbul picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Galata Tower
- Day 2 · Princes’ Islands Day Trip, Bosphorus Cruise
- Day 3 · Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy, Kuzguncuk Village, İstiklal Avenue and Taksim
Plan Istanbul your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.