Sultanahmet
First-timersThe historic peninsula.
Istanbul city guide
Istanbul Travel Guide
A city on two continents, capital of two empires, with Hagia Sophia, the bazaars, ferries across the Bosphorus for the price of a bus ticket, and some of the best street food in the world.
89
Hostels in the city
8.2
Average, from 67,797 reviews
2
Continents
15m+
People
1985
Historic areas join UNESCO
Where Europe meets Asia
Istanbul was Byzantium, then Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire for a thousand years, then the capital of the Ottoman Empire for nearly five hundred more. Both left their monuments on the peninsula of Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar. The historic areas are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Bosphorus splits the city between Europe and Asia, and the ferries that cross it are one of the great cheap pleasures of travel.
Istanbul is huge, with over fifteen million people, and it has become much more expensive in euro terms since 2023. Give it at least four days.
Where to stay
Sultanahmet for the sights, Beyoğlu and Karaköy for nightlife, Kadıköy on the Asian side for a local feel.
Beyoğlu
Nightlifeİstiklal, Taksim and Galata.
Karaköy
Food and barsOn the water below Galata.
Kadıköy
LocalThe Asian side.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Istanbul
Hagia Sophia has been a mosque again since 2020; foreign visitors pay €25 to enter the upper gallery, while the ground floor is kept for worship. The Blue Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque are free; dress modestly and avoid prayer times.
Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern and the Archaeology Museums are ticketed, and major sites are now priced in euros for foreign visitors.
Lose yourself in the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, then take a public ferry up the Bosphorus or across to Kadıköy on the Asian side.
Walk through the colourful streets of Balat and Fener, climb the Galata Tower, and spend a day on the car-free Princes' Islands.
More on things to do in Istanbul
Free things
Free things to do in Istanbul
The Blue Mosque, the Süleymaniye Mosque and the bazaars are free to enter.
The ferries across the Bosphorus cost the same as a bus ticket, and the waterfront walks are free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the great food cities. Simit, the sesame bread ring, for breakfast; balık ekmek, grilled fish sandwiches, at Eminönü; lahmacun, pide and kebabs everywhere; and lokantas serving home cooking by the plate.
Kadıköy's market streets are the best place to eat. A lokanta meal is €5 to €9; restaurants in Sultanahmet charge far more.
Nightlife
Going out in Istanbul
Beyoğlu, around İstiklal Avenue, and Karaköy are the centre of the nightlife, with rooftop bars, meyhanes serving rakı and meze, and clubs. Kadıköy has the best bar streets on the Asian side.
Alcohol is heavily taxed; a beer is €5 to €8.
Getting around
Getting around Istanbul
Buy an Istanbulkart and use it on the metro, trams, buses and ferries.
From Istanbul Airport, the Havaist bus and the M11 metro reach the city in about an hour. Sabiha Gökçen Airport is on the Asian side.
Buses and flights reach Cappadocia, and high-speed trains run to Ankara and Konya. Use BiTaksi or official taxis, and insist on the meter.
Costs
What Istanbul costs
Istanbul is the most expensive city in Turkey. Dorms start around €15. A careful day is €45 to €65.
The costs that add up are the big sights, now priced in euros.
The currency is the Turkish lira, and prices change quickly with inflation; these are euro equivalents. Cards work widely, bank ATMs are best, and always pay in lira rather than accepting a conversion.
Safety
Staying safe in Istanbul
Istanbul is generally safe, with typical big-city scams. The bar scam is the one to know: a friendly stranger suggests a drink, and the bill runs to hundreds of euros. Shoe-shiners who drop their brush are running a scam too.
Use metered or app taxis. Avoid demonstrations.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Istanbul
Islands, the Black Sea and the first Ottoman capital.
Bursa
The first Ottoman capital.
Black Sea coast
Beaches at Kilyos and Şile.
Edirne
The Selimiye Mosque, Sinan's masterpiece.
Day trips from Istanbul
What's on
What is on while you are there
The tulips in April and the music festivals in summer.
Staff pick
22 Oct – 3 Dec
Istanbul Theatre Festival
The Istanbul Theatre Festival showcases an inspiring mix of local and international theater and dance, turning the city into a hub for the performing…
Staff pick
11 December
Bilal
Bilal is a Grammy-winning neo-soul singer known for his genre-blurring style that fuses jazz, funk, R&B, and experimental sounds. His emotionally rich performances highlight…
26 Sep – 12 Dec
Soner Sarıkabadayı
Soner Sarıkabadayı brings his well-known hit songs and a unique concert atmosphere to the stage. You will experience a blend of familiar melodies and…
15 November
Overkill
Formed in 1980, Overkill is a thrash metal band from New Jersey who has established themselves as one of the most successful bands on…
16 November
Sports
Sports is an indie dream-pop band from Oklahoma formed in 2015. Blending elements of psychedelic, R&B and indie rock, the trio has gained over…
21 November
Cem Adrian
Enchanting audiences with his versatile voice, Cem Adrian transcends musical boundaries, effortlessly weaving elements of folk, jazz, and avant-garde into his unique sound. Born…
27 November
Melis Fis
Melis Fis is a young and successful name in Turkish pop music, known for hits like “Gülü Sevdim Dikeni Battı” and “Misket.” Her emotional…
12 December
Cem Adrian
Enchanting audiences with his versatile voice, Cem Adrian transcends musical boundaries, effortlessly weaving elements of folk, jazz, and avant-garde into his unique sound. Born…
Hostels
Where to stay in Istanbul
The top-rated places to stay in Istanbul right now, live from Hostelworld.
Sustainable
Cheers Hostel
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
Hostel Le Banc
Rooms from €18 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Second Home Hostel
Dorms from €17 a night
See dates and book
Paris Hotel & Hostel
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Cheers Vintage Hostel
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Stanpoli Hostel
Dorms from €13 a night
See dates and book
Agora Guesthouse & Hostel
Dorms from €24 a night
See dates and book
Yolo Hostel Kadikoy
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
Archeo Hostel
Dorms from €13 a night
See dates and book
Bucoleon Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Cheers Midtown Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Cheers Lighthouse Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
When to go
April to June and September to November are best. Summers are hot and crowded.
Jan
Cold
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Tulips
May
Excellent
Jun
Music festival
Jul
Hot and busy
Aug
Hot and busy
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Good
Nov
Rainy
Dec
Quiet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are euro equivalents and move quickly with lira inflation. Excludes the major sights.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Istanbul travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How much is Hagia Sophia?
Foreign visitors pay €25 for the upper gallery. The ground floor is for worship.
Is Istanbul expensive?
More than it was. It is the priciest city in Turkey.
How do I get from the airport?
By Havaist bus or the M11 metro, about an hour.
What is the bar scam?
A stranger invites you for a drink, and the bill is enormous. Decline.
How do I cross to Asia?
By public ferry from Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy.
How many days do you need?
Four at least.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to November.
Also trending this week
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare Istanbul hostels — live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.