{"id":1303098,"date":"2026-09-26T20:17:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T20:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?page_id=1303098"},"modified":"2026-10-01T16:37:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T16:37:24","slug":"istanbul","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/europe\/turkey\/istanbul\/","title":{"rendered":"Istanbul"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"parent":1302780,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"hw-hub-city","meta":{"footnotes":"","hw_hub_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_hero_image":"","hw_hub_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_why_title":"","hw_hub_why_body":"","hw_hub_why_link_label":"","hw_hub_why_link_url":"","hw_hub_why_cards":"","hw_hub_stats":"","hw_hub_countries_title":"","hw_hub_countries_intro":"","hw_hub_featured":"","hw_hub_regions":"","hw_hub_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_hostels":"","hw_hub_when_title":"","hw_hub_when_intro":"","hw_hub_seasons":"","hw_hub_costs_title":"","hw_hub_costs_body":"","hw_hub_cost_rows":"","hw_hub_cost_note":"","hw_hub_money_reads":"","hw_hub_rail_title":"","hw_hub_rail_body":"","hw_hub_rail_link_label":"","hw_hub_rail_link_url":"","hw_hub_rail_image":"","hw_hub_routes":"","hw_hub_events_title":"","hw_hub_events_intro":"","hw_hub_events_source":"","hw_hub_events_continent":"","hw_hub_events_count":"","hw_hub_events_cache":"","hw_hub_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_events":"","hw_hub_events_pills":"","hw_hub_reads_intro":"","hw_hub_article_rows":"","hw_hub_show_read_time":"","hw_hub_all_title":"","hw_hub_all_body":"","hw_hub_all_cta":"","hw_hub_trips_title":"","hw_hub_trips_note":"","hw_hub_trips":"","hw_hub_faq_title":"","hw_hub_faq_note":"","hw_hub_faqs":"","hw_hub_cta_title":"","hw_hub_cta_body":"","hw_hub_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_hub_term":"","hw_hub_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_country_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_country_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_country_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hero_image":"","hw_hub_country_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_country_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_country_stats":"","hw_hub_country_intro_title":"","hw_hub_country_intro_body":"","hw_hub_country_facts":"","hw_hub_country_cities_title":"","hw_hub_country_cities_intro":"","hw_hub_country_cities_live":"","hw_hub_country_cities":"","hw_hub_country_trips_title":"","hw_hub_country_trips_intro":"","hw_hub_country_trip_types":"","hw_hub_country_do_title":"","hw_hub_country_do_body":"","hw_hub_country_do_points":"","hw_hub_country_do_tag":"","hw_hub_country_do_more":"","hw_hub_country_food_title":"","hw_hub_country_food_body":"","hw_hub_country_food_points":"","hw_hub_country_food_tag":"","hw_hub_country_food_more":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_title":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_body":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_points":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_tag":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_more":"","hw_hub_country_transport_title":"","hw_hub_country_transport_body":"","hw_hub_country_transport_points":"","hw_hub_country_transport_tag":"","hw_hub_country_transport_more":"","hw_hub_country_money_title":"","hw_hub_country_money_body":"","hw_hub_country_money_points":"","hw_hub_country_money_tag":"","hw_hub_country_money_more":"","hw_hub_country_safety_title":"","hw_hub_country_safety_body":"","hw_hub_country_safety_points":"","hw_hub_country_safety_tag":"","hw_hub_country_safety_more":"","hw_hub_country_entry_title":"","hw_hub_country_entry_body":"","hw_hub_country_entry_points":"","hw_hub_country_entry_tag":"","hw_hub_country_entry_more":"","hw_hub_country_season_title":"","hw_hub_country_season_intro":"","hw_hub_country_season_note":"","hw_hub_country_season_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_title":"","hw_hub_country_budget_intro":"","hw_hub_country_budget_note":"","hw_hub_country_budget_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_currency":"","hw_hub_country_events_title":"","hw_hub_country_events_intro":"","hw_hub_country_events_source":"","hw_hub_country_events_country":"","hw_hub_country_events_count":"","hw_hub_country_events_cache":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_events":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_country_hostels":"","hw_hub_country_faq_title"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city guide","hw_hub_city_hero_h1":"Things To Do In Istanbul","hw_hub_city_hero_intro":"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.","hw_hub_city_hero_image":"1303100","hw_hub_city_hero_overlay":"light","hw_hub_city_hero_cta":"Where to stay | #areas\r\nWhat it costs | #money","hw_hub_city_live_stats":"1","hw_hub_city_stats":"2 | Continents\r\n15m+ | People\r\n1985 | Historic areas join UNESCO","hw_hub_city_intro_title":"Where Europe meets Asia","hw_hub_city_intro_body":"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, Topkap\u0131 Palace and the Grand Bazaar. The historic areas are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\r\n\r\nThe Bosphorus splits the city between Europe and Asia, and the ferries that cross it are one of the great cheap pleasures of travel.\r\n\r\nIstanbul 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.","hw_hub_city_facts":"Getting in from the airport | Havaist bus or M11 metro, about an hour\r\nGetting around | Istanbulkart for metro, tram and ferries\r\nLanguage | Turkish. English in tourist areas\r\nTipping | 10% in restaurants\r\nTap water | Most drink bottled\r\nHow long to stay | Four days","hw_hub_city_areas_title":"Where to stay","hw_hub_city_areas_intro":"Sultanahmet for the sights, Beyo\u011flu and Karak\u00f6y for nightlife, Kad\u0131k\u00f6y on the Asian side for a local feel.","hw_hub_city_areas_map":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_zoom":"13","hw_hub_city_hostels_pins":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_live":"1","hw_hub_city_areas":"Sultanahmet | First-timers | The historic peninsula. | 41.0055 | 28.9768 | sultanahmet | \nBeyo\u011flu | Nightlife | \u0130stiklal, Taksim and Galata. | 41.0340 | 28.9770 | beyoglu | \nKarak\u00f6y | Food and bars | On the water below Galata. | 41.0220 | 28.9760 | karakoy | \nKad\u0131k\u00f6y | Local | The Asian side. | 40.9900 | 29.0280 | kad\u0131koy | ","hw_hub_city_itin_title":"How long have you got?","hw_hub_city_itin_intro":"The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.","hw_hub_city_itin":"","hw_hub_city_do_title":"Things to do in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_do_body":"Hagia Sophia has been a mosque again since 2020; foreign visitors pay \u20ac25 to enter the upper gallery, while the ground floor is kept for worship. The Blue Mosque and the S\u00fcleymaniye Mosque are free; dress modestly and avoid prayer times.\r\n\r\nTopkap\u0131 Palace, the Basilica Cistern and the Archaeology Museums are ticketed, and major sites are now priced in euros for foreign visitors.\r\n\r\nLose yourself in the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, then take a public ferry up the Bosphorus or across to Kad\u0131k\u00f6y on the Asian side.\r\n\r\nWalk through the colourful streets of Balat and Fener, climb the Galata Tower, and spend a day on the car-free Princes' Islands.","hw_hub_city_do_points":"Hagia Sophia | \u20ac25 for the upper gallery\r\nBlue Mosque | Free\r\nGrand Bazaar | Get lost\r\nBosphorus ferry | A bus-fare cruise","hw_hub_city_do_tag":"things-to-do","hw_hub_city_do_more":"All things to do in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_free_title":"Free things to do in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_free_body":"The Blue Mosque, the S\u00fcleymaniye Mosque and the bazaars are free to enter.\r\n\r\nThe ferries across the Bosphorus cost the same as a bus ticket, and the waterfront walks are free.","hw_hub_city_free_points":"Mosques | Free\r\nBazaars | Free\r\nFerries | Bus fare\r\nBalat | Free to wander","hw_hub_city_free_tag":"free-things-to-do","hw_hub_city_free_more":"All free things to do in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_food_title":"Eating and drinking in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_food_body":"Istanbul is one of the great food cities. Simit, the sesame bread ring, for breakfast; bal\u0131k ekmek, grilled fish sandwiches, at Emin\u00f6n\u00fc; lahmacun, pide and kebabs everywhere; and lokantas serving home cooking by the plate.\r\n\r\nKad\u0131k\u00f6y's market streets are the best place to eat. A lokanta meal is \u20ac5 to \u20ac9; restaurants in Sultanahmet charge far more.","hw_hub_city_food_points":"Simit | Breakfast bread ring\r\nBal\u0131k ekmek | Fish sandwich\r\nLokantas | Home cooking\r\nKad\u0131k\u00f6y market | The best food","hw_hub_city_food_tag":"food","hw_hub_city_food_more":"All food guides for Istanbul","hw_hub_city_nightlife_title":"Going out in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_nightlife_body":"Beyo\u011flu, around \u0130stiklal Avenue, and Karak\u00f6y are the centre of the nightlife, with rooftop bars, meyhanes serving rak\u0131 and meze, and clubs. Kad\u0131k\u00f6y has the best bar streets on the Asian side.\r\n\r\nAlcohol is heavily taxed; a beer is \u20ac5 to \u20ac8.","hw_hub_city_nightlife_points":"Beyo\u011flu | Bars and clubs\r\nMeyhanes | Rak\u0131 and meze\r\nKad\u0131k\u00f6y | Asian-side bars\r\nA beer | \u20ac5\u20138","hw_hub_city_nightlife_tag":"nightlife","hw_hub_city_nightlife_more":"All nightlife guides for Istanbul","hw_hub_city_transport_title":"Getting around Istanbul","hw_hub_city_transport_body":"Buy an Istanbulkart and use it on the metro, trams, buses and ferries.\r\n\r\nFrom Istanbul Airport, the Havaist bus and the M11 metro reach the city in about an hour. Sabiha G\u00f6k\u00e7en Airport is on the Asian side.\r\n\r\nBuses and flights reach Cappadocia, and high-speed trains run to Ankara and Konya. Use BiTaksi or official taxis, and insist on the meter.","hw_hub_city_transport_points":"Istanbulkart | Everything\r\nAirport | Havaist or M11\r\nFerries | Across the Bosphorus\r\nTaxis | Metered or app","hw_hub_city_transport_tag":"transport","hw_hub_city_transport_more":"All transport guides for Istanbul","hw_hub_city_money_title":"What Istanbul costs","hw_hub_city_money_body":"Istanbul is the most expensive city in Turkey. Dorms start around \u20ac15. A careful day is \u20ac45 to \u20ac65.\r\n\r\nThe costs that add up are the big sights, now priced in euros.\r\n\r\nThe 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.","hw_hub_city_money_points":"Dorm bed | From about \u20ac15\r\nA day, all in | \u20ac45\u201365\r\nBig sights | Priced in euros\r\nLira | Pay in lira","hw_hub_city_money_tag":"budget","hw_hub_city_money_more":"All budget guides for Istanbul","hw_hub_city_safety_title":"Staying safe in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_safety_body":"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.\r\n\r\nUse metered or app taxis. Avoid demonstrations.\r\n\r\nEmergency number is 112.","hw_hub_city_safety_points":"Bar scam | Decline drinks with strangers\r\nShoe-shiners | A scam\r\nTaxis | Use the meter\r\nEmergency | 112","hw_hub_city_safety_tag":"safety","hw_hub_city_safety_more":"All safety guides for Istanbul","hw_hub_city_trips_title":"Day trips from Istanbul","hw_hub_city_trips_intro":"Islands, the Black Sea and the first Ottoman capital.","hw_hub_city_trips":"Bursa | About 2.5 hours | Ferry and bus | The first Ottoman capital. |  | 1303101\nBlack Sea coast | About 1 hour | Bus | Beaches at Kilyos and \u015eile. |  | 1303102\nEdirne | About 2.5 hours | Bus | The Selimiye Mosque, Sinan's masterpiece. |  | 1303103","hw_hub_city_trips_tag":"day-trips","hw_hub_city_trips_more":"All day trips from Istanbul","hw_hub_city_season_title":"When to go","hw_hub_city_season_intro":"April to June and September to November are best. Summers are hot and crowded.","hw_hub_city_season_note":"Average highs.","hw_hub_city_season_rows":"January | 9 | 1 | Cold\r\nFebruary | 10 | 1 | Quiet\r\nMarch | 12 | 2 | Spring\r\nApril | 17 | 4 | Tulips\r\nMay | 22 | 4 | Excellent\r\nJune | 27 | 4 | Music festival\r\nJuly | 29 | 5 | Hot and busy\r\nAugust | 29 | 5 | Hot and busy\r\nSeptember | 25 | 4 | Excellent\r\nOctober | 20 | 3 | Good\r\nNovember | 15 | 2 | Rainy\r\nDecember | 11 | 2 | Quiet","hw_hub_city_events_title":"What is on while you are there","hw_hub_city_events_intro":"The tulips in April and the music festivals in summer.","hw_hub_city_events_source":"api","hw_hub_city_events_count":"8","hw_hub_city_events_cache":"24","hw_hub_city_events_cta_label":"All events in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_events_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/events\/europe\/turkey\/istanbul\/","hw_hub_city_events":"Tulip Festival | April | Emirgan Park and citywide | Millions of tulips in the parks. |  | \nIstanbul Music Festival | June | Venues across the city | Classical music in historic venues. |  | \nIstanbul Jazz Festival | July | Venues across the city | Jazz across the city. |  | \nIstanbul Biennial | Autumn, odd years | Venues across the city | Contemporary art. |  | ","hw_hub_city_budget_title":"What your trip will cost","hw_hub_city_budget_intro":"Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.","hw_hub_city_budget_note":"Prices are euro equivalents and move quickly with lira inflation. Excludes the major sights.","hw_hub_city_budget_rows":"Shoestring | 15 | 12 | 4 | 10\r\nMiddle of the road | 25 | 25 | 6 | 25\r\nComfortable | 45 | 40 | 12 | 45","hw_hub_city_budget_currency":"\u20ac","hw_hub_city_hostels_title":"Where to stay in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_hostels_intro":"The top-rated places to stay in Istanbul right now, live from Hostelworld.","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_label":"All hostels in Istanbul","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/europe\/turkey\/istanbul\/","hw_hub_city_hostels_source":"api","hw_hub_city_hostels_count":"12","hw_hub_city_hostels_cache":"12","hw_hub_city_picks":"Best for solo travellers |  |  | \nBest for a party |  |  | \nQuietest |  |  | ","hw_hub_city_hostels":"","hw_hub_city_faq_title":"Istanbul travel questions","hw_hub_city_faq_note":"The ones we get asked most.","hw_hub_city_faqs":"How much is Hagia Sophia? | Foreign visitors pay \u20ac25 for the upper gallery. The ground floor is for worship.\r\nIs Istanbul expensive? | More than it was. It is the priciest city in Turkey.\r\nHow do I get from the airport? | By Havaist bus or the M11 metro, about an hour.\r\nWhat is the bar scam? | A stranger invites you for a drink, and the bill is enormous. Decline.\r\nHow do I cross to Asia? | By public ferry from Emin\u00f6n\u00fc or Karak\u00f6y to Kad\u0131k\u00f6y.\r\nHow many days do you need? | Four at least.\r\nWhen is the best time to visit? | April to June and September to November.","hw_hub_city_cta_title":"Say yes to hostels, meet the world","hw_hub_city_cta_body":"Compare Istanbul hostels \u2014 live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.","hw_hub_city_cta_buttons":"Find hostels in Istanbul | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/europe\/turkey\/istanbul\/\r\nGet the app | https:\/\/hostelworld.onelink.me\/IdiK\/f5a50nhd","hw_hub_city_newsletter_title":"Get the good stuff monthly","hw_hub_city_newsletter_body":"New city guides, deals and route ideas. No filler.","hw_hub_city_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_city_hub_term":"istanbul","hw_hub_city_city_slug":"istanbul","hw_hub_city_country_slug":"turkey","hw_hub_city_parent_hub":"europe\/turkey","hw_hub_city_currency":"EUR","hw_hub_city_scope_rows":"1"},"class_list":["post-1303098","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","wpbf-post"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Things To Do In Istanbul - Hostelworld Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Things to do in Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, free mosques and bazaars, and Bosphorus ferries for a bus fare. 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