Istanbul travel guides
Practical, honest guides: getting from Istanbul's airports to your hotel, visiting the city's historic sights and day trips from Istanbul by private car.
Airport transfers
Galataport Cruise Port Transfers: Getting to the Airport and the Old City
Istanbul's cruise ships dock at Galataport in Karaköy, close to the old city but 40 km or more from either airport. Here is how to plan the trip on embarkation and disembarkation day.
Updated October 26, 2026
How to Get from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet in 2026
Every way from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sultanahmet and the Old City, with current prices, realistic travel times, what still runs at 3am and how hotel drop-off works in the historic lanes.
Updated October 26, 2026
How to Get from Istanbul Airport to Taksim in 2026
Every way from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Taksim Square, Beyoğlu and Galata, with current prices, realistic travel times, what runs at 3am and where cars can actually drop you.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul Airport (IST) Guide: Arrivals, Left Luggage, Lounges, Sleeping and Wi-Fi
A practical guide to Istanbul Airport's single giant terminal: what happens on arrival, where to leave bags and what it costs, lounges, sleeping options, Wi-Fi and the quickest ways into the city.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul Airport Meeting Point: How to Find Your Driver at IST and SAW
A calm, step-by-step guide from the aircraft door to the arrivals hall at Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen, including where private drivers wait and what to do if you can't see yours.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul Airport Taxi Fares in 2026: What You Will Actually Pay
The official Istanbul taxi tariff, estimated metered fares from IST and SAW to the main districts, and practical advice on payment, tolls and the tricks to watch for.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökçen: Drive Time, Options and Connection Time
Changing airports in Istanbul means crossing from Europe to Asia. Here is how long it really takes, the four ways to do it, and how much time to leave between flights.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul Layover Guide: Can You Leave the Airport, and What Fits in 6, 8 or 12 Hours?
An honest time budget for leaving Istanbul Airport on a layover, how the free Touristanbul tour works, what to do about visas and bags, and realistic plans for 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours.
Updated October 26, 2026
Money Exchange in Istanbul: Lira, ATMs, Cards and Tipping
Where to change money in Istanbul, why the airport is not the place for big amounts, how to avoid ATM and card conversion fees, when you need cash, and what to tip, as of October 2026.
Updated October 26, 2026
Sabiha Gökçen Airport to the City Center: Sultanahmet, Taksim and Kadıköy
Sabiha Gökçen sits on the Asian side, so most trips into town cross the Bosphorus. Here is how the bus, metro, taxi and private transfer options compare for Sultanahmet, Taksim and Kadıköy.
Updated October 26, 2026
SIM Card or eSIM at Istanbul Airport: Tourist Packages, Prices and the IMEI Rule
How to get mobile data when you land at IST or SAW: Turkish operators' tourist packs and what they cost, why you should set up a travel eSIM before you fly, and what the 120-day phone registration rule means for visitors.
Updated October 26, 2026
Uber at Istanbul Airport: How It Works and What It Costs
Uber works at Istanbul Airport, but it books a licensed metered taxi rather than a private car. Here is where the pickup is, what to expect on price and payment, and how it compares with BiTaksi and a pre-booked transfer.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul sights
Balat and Fener: A Walking Guide to the Golden Horn's Old Quarters
A self-guided walk through Balat and Fener: the colourful houses of Kiremit Caddesi, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Bulgarian iron church, where to stop for coffee, and how to get there.
Updated October 26, 2026
Basilica Cistern Visitor Guide: Tickets, Opening Hours and Night Visits
The 6th-century Byzantine cistern under Sultanahmet changed operator in June 2026. Here is what is confirmed about hours and tickets, what is not, and how to fit it into a day in the old city.
Updated October 26, 2026
Blue Mosque Visitor Guide: Opening Hours, Dress Code and Etiquette
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is free to visit and fully reopened after its restoration. Here is how prayer times shape the visit, what to wear and how to fit it into a day in the old city.
Updated October 26, 2026
Bosphorus Cruise Guide: Public Ferry Tours, Private Boats and Dinner Cruises
Every way to see the Bosphorus from the water, from a ₺60 commuter ferry to a private yacht, with the official Şehir Hatları timetables and fares as of October 2026 and what to check before you book anything else.
Updated October 26, 2026
Chora Church (Kariye Mosque): Tickets, Opening Hours and the Mosaics
The Chora's Byzantine mosaics and frescoes are on view again since the building reopened as the Kariye Mosque in 2024. Current ticket price, hours, closures, what to look for and how to get there.
Updated October 26, 2026
Dolmabahçe Palace Visitor Guide: Tickets, Hours and Tips
Current ticket prices for foreign visitors, opening hours, closing days, photography rules and how to combine Dolmabahçe with Beşiktaş, Ortaköy and Bebek.
Updated October 26, 2026
Galata Tower: Tickets, Opening Hours and Queue Tips
The official ticket price and opening hours of Galata Tower as of October 2026, when the queue is shortest, what is inside, and how to combine it with a walk across the Golden Horn.
Updated October 26, 2026
Grand Bazaar Istanbul: A Practical Visitor Guide
When the Grand Bazaar is open (and when it is not), how to bargain without stress, what is worth buying, and how to combine it with Süleymaniye and the Spice Bazaar on foot.
Updated October 26, 2026
Hagia Sophia Visitor Guide: Tickets, Opening Hours and Dress Code
How a visit to Hagia Sophia works now that it is a mosque again: the separate tourist entrance and gallery ticket, prayer-time closures, what to wear and how to fit it into a day in Sultanahmet.
Updated October 26, 2026
Is Istanbul Safe? A Practical Guide for 2026
What the UK and US governments say about Istanbul as of October 2026, the scams visitors actually run into, how to get around safely at night, and the numbers to call if something goes wrong.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul Archaeology Museums and the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum: A Visitor's Guide
Prices, opening hours and highlights of two of Istanbul's best museums as of October 2026, including the reopened Museum of the Ancient Orient, how long to allow and how to fit them into a day in Sultanahmet.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul Itinerary: How to Spend 1, 2 or 3 Days
Day-by-day plans for one, two and three days in Istanbul, built around opening times and weekly closures, with ferries, the Asian side and tips for your arrival and departure days.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul Public Transport: Istanbulkart, Fares and the Lines Visitors Use
How the Istanbulkart works, what a ride costs on the metro, tram, ferries and Marmaray as of October 2026, which lines matter for visitors, and when a car is the better choice.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istanbul with Kids: Family Activities, Prices and Practical Tips
Where to take children in Istanbul as of October 2026, from the aquarium, Miniatürk and the Rahmi M. Koç Museum to ferries and car-free islands, plus advice on strollers, food, public transport and child seats.
Updated October 26, 2026
Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square: The Walk from Galata to Taksim
How to walk Istiklal Avenue from Galata Tower to Taksim Square, what to look out for on the way, how the nostalgic tram and the Tünel work, and the scams worth knowing about.
Updated October 26, 2026
Kadıköy and Moda: A Day on Istanbul's Asian Side
How to take the ferry to Kadıköy and what it costs, where to eat in the market, a walk through Moda to the seafront, and the changes to know about as of October 2026.
Updated October 26, 2026
Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi): Tickets, Boats and How to Get There
How much the Maiden's Tower costs, where the boats leave from, the official boat timetable and opening hours, and how to combine a visit with Üsküdar and the Bosphorus.
Updated October 26, 2026
Museum Pass Istanbul: Price, What It Covers and Whether It Is Worth It
The Ministry of Culture's €105 MuseumPass Istanbul explained: the sites on the official list, the big names it does not cover, the Topkapı Harem question, and simple sums to tell whether it saves you money.
Updated October 26, 2026
Ortaköy, Bebek and Arnavutköy: A Guide to the Bosphorus Villages
Three waterside neighbourhoods on the European shore of the Bosphorus: what to see in each, a walking route from Ortaköy to Rumeli Fortress, and how to get there by bus, ferry or car.
Updated October 26, 2026
Princes' Islands Day Trip: Ferries to Büyükada, Fares and Tips
Which pier to use, how long the ferry takes, what it costs with an İstanbulkart, how to get around islands without cars, and a realistic plan for a day on Büyükada.
Updated October 26, 2026
Rumeli Fortress (Rumeli Hisarı): Opening Hours, Tickets and History
The fortress Mehmed II built in a few months in 1452, with current hours, ticket price, closing day and how to combine it with Bebek and the Bosphorus shore.
Updated October 26, 2026
Spice Bazaar Istanbul: A Practical Visitor Guide
When the Spice Bazaar in Eminönü is open, what is worth buying (and what to check before you do), and how to pair it with the Grand Bazaar and Süleymaniye on foot.
Updated October 26, 2026
Süleymaniye Mosque: A Practical Visitor Guide
When you can visit Süleymaniye between prayers, what to wear, where to find the view over the Golden Horn, and how to combine it with the bazaars below.
Updated October 26, 2026
The Best Time to Visit Istanbul: Weather by Month, Crowds and Holidays
Long-term weather averages for every month, what each season is really like, when the crowds peak, and the Ramadan and public holiday dates that affect opening hours and traffic.
Updated October 26, 2026
Things to Do in Istanbul: A First-Timer's Guide for 2026
Hagia Sophia and Topkapı, a Bosphorus ferry, the bazaars, Galata, the Asian side and the quieter old quarters: what is worth your time on a first visit, with ticket prices and closing days as of October 2026.
Updated October 26, 2026
Topkapı Palace Visitor Guide: Tickets, the Harem and Opening Hours
Official 2026 ticket prices for Topkapı Palace, the Harem and Hagia Irene, when the palace is closed, how long to allow and how to combine it with the rest of Sultanahmet.
Updated October 26, 2026
Turkish Bath in Istanbul: Hammams, Prices and Etiquette
Five historic hammams compared, with the prices and opening hours they publish as of October 2026, a step-by-step of what happens inside, and the etiquette first-timers worry about.
Updated October 26, 2026
What to Eat in Istanbul: Turkish Food to Try and Where
The dishes worth seeking out in Istanbul, from a full Turkish breakfast and balık ekmek to baklava and boza, with the neighbourhoods and kinds of places where they are best.
Updated October 26, 2026
Where to Stay in Istanbul: The Best Areas for Your Trip
An honest comparison of Istanbul's main hotel areas: who each one suits, how well it is connected, what the drawbacks are, and what the airport transfer costs to each.
Updated October 26, 2026
Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul: Where to See a Sema Ceremony
What the Mevlevi sema is, where you can see it in Istanbul as of October 2026, what tickets cost, how to behave during the ceremony and how to fit it into an evening.
Updated October 26, 2026
Day trips
Bursa Day Trip from Istanbul: How to Get There and What to See
How to reach Bursa from Istanbul by car, sea bus or coach, a realistic one-day plan covering the Grand Mosque, Koza Han, the Green Mosque, Cumalıkızık and Uludağ, and what to know before you go.
Updated October 26, 2026
Edirne Day Trip from Istanbul: Selimiye Mosque, Bazaars and Bridges
How to get from Istanbul to Edirne by car, fast train or bus as of October 2026, a timed one-day plan around Sinan's Selimiye Mosque, the old bazaars and the Ottoman bridges, and what to eat.
Updated October 26, 2026
Sapanca Day Trip from Istanbul: Lake Sapanca, Maşukiye and Kartepe
How to get from Istanbul to Sapanca by car, train or bus, a relaxed one-day plan around the lake, the trout restaurants of Maşukiye and the Kartepe cable car, and when to avoid the traffic.
Updated October 26, 2026
Şile and Ağva Day Trip from Istanbul: Lighthouse, River and Black Sea Beaches
How to reach Şile and Ağva on Istanbul's Black Sea coast by car or bus, a relaxed one-day plan from the Şile lighthouse to a boat trip on the Göksu, and why you should only swim where there are lifeguards.
Updated October 26, 2026
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