Welcome to Istanbul: Your Ultimate City Guide
Discover the magic of Istanbul, where ancient history meets vibrant modernity. From the iconic Bosphorus to bustling bazaars, let us guide you through this incredible city that bridges two continents.
Must-see attractions
Expert guidance to help you plan your trip
Best Neighborhoods
Explore the distinct neighborhoods of Istanbul with this guide to what to expect in each one.
Day Trips
Tear yourself away from vibrant Istanbul and discover wonderful countryside and charming towns. Here are our 15 favorite day trips from Istanbul.
Transportation
Istanbul's scale and traffic jams can be daunting to travelers but the city's compact center and transport options make it a breeze if you're in the know.
Free Things to Do
From mosques and markets to art galleries and monuments, some of Istanbul's best sites don't cost a thing.
Discover the Best Travel Deals
Plan your perfect trip with unbeatable flight and hotel offers. Whether you're heading for a business trip or a vacation, find the best options to suit your needs in just a few clicks.
Explore Affordable Destinations Near You
Discover amazing deals on flights and hotels with an interactive map. Browse affordable travel options across nearby regions and plan your next adventure with ease.
Latest Reviews
Syeda A2025-01-06 Istanbul tour Jan 2025 My husband, 2 sons and myself thoroughly enjoyed our 1 day tour with Fatma. She has a lovely personality and did an excellent job explaining the history and details of each landmark. She was also very accomodating with my 8 year old son as he had to take various food and restroom breaks. It was amazing and we hope to have a chance to return and do more! SRIRAM L2025-01-06 Excellent experience This tour really depends on the guide that you get. Our guide Songul was very good, on time and very professional. You can also hire a private van as well to go around the sites. She was very friendly, took photos for us, gave us context, explanations for various structures and buildings. Shared historical explanations for all the sites that we visited. I am giving 4.5/5 instead of 5/5 because we felt she could have gone little more in depth in her explanations. Overall excellent. Highly recommended. BevyC2025-01-06 Feyza, exceptional tour guide Our tour guide, Feyza, was exceptional. Her deep knowledge of Istanbul's history, culture, and hidden gems enriched our experience at every turn. She generously offered tailored suggestions for my self-exploration day, ensuring I could make the most of my time in the city. Feyza's flexibility and attentiveness in planning the itinerary made the tour seamless and enjoyable. Her ability to adapt to our preferences while still covering key highlights was impressive. I highly recommend her for an unforgettable Istanbul journey! Josita Jealyn S2025-01-05 Discriminate Discriminate . Don't go here. She does that to her workers if they don't wanna work here again . discrimation against micronesians. Eyes Blue 1202025-01-05 A fabulous day in Istanbul with a fabulous guide! We have traveled all over the world and Oz is the best guide we have ever had. He is not only extremely knowledgeable as a guide but also a wonderful and caring person. He went out of his way to accommodate our needs and interests. We were very lucky to have him as our guide for a fantastic day in Istanbul. Manuel L2025-01-05 From all the must visit places to hidden gems in only 2 days with Ali The 2-day tour with my guide Ali was a fantastic experience.As I visited Istanbul quite spontaneously, I was not prepared too well in what I would like to visit. To my luck, Ali tried to get to know me and my interests so that he could recommend me places that I might enjoy.In only two days he shows me the must visit places such as Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Irene, Dolmabahçe Palace, Basilica Cistern, Taksim Square, a Bosphorus tour and the most important bazars. While he was able to explain me everything there in every detail I would like to know, he also explained me legends and mysteries where he clearly stated that this was current belief and not proven facts.As Ali figured out I was a foodie and into sports, he showed me some great authentic food places I would have never been able to find alone. Also he showed me a pub street where a mass of Galatasaray supporters prepared for the upcoming home game with chants and a great atmosphere. While that’s neither Ali’s nor my team, this experience was something you would not find in most other countries.Also, I wanted to take some spices, tea and Baklava back with me, so Ali recommended me his favorite places. Definitely the best Baklava I ever had!Ali knows the people and places. If you tell him what you like, I am sure you will also have a fantastic Istanbul trip with him! Renju N2025-01-05 An Amazing Way to Discover Istanbul I recently took this private guided tour of Istanbul with Hazal as my guide, and it was absolutely incredible. As someone visiting for the first time, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to explore the city. Hazal was knowledgeable, friendly, and flexible, tailoring the experience to my interests and pace.From the breathtaking architecture of the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque to the lively Spice Market and stunning Bosphorus views, every stop was a highlight. Hazal’s passion for Istanbul’s history and culture made everything come to life, and she patiently answered all my questions.Whether you have one, two, or three days, this tour with Hazal is the perfect introduction to Istanbul’s charm and rich heritage. I left feeling inspired and deeply connected to this amazing city. Highly recommend! StBartslover2025-01-04 One of the best Mehmet was outstanding! He showed me Istanbul as only a true insider could. Not on ly was he a great guide, I( feel like I've found a new friend! Tim S2025-01-03 Awesome Guide Our 1 day tour with Zafer was awesome! He was very accommodating to what we wanted to see and his knowledge base is one of a kind. He kept the interest of everyone in the group, even our teenagers! Would highly recommend. Robert P2025-01-03 Istanbul memories Our visit to Istanbul was much more meaningful, with Atahan as our guide. We learned so much about not only the sites but also Turkish culture in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. Atahan treated us more like friends than tourists, leaving us with wonderful memories of a great city and rich culture. Thank you!
Syeda A2025-01-06 Istanbul tour Jan 2025 My husband, 2 sons and myself thoroughly enjoyed our 1 day tour with Fatma. She has a lovely personality and did an excellent job explaining the history and details of each landmark. She was also very accomodating with my 8 year old son as he had to take various food and restroom breaks. It was amazing and we hope to have a chance to return and do more! SRIRAM L2025-01-06 Excellent experience This tour really depends on the guide that you get. Our guide Songul was very good, on time and very professional. You can also hire a private van as well to go around the sites. She was very friendly, took photos for us, gave us context, explanations for various structures and buildings. Shared historical explanations for all the sites that we visited. I am giving 4.5/5 instead of 5/5 because we felt she could have gone little more in depth in her explanations. Overall excellent. Highly recommended. BevyC2025-01-06 Feyza, exceptional tour guide Our tour guide, Feyza, was exceptional. Her deep knowledge of Istanbul's history, culture, and hidden gems enriched our experience at every turn. She generously offered tailored suggestions for my self-exploration day, ensuring I could make the most of my time in the city. Feyza's flexibility and attentiveness in planning the itinerary made the tour seamless and enjoyable. Her ability to adapt to our preferences while still covering key highlights was impressive. I highly recommend her for an unforgettable Istanbul journey! Josita Jealyn S2025-01-05 Discriminate Discriminate . Don't go here. She does that to her workers if they don't wanna work here again . discrimation against micronesians. Eyes Blue 1202025-01-05 A fabulous day in Istanbul with a fabulous guide! We have traveled all over the world and Oz is the best guide we have ever had. He is not only extremely knowledgeable as a guide but also a wonderful and caring person. He went out of his way to accommodate our needs and interests. We were very lucky to have him as our guide for a fantastic day in Istanbul. Manuel L2025-01-05 From all the must visit places to hidden gems in only 2 days with Ali The 2-day tour with my guide Ali was a fantastic experience.As I visited Istanbul quite spontaneously, I was not prepared too well in what I would like to visit. To my luck, Ali tried to get to know me and my interests so that he could recommend me places that I might enjoy.In only two days he shows me the must visit places such as Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Irene, Dolmabahçe Palace, Basilica Cistern, Taksim Square, a Bosphorus tour and the most important bazars. While he was able to explain me everything there in every detail I would like to know, he also explained me legends and mysteries where he clearly stated that this was current belief and not proven facts.As Ali figured out I was a foodie and into sports, he showed me some great authentic food places I would have never been able to find alone. Also he showed me a pub street where a mass of Galatasaray supporters prepared for the upcoming home game with chants and a great atmosphere. While that’s neither Ali’s nor my team, this experience was something you would not find in most other countries.Also, I wanted to take some spices, tea and Baklava back with me, so Ali recommended me his favorite places. Definitely the best Baklava I ever had!Ali knows the people and places. If you tell him what you like, I am sure you will also have a fantastic Istanbul trip with him! Renju N2025-01-05 An Amazing Way to Discover Istanbul I recently took this private guided tour of Istanbul with Hazal as my guide, and it was absolutely incredible. As someone visiting for the first time, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to explore the city. Hazal was knowledgeable, friendly, and flexible, tailoring the experience to my interests and pace.From the breathtaking architecture of the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque to the lively Spice Market and stunning Bosphorus views, every stop was a highlight. Hazal’s passion for Istanbul’s history and culture made everything come to life, and she patiently answered all my questions.Whether you have one, two, or three days, this tour with Hazal is the perfect introduction to Istanbul’s charm and rich heritage. I left feeling inspired and deeply connected to this amazing city. Highly recommend! StBartslover2025-01-04 One of the best Mehmet was outstanding! He showed me Istanbul as only a true insider could. Not on ly was he a great guide, I( feel like I've found a new friend! Tim S2025-01-03 Awesome Guide Our 1 day tour with Zafer was awesome! He was very accommodating to what we wanted to see and his knowledge base is one of a kind. He kept the interest of everyone in the group, even our teenagers! Would highly recommend. Robert P2025-01-03 Istanbul memories Our visit to Istanbul was much more meaningful, with Atahan as our guide. We learned so much about not only the sites but also Turkish culture in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. Atahan treated us more like friends than tourists, leaving us with wonderful memories of a great city and rich culture. Thank you!
