10 Best Things To Do in Istanbul

There are few who are not impressed by Turkey's capital. Its culture, its customs, its food, its mosques... everything is unique and special in Istanbul.

Once youhave arranged your transfer between the airport and the city, the first thing you need to know is that Istanbul is a big city and there are many things worth seeing. You could spend weeks wandering the streets and still not have seen it all. The second thing you will realise during these walks is that in Istanbul everything is different and everything has a meaning; from the names of the streets to the beautiful monuments to the gestures you will see people making in the bazaar. To decipher all this, the best way is to take a guided walking tour of the different areas of the Turkish capital.

On any of the tours and excursions you can take around Istanbul, a local guide will accompany you for two or three hours and show you the city's main monuments while explaining their significance using a discourse that goes beyond the standard information you can find in any guidebook for a very affordable price.

There are different options depending on the neighbourhoods of Istanbul you want to visit and also depending on the part of history you are most interested in. You'll be able to see the city's best mosques, whether you're visiting the Turkish capital in summer or winter, as any time of year is ideal for a visit.

Tours are also available in several languages, some of which include hotel pick-up and drop-off or bus tours. Whichever option you choose, the experience will be one of discovering the city from a different perspective to that of the average tourist.

This option is recommended whether you have one day to see Istanbul or three days or more. It will help you get to know its peculiarities from the inside.

The Bosphorus River separates the city of Istanbul into two parts: the European part and the Asian part. The same river in turn enters the European part in a stretch known as "The Golden Horn", dividing it between the Old City and the Galata district. In short, the Bosphorus is not only an emblem of Istanbul, but a boat trip on the Bosphorus is a popular choice for visitors to Istanbul, which is why it is so popular with visitors to the city.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to enjoy this experience. For a very reasonable price you can find a tour that, in addition to cruising the Bosphorus River with a guide, offers you the chance to see the city from a chairlift and from a bus to get every possible perspective of Istanbul's beauty. I'll tell you all about it in this article on the best trips to the Bosphorus strait.

As well as touring it by boat, the Bosphorus must be admired from the shore, specifically at sunset as the bustle of the city subsides and you hear the call to prayer ring out. This will be one of the images of the city that will stick in your mind and will become a symbol of your trip.

If there is one time of year when this excursion is most recommended, it is undoubtedly summer. That's why you should put it on your list of things to do in July, as well as on your list of things to do in August.

What you will see from the boat

Another tip I would like to give you for travelling to Istanbul is to try the tasty Turkish food with one of the gastronomic tours that this fantastic city has to offer.

Turkish cuisine is famous all over the world and when you travel to Istanbul you realise that it goes far beyond the well-known kebab that has reached many other countries. Turkey has flavours worth discovering and one way to do this is by taking a culinary tour of Istanbul.

With a culinary tour of the city, an expert guide will take you to typical places in the capital to sample the main dishes while you learn details of how they are made and how food becomes a ritual in this country. This experience will also help you get to know the city from a different point of view, away from the tourist routes.

If you choose this type of tour, don't hesitate to ask your guide for recommendations that may be useful during your trip. Some of the dishes you will try include Turkish pizza, simit, dolma and baklava. You can book it online and choose the day and time that suits you best; I recommend booking it on the second or third day of your trip after you have already toured the city on your own.

If you can find enough time during your trip, I highly recommend visiting other cities in Turkey even if your main destination is Istanbul. This is not always easy if you do it on your own, as finding your way around the country can be difficult if you have no experience of it. To solve this problem, there are excursions around Istanbul that will take you to places such as Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale.

This type of organised excursion allows you to forget about timetables and transport, as all travel, flight tickets and accommodation are included if you are going to spend the night out. Although you can see these cities in a day trip, my advice is to take a longer excursion so that you can discover them in depth and without rushing.

Top places to visit in Turkey

Istanbul is a city full of mosques and temples that you'll see as soon as you land in the city. It's practically impossible to visit them all, but you can't miss the two main ones: Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, located just a few metres from each other.

These two mosques are two of the most famous and most visited works of art in the city. To enter the Blue Mosque, women must cover their hair, so it is always advisable to carry a headscarf in your backpack for this purpose. These places of worship are entered barefoot and, although plastic bags will be provided at the entrance, it is advisable to bring an extra pair of socks for comfort.

Although a visit inside is a must, the exterior of both buildings will impress you in itself, so feel free to wander around and look for the best vantage point for what will be one of the most iconic photographs of your trip. Take your time for this visit because it will be one of the most memorable of all your visits to Istanbul.

A very practical way to get to know both mosques is by taking the tourist bus. Along the way, thanks to its open-air first floor, you'll be able to enjoy panoramic views of the special Turkish architecture. If you're travelling in colder months, such as January or February, it may be best to travel in the covered part of the bus, as the humidity and wind typical of Istanbul can make you feel cold as the bus travels through the streets.

Topkapi Palace is the symbol of the power that the region of Constantinople achieved as the seat of the Ottoman Empire. A visit is a must, so I will tell you how to visit this special palace, highlighting its wonderful gardens, the Harem Hall and the Treasury Hall.

The most important thing to know is that access to the complex can be overwhelming. You can buy tickets at the gate or online at the ticket machines or at the ticket office. Once you have your tickets you will have to enter through turnstiles.

As entry is at timed intervals, queues can be quite significant, especially if you go in the middle of the day. Add to this the fact that the queues in Istanbul are not as orderly as you might expect in other European countries, and you may have to do a bit of pushing and shoving to get into the palace... Once inside, though, the crowds disappear and the experience is well worth it - there are some incredible sights to photograph.

One of the most fun experiences you'll have in Istanbul is shopping in the Grand Bazaar. Important: don't rush and don't time yourself, because although it's easy to get in, getting out can be a real maze. Most of the stalls in the Grand Bazaar are indoors, and the crowds are less crowded there, although there will always be people everywhere you look. The real hive of activity is in the stalls outside, so be patient if you feel like you're going round in circles.

What's in the Grand Bazaar? Everything: spices, handicrafts, food... and the best imitation handbags and shoes you'll ever see in a street market. Bargaining is the norm when buying any item and you'll always be offered a higher price up front; don't be surprised if the seller literally chases you around the bazaar when you refuse and offers you a lower price than his first offer.

If your trip coincides with the month of December, here's an important tip: leave some room in your suitcase because, coinciding with the Christmas season, you'll want to bring gifts for everyone. There are few places where you'll be able to shop more authentically than here, so make this a 'must-do' among the things to see in Istanbul at Christmas.

A short walk from Topkapi Palace is one of Istanbul's main sights: the Basilica Cistern. This is a 336-column, nine-metre-high water tank that will leave you speechless as soon as you cross its threshold. Be prepared to queue at the entrance and always take some warm clothes to visit the interior due to the humidity.

The best way to describe this place would be as an optical illusion in which the columns surround you and the water acts as a mirror. No matter how many photos you take inside, you won't capture its true essence: you have to live it and experience it, so enjoy the experience and forget about your camera.

I suggest this plan if you are travelling to Istanbul with children, they will love it!

Personally, I always say that every city has a mythical point to climb to enjoy the aerial views. Of all the ones you'll find in Istanbul, my recommendation is to choose the Galata Tower, located in the wonderful neighbourhood that gives it its name.

Although it is only 61 metres high, it stands out for its enormous diameter and the views are perfect for appreciating the details of the famous area of the Bosphorus Horn. The tower is located in one of Istanbul's most cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, so once you've finished your visit, you can walk around it and try the Turkish delicacies you'll find in its cafés.

The Galata Tower's opening hours allow you to visit it at night, as you can go up until midnight. But if you want to know other options for exploring the city once the sun goes down, I leave you here this guide to discover Istanbul at night.

If you travel to Istanbul in October or if you take advantage of a few days in November to escape to this city, climbing the Galata Tower and contemplating the city with its autumn colours without many crowds, it will be a magnificent plan that you will not forget.

The pace of the city of Istanbul can be stressful. When this happens to you, take advantage of the city's infallible remedy to combat fatigue, which is also a cultural emblem: the Turkish baths.

In this post I'll show you the 10 best Turkish baths. This is an essential thing to include among the things to do on your 4-day trip to Istanbul and also if you have five days or if you are lucky enough to be travelling to the Turkish capital for 7 days.

These types of baths are the Ottoman version of the well-known Roman baths. It is a place created for relaxation and cleansing of the body, but nowadays it functions more as a place for social gatherings. In the more traditional ones, women are separated from men. You will find all kinds of options and prices, but if you opt for the most authentic ones, don't expect great luxuries because the Turkish baths are not a spa. But the experience is always worth it.