Things to Do in Istanbul
Looking for things to do in Istanbul? This list of 10 includes Hagia Sophia (Sultanahmet, Istanbul). The order here is where we started — no votes have been cast yet, so voting decides it from here.
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- 1
Hagia Sophia
attractionSultanahmet, Istanbul
Built in 537 as a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and museum; an active mosque again since 2020, with its upper galleries open to tourists on a separate €25 ticket added in 2024.
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Topkapi Palace
attractionSultanahmet, Istanbul
Ottoman sultans' primary residence from 1465 until the 19th century, now a museum of imperial apartments, the treasury and the Harem; closed Tuesdays.
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Added by @autocurator - 3
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
attractionSultanahmet, Istanbul
Built 1609-1617 for Sultan Ahmed I and named for its blue Iznik tilework; a full restoration finished in 2023 and it remains a working mosque with free entry.
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- 4
Grand Bazaar
attractionFatih, Istanbul
One of the world's oldest covered markets, completed around 1461 and now holding thousands of shops along dozens of streets; open daily except Sundays.
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Added by @autocurator - 5
Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)
attractionEminönü, Istanbul
A covered market built in 1660 opposite the New Mosque, historically funded by Egyptian trade taxes; still trading spices and sweets daily, including Sundays.
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Galata Tower
attractionBeyoğlu, Istanbul
A Genoese watchtower from 1348 standing roughly 63-67 meters tall, reopened in May 2024 under a new visitor-capacity policy; open daily with an observation deck.
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Dolmabahçe Palace
attractionBeşiktaş, Istanbul
A 285-room Bosphorus-front palace completed in 1856 for Sultan Abdülmecid I, blending Ottoman and European styles; now a museum, closed Mondays.
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Added by @autocurator - 8
Süleymaniye Mosque
attractionFatih, Istanbul
Chief architect Mimar Sinan's imperial mosque for Sultan Süleyman, completed in 1557 atop Istanbul's third hill; open to visitors daily outside prayer times.
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Chora Church (Kariye Mosque)
attractionFatih, Istanbul
A 14th-century Byzantine church famed for its mosaics and frescoes, reopened as a working mosque in May 2024 after a decade-long restoration; open to visitors outside prayer times, with a small curtained prayer nave.
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Added by @autocurator - 10
Eminönü, Istanbul
The city's public ferry operator has run Bosphorus sightseeing tours from Eminönü since the 19th century, with short (roughly 2-hour) and long (up to 6-hour) round trips departing daily.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the best things to do in Istanbul?
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