Things to Do in Istanbul

A peaceful green space next to Topkapi Palace, with tulip gardens, shaded paths, and views over the Bosphorus.

🕐 24 hours

💡 Visit in April for the Tulip Festival. Bring a picnic and sit near the fountain at the north end for the quietest spot.

One of the world's oldest covered markets, with 4,000 shops selling carpets, jewellery, spices, and ceramics. Wandering costs nothing.

🕐 08:30-19:00 (closed Sundays)

💡 Avoid the main tourist corridors. Enter from the Beyazıt Gate and explore the back alleys for better prices and fewer touts.

One of Istanbul's grandest mosques, built by Mimar Sinan for Suleiman the Magnificent. Free to enter, with serene courtyards and a hilltop vantage point.

🕐 09:00-18:00 (closed during prayer times)

💡 Climb to the mosque's terrace for the best free view of the Golden Horn. Dress modestly and remove shoes before entry.

A former Byzantine church with stunning 14th-century mosaics and frescoes depicting biblical scenes. Small but intensely beautiful.

🕐 09:00-17:00 (closed Tuesdays)

💡 Entry costs around 100 TL. Go on a weekday morning to have the interior nearly to yourself. The cafe garden is a lovely break.

A 6th-century architectural marvel that has been a church, mosque, and museum. Its massive dome and Byzantine mosaics are breathtaking.

🕐 09:00-20:00 (closed during prayer times)

💡 Entry costs around €25. Go early morning to avoid crowds and see the upper gallery mosaics before they close for prayer times.