Turkey
Istanbul
A city on two continents with Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks. Stay 4 days. Below: 5 sights, 1 activity and 2 places to eat, plus how Istanbul fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Warmest month
- August
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- December
5 See · 1 Do · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop
Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus
from our route notes
29°C / 84°F avg high
8°C / 47°F avg high
about 82 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Istanbul
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Istanbul across Sultanahmet and Süleymaniye. 2 of them are free.
Photo: Adli Wahid · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeHagia Sophia
Sixth-century domed church, later mosque, with Byzantine mosaics.
Tip Foreign visitors enter the upper gallery with a ticket; ground floor is for worship.
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0SeeBlue Mosque
Sultan Ahmed Mosque, with six minarets and blue İznik tiles inside.
Tip Closed to visitors during prayer times.
Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeTopkapı Palace
Ottoman sultans' palace with courtyards, treasury and the Harem.
Tip The Harem needs an extra ticket and is worth it.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeBasilica Cistern
Vast Byzantine underground reservoir with 336 columns and two Medusa heads.
Tip Evening sessions cost more but are calmer.
Photo: Hunanuk · CC0
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Istanbul in Eminönü.
Photo: Diamante Pazzo · GoogleDoBosphorus Ferry
Public ferry cruise up the strait past palaces and wooden mansions.
Tip The Şehir Hatları long tour leaves from Eminönü.
Eat
2 places to eat across Kadıköy and Karaköy, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Katsiaryna Ozdemir · GoogleEatÇiya Sofrası
Kadıköy restaurant reviving regional Anatolian dishes rarely found elsewhere.
Tip Take the ferry to the Asian side for lunch.
Photo: Karaköy Güllüoğlu - Nadir Güllü · GoogleEatKaraköy Güllüoğlu
Baklava house run by the same family for generations.
Tip Order pistachio baklava with kaymak.
Drink
1 bar or café in Beyoğlu for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Levent Murat · GoogleDrinkMandabatmaz
Tiny Beyoğlu coffee spot famous for thick, foamy Turkish coffee.
Tip Sit on the stools in the alley off İstiklal.
Shop
1 shop in Beyazıt for browsing and souvenirs.
Photo: A.Savin · FALShopGrand Bazaar
Covered market of about 4,000 shops selling carpets, lamps and jewelry.
Tip Closed Sundays; haggle politely.
How to fit Istanbul into a trip
Istanbul is stop 1 of 3 on our Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus route. Follow it as-is or lift Istanbul into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus
Mosques, fairy chimneys and Roman ruins
- Trip length
- 9 days
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Pace
- moderate
- Next: Göreme
Getting here and onward
- Istanbul to GöremeGöreme is about 564 km / 351 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Istanbul month by month
Average daily highs run from 8°C / 47°F in January to 29°C / 84°F in August. December is the wettest month, with about 82 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan8° / 47°F average high
- Feb9° / 49°F average high
- Mar12° / 53°F average high
- Apr16° / 60°F average high, in our recommended season
- May21° / 70°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun26° / 79°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul29° / 84°F average high
- Aug29° / 84°F average high
- Sep25° / 77°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct20° / 68°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov15° / 59°F average high
- Dec10° / 50°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Istanbul weather and the best time to visit →
Near Istanbul
1 other destination from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.
Istanbul questions, answered
How many days do you need in Istanbul?
Our route notes suggest 4 days in Istanbul. On our Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 9-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Istanbul best known for?
A city on two continents with Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks. Stay 4 days. Standouts on our list: Hagia Sophia (Sixth-century domed church, later mosque, with Byzantine mosaics); Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque, with six minarets and blue İznik tiles inside); Topkapı Palace (Ottoman sultans' palace with courtyards, treasury and the Harem).
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
Our Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus route is best Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (29°C / 84°F), the coolest in January (8°C / 47°F) and the most rain in December (about 82 mm).
What are the best things to do in Istanbul?
Start with Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Basilica Cistern and Süleymaniye Mosque. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 5 sights, 1 activity, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.
Where should a group eat in Istanbul?
Our picks: Çiya Sofrası (Kadıköy); Karaköy Güllüoğlu. Take the ferry to the Asian side for lunch (Çiya Sofrası).
Plan Istanbul with your crew
Open the Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Istanbul
More in Turkey
- Göreme 10 places