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First time in Istanbul
Arrival, internet, where to stay, transport, tickets and food in six steps.
Istanbul
Palaces, hidden cisterns and life on the Bosphorus.
Istanbul Premium Card: sights, cruise & transport
Top sights · Cruise · Transport
From €151.05Istanbul Classic Card: transport, cruise & eSIM
5 transport rides · Cruise · eSIM
From €23.65
Istanbul Deluxe Card: museums, Harem, cruise & eSIM
5 days · 12-museum pass · 10GB eSIM · 5 QR rides
From €217.55
Istanbul Saver Combo: three sights, cruise & eSIM
3 days · Hagia Sophia, Topkapi & Cistern · Cruise · 3GB eSIM
From €128.25
Istanbul Combo Ticket: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi & Cistern
3 days · Three landmark admissions · Audio guides
From €122.55
Istanbul food tour: 20+ tastings on two continents
5.5 hours · Live guide
Istanbul E-pass: attraction pass options
Multi-day pass · Mixed / varies
Istanbul: Turkish coffee workshop & tasting
2 hours · Instructor
Istanbul: make your own mosaic lamp
2.5 hours · Instructor
Istanbul: whirling dervishes at Kasımpaşa Mevlevihanesi
1 hour · Host / introduction
Istanbul: Fener & Balat guided walking tour
3 hours · Live guide
Istanbul: Büyükada return ferry ticket
1-day validity · Independent visit
Istanbul Archaeological Museums: entry & audio guide
1-day validity · Audio / independent
Istanbul Airport (IST): private one-way transfer
1–2 hours · Driver
Istanbul in 3 days: a first-time itinerary
A practical three-day Istanbul route through Sultanahmet, Galata and the Bosphorus, with time to explore and advice on which tickets to plan ahead.
Istanbul Public Transport: Trams, Metro & Ferry Routes
Choose Istanbul tram, metro and ferry routes for sightseeing. Find the right Sultanahmet stop, avoid the Topkapı station mix-up and plan your last connection.
Istanbul eSIM: Türkiye Coverage, Setup & Data Planning
Choose an eSIM for Istanbul: confirm Türkiye coverage, plan validity and phone compatibility. Avoid buying data twice on a multi-city trip.
Istanbul must-see places: a visual first-visit guide
Explore Istanbul through photos of Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and more. Choose your priorities, plan a route and check ticket differences.
What to eat in Istanbul: dishes and neighbourhood stops
What should you eat in Istanbul? Start with simit, meze & baklava, plan food stops around sightseeing and compare independent meals with tasting tours.
Where to stay in Istanbul: choose your neighbourhood
Where should you stay in Istanbul? Compare Sultanahmet, Galata or Kadıköy by sightseeing, transport, evening plans and the trade-offs at your exact hotel address.
Istanbul city pass or individual tickets: what makes sense?
Compare Istanbul pass inclusions, Harem access, cruises and transport extras with individual tickets. Calculate the cost of the visits you will use.
Istanbul Airport Transfers: IST & SAW to the City
Compare IST and Sabiha Gökçen airport transfers to Taksim, Sultanahmet and Kadıköy. Plan metro changes, airport buses, luggage and late arrivals.
Five Istanbul food stops worth saving — and what to order
Five Istanbul food stops drawn from visitor recommendations: what to order at Mahir, Şehzade, Çiya, Borsam and Walter’s, with branch details and map links.
Istanbul Food Tours: Kadıköy, Tastings & How to Choose
Choose an Istanbul food tour by neighbourhood, tastings, dietary needs and ferry inclusions. Compare a guided food walk with exploring Kadıköy yourself.
Istanbul Hammam Guide: Treatments, Privacy & What to Bring
Plan your first Turkish bath in Istanbul. Compare scrub and foam packages, massage extras, privacy arrangements and what to confirm before booking.
Istanbul in the rain: indoor visits and a flexible day plan
Plan a rainy Istanbul day with the Basilica Cistern, museum or hammam options, short outdoor connections and realistic ticket advice.
Where to eat around Istanbul sights: choose the area first
Match Istanbul food stops to your sightseeing: Sultanahmet and Sirkeci, a Beyoglu afternoon or a separate Kadikoy food walk.
Your first day in Istanbul: Sultanahmet at your pace
Two landmark visits, a generous lunch break and time to explore the historic square. A walkable first day without racing between bookings.
Istanbul: a palace morning and a waterfront afternoon
Give Topkapi the time it deserves, then change pace beside the water. A second-day route with room for a meal and an optional cruise.
Mahir Lokantası
Lahmacun + haşlama içli köfte · Pera or Osmanbey
Şehzade Cağ Kebap
Cağ kebab; ask how many skewers make a portion · Sirkeci · European side
Çiya Sofrası
Ask about the day’s regional dishes before choosing · Kadıköy market · Asian side
Borsam Taşfırın
Lahmacun, with another ordered fresh if you want more · Kadıköy · Asian side
Walter’s Coffee Roastery
Coffee; ask which cakes are available that day · Moda · Asian side
Basilica Cistern: entry ticket with audio guide
Admission and audio guide
From €45.00Hagia Sophia: entry ticket and museum option
1 hour · Museum option available
From €28.00
Topkapi Palace: ticket and audio guide
Palace admission · Audio guide
From €56.91Bosphorus dinner cruise with a private table
3 hours · Dinner included
From €26.00Bosphorus sunset yacht cruise: drinks & snacks
2 hours · From price: soft drinks option · Wine option available
From €33.16
Topkapi Palace: hosted entry or Harem guided tour
Harem included only in the 1.5-hour guided tour option
From €68.00Basilica Cistern: QR entry ticket & audio guide
QR entry · Audio guide in 7 languages
From €49.95Hagia Sophia: QR entry ticket & audio guide
QR entry · Audio guide in 10 languages
From €28.45Bosphorus sightseeing cruise: 2 hours & audio
2 hours · Smartphone audio
Cağaloğlu Hammam: historic bath & treatments
45–135 minutes · Hammam treatment
Topkapi Palace: guided tour with Harem & Hagia Irene
2.5 hours · Live guide
Dolmabahçe Palace & Harem: entry with audio
Flexible visit · Audio / independent
From €44.00Galata Tower: entry & audio guide
Flexible visit · Audio / independent
Bosphorus Bites: food walk across two continents
4 hours · Live guide
Old City Turkish bath: private treatment options
50–125 minutes · Spa host
Beylerbeyi Palace: entry & audio guide
1-day validity · Audio / independent
Dolmabahçe: Selamlık, Harem & Painting Museum with audio
Selamlık + Harem + Painting Museum · Audio device
From €39.95Which Bosphorus cruise should you book?
Choose between a sightseeing cruise, sunset yacht, dinner cruise and public ferry in Istanbul, with practical checks for routes and booking.
Basilica Cistern tickets: what to know before you visit
Understand Basilica Cistern admission, audio guides and tour options, then fit your visit into a Sultanahmet itinerary without buying the wrong ticket.
Hagia Sophia tickets: choose the right visit
Understand the difference between Hagia Sophia’s cultural visitor route and the separate History & Experience Museum before choosing a ticket.
Topkapi Palace Entrance Fee: Tickets & Harem Guide
Check Topkapi Palace’s official foreign-visitor entrance fee, Harem inclusions and Tuesday closure. Compare admission with audio-guide and tour options.
Istanbulkart: Where to Buy, Top Up & Check Your Balance
Learn where to buy Istanbulkart, how to top up and check your balance, and what to check for airport travel. Keep card costs separate from fares.
Topkapi or Dolmabahçe: Which Palace Should You Visit?
Choose between Topkapi and Dolmabahçe Palace: compare interiors, Harem tickets, closed days, visit time and how each fits your Istanbul itinerary.
A Kadıköy–Moda afternoon: market, lunch, coffee and the sea
A flexible Kadıköy–Moda walking route: arrive by ferry, choose Çiya or Borsam for lunch, stop at Walter’s for coffee and finish by the sea. Includes map links.
Dolmabahçe Palace tickets: Harem, prices & visiting guide
Plan your Dolmabahçe visit around the palace sections you want to see. Compare Selamlık, Harem and Painting Museum access, then check how you receive your ticket and collect the audio device.
Basilica Cistern: should you visit by day or in the evening?
Choose a Basilica Cistern visit that fits your Istanbul day. Compare entry sessions, ticket validity, audio guides and an easy Sultanahmet route.
Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern in one day: a relaxed route
Plan Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern together, with a lunch break, clear ticket distinctions and time between entry slots.