Galata Tower
It was built by the Genoese in the 14th century on the city walls of Galata, marking the highest point of their territory.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Places to see: Istanbul
Istanbul’s history includes its earlier names Byzantium and Constantinople. The city brings together a rich historical heritage and varied cultural life.
Adapted from Wikivoyage · CC BY-SA 4.0
Places: 50
Basilica Cistern
Vast underground cistern built by Justinian in 532 to store the city's water, the largest and best-known of the hundreds constructed.
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Hagia Sophia
The third and grandest of the churches on this site, completed in 537 AD.
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Dolmabahce Palace
This lavish palace with 285 rooms and 43 halls was the admin centre for the Ottoman Empire in its last 60 years.
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Sultanahmet Mosque
The defining image of Istanbul, dominating the skyline with its great dome and six minarets.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Museum of Archaeology
Turkey was slow to protect its antiquities and to display them properly, but in 1867 Sultan Abdülaziz toured the museums of Paris, London and Vienna and saw what was needed.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Topkapı Palace
The imperial enclave of the Ottoman emperors for four centuries.
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Ortaköy
A neighbourhood on the bank of Bosphorus with the Ortaköy Mosque—the baroque mosque under the Bosphorus Bridge, combination of which are one of the most iconic images of Istanbul.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Süleymaniye Mosque
On top of a hill overlooking the Golden Horn, this is a magnificent mosque built by Sinan in the 1550s.
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Maiden's Tower
One of the icons of the city is also called the Leander's Tower, on a Bosphorus islet off Salacak.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Istanbul/Princes' Islands
Princes' Islands are nine islands in the Sea of Marmara, about 5 km off the Asian coast of Istanbul, and part of that metropolis.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Arap Camii
The building was erected as a Roman Catholic church in 1325 by the friars of the Dominican Order, near or above an earlier chapel dedicated to Saint Paul in 1233.
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Museum of Innocence
Opened in 2012, this museum is unique and a must-see when you are in the Beyoğlu area.
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Rumeli Fortress
Built in first half of the 15th century, this is the large medieval castle under the Second Bosphorus Bridge.
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Eyüp Mosque Complex
This is the main attraction around this part of the city.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Yedikule Fortress
The Golden Gate was the ceremonial entrance through the Theodosian city walls.
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Cağaloğlu Hamamı
Built in 1741, the last major hamam opened in the Ottoman era.
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Military Museum
Among the exhibition of this museum are five thousand pieces from the Ottoman era through WWII, with the most prominent piece possibly being the huge chain that the Byzantines stretched across the mouth of the Golden Horn to keep out the Sultan's navy in 1453 during the siege of Constantinople.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Belgrad Forest
Named after a 16th-century village, founded by Serbs deported from Belgrade when it fell to the Ottomans.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Hürrem Sultan Hamamı
Bathhouse built in 1556 by Mimar Sinan, the chief Ottoman architect, at the request of Hürrem Sultan, wife of Suleiman the Magnificent.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Galata Convent of Whirling Dervishes
A ritual dancing hall of the mystical Mevlevi order, the followers of the teachings of Mewlānā Rumi.
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Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque
Sokollu Mehmet Pasha was the grand vizier and de facto ruler of the Ottoman Empire during its 16th century golden age.
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Camondo Stairs
An attractive stairway mixing the Neo-Baroque and early Art Nouveau styles, climbing up from Bankalar St towards the Galata Tower.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Beyti
Expensive and a bit of a way out, but its meat dishes draw consistently admiring reviews.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Fatih Mosque
The original mosque was built between 1463-1470 by the Greek architect Atik Sinan, by order of Sultan Mehmet II the Conqueror, on the site of the former Church of the Holy Apostles, which had served as Byzantine Imperial burial place for a thousand years.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Anadolu Kavağı
A village with an impressive citadel overlooking the Bosphorus and its mouth into the Black Sea.
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Rüstem Pasha Mosque
Built in 1564 by Mimar Sinan for Rüstem Pasha, Grand Vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent, this small mosque has an interior covered by beautiful Iznik pottery, then at its zenith.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Ulus 29
Upscale restaurant with an amazing view over the Bosporus.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Theodosius Cistern
This was rediscovered in 2010 when an overlying building was demolished.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Haci Abdullah Lokantası
One of the best Ottoman restaurants in the country.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Miniaturk
It was built in 2001 and is the first miniature park in Istanbul.
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Çengelköy
About 15 minutes walking north of Beylerbeyi lies the historical fishing village Çengelköy.
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Emirgan Park
Situated on the gentle hill overlooking the neighbourhood of Emirgan and the Bosphorus, Emirgan Park was for long the only place in the city where Istanbulites can admire the beauty of tulips.
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Artistanbul Feshane
Feshane began as a factory producing fezzes, the red hats made of felt adopted by the Ottomans in the early 19th century as a part of westernizing efforts in lieu of much more traditional turbans.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Yüksel Balık Lokantası
Steep prices but great seafood.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Privato
Traditional Turkish food with a focus on vegetarian dishes.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Park Fora
Great seafood, located in Kuruçeşme park right on the edge of the sea, it has a very nice view of the Bosphorus and Bosphorus Bridge.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗İbrahim Hakkı Uğrak Börek
A bit off the tourist track, the stone oven of this börek shop gives its products a distinctive flavour.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Black Sea Coast
There's a string of small coastal resorts, from Poyrazköy just beyond the north Bosphorus bridge, through Anadolufenerli, Riva.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗The House Café
They serve giant salads, main dishes and pizzas pleasing even to the gourmets.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Istanbul/Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is the district of Istanbul surrounding the banks of the body of water of the same name, which is a bay of the Bosphorus along its western, European coast.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Kristal Ocakbaşı
Classic Turkish steak-house.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Nevizade Street
One of the most famous streets in Istiklal boulevard.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Istanbul/European Bosphorus
This article only describes the European bank of the Bosphorus, and nearby sections of its Black Sea coast.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Istanbul/Historical Peninsula
The Historical Peninsula is the oldest part of Istanbul.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Istanbul/Western Suburbs
The Western Suburbs are a collection of Istanbul neighbourhoods, lying west of the Old City walls and sprawling across the Thracian peninsula.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Nakkaştepe
A park right next to the Bosphorus Bridge.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden
Extensive botanic gardens.
More · SourcesSave to my map ↗Kültür Park
The main attraction is this small circular park on the lakefront.
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Değirmenburnu National Park
Park on the north headland - "Değirmen" means windmill and there's the tower of an old flour mill.
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