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Popular Attractions in Istanbul (2025)
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Opens at 09:00
1. Hagia Sophia
9.7
4.8/5
2,834 reviews
No.1 of Best Things to Do in Istanbul
Immediate access
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Night view
西沙群岛司马亮St. Sophia Cathedral (1907) - the largest Byzantine Orthodox church in the Far East, with its dark green onion dome and red brick exterior, is magnificent and elegant. Now it is an architectural art museum, the historical materials on display inside are a bit thin, but the exterior is more stunning than the interior, the snowy night view is beautiful, and the pigeons in the square are interesting. Be careful to avoid surrounding consumer traps.Istanbul
457m from downtown
From 25.77
2. Historic Areas of Istanbul
9.6
4.6/5
149 reviews
Historic buildings
NOHA AbdelhadeyIstanbul has many historical places to visit Dolmapahçe, galata Tower, Blue Mosque 🕌 💙, aya Sofia, Sultan ahmet, and so onIstanbul
434m from downtown
Free entry
Opens at 09:00
3. Basilica Cistern
9.2
4.6/5
760 reviewsNo.2 of Best Things to Do in Istanbul
Immediate access
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Historic buildings
Night view
ImadThis place was definitely worth a visit, the line was not that long and Medusa alone is beautiful to see.Istanbul
355m from downtown
From 26.42
4. Bosphorus
8.8
4.7/5
787 reviewsNo.3 of Best Things to Do in Istanbul
Beaches and shores
Night view
西沙群岛司马亮The iron floor of the ferry hurt my feet, and the smell of diesel mixed with salty smell penetrated my nose. The student next to me was sweating on the back of his school uniform, and he was still busy doing homework. The boat selling bagels came close to me, and the boatman hooked the railing with a rope to throw the bagels, almost hitting me in the face - what Europe and Asia, the locals only care about whether they can catch the boat in time for the five o'clock prayer. The hot sesame doughnuts bought with coins were hot, and I ate them while watching the Strait Bridge on the other side blocked like a parking lot, and the ferry farted away.Istanbul
27.2km from downtown
Free entry
Opens at 09:00
5. Topkapi Palace
8.8
4.5/5
639 reviewsNo.4 of Best Things to Do in Istanbul
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Historic buildings
西沙群岛司马亮📍Topkapi Palace - the power center of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, one of the top ten palaces in the world. The core attractions are the Hall of the Holy Relics (holy relics of the Prophet Muhammad), the Strait Terrace (overlooking the Bosphorus, the boundary between Europe and Asia) and the luxurious harem (extra charge). A half-day in-depth tour is required, and the ticket price is relatively expensive (about 950 liras). It is recommended to rent an audio guide to avoid a cursory visit.
💎Simplified tips:
- A must-see for history lovers: The Relic Hall in the third courtyard is shocking, no photos are allowed, but the on-site chanting ceremony has a strong sense of ritual;
- Go straight to the scenery party: the terrace of the fourth courtyard, a panoramic view of the strait + Galata Tower in the same frame;
- A guide to avoid pitfalls: Buy a separate ticket for the harem (about 25 liras), and the entrance is easy to miss; there are many ticket bundling routines, so buy a museum pass first.Istanbul
880m from downtown
From 50.82
Opens at 08:30
6. Galata Tower
8.4
4.6/5
401 reviewsNo.5 of Best Things to Do in Istanbul
Immediate access
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Historic buildings
Night view
Anonymous userI liked it very much. We passed quickly. There were few people, a stunningly beautiful place.Istanbul
2.3km from downtown
From 29.61
7. The Blue Mosque
8.3
4.8/5
1,926 reviewsNo.6 of Best Things to Do in Istanbul
Night view
且兰老飞老侯The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey (also known as the Suleymaniye Mosque) combines Byzantine-style domes with Islamic architectural elements. The main dome is 27.5 meters in diameter, surrounded by 4 secondary domes and 30 small domes, without pillar support.
No iron nails were used during its construction, relying only on masonry structures, and it still stands tall after 400 years of earthquakes.
The central hall inside is nearly 5,000 square meters, with 260 small windows around it combined with stained glass windows to form a "light dance space" with changing light and shadow.
The designer Koca Mimar Sinan (April 15, 1489 - April 9, 1588) was Michelangelo in the Ottoman Empire.
Along the way, in addition to the Blue Mosque (Suleymaniye Mosque) in Istanbul, built from 1550 to 1557, we were very lucky to visit two other masterpieces of this great designer:
1️⃣ The Great Mosque (Gez Husserl Beg Mosque) in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, built in 1531;
2️⃣ The Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge in Visegrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina, built in 1577.
Istanbul
19m from downtown
Free entry
Opens at 09:00
8. Dolmabahce Palace
8.2
4.7/5
404 reviewsNo.7 of Best Things to Do in Istanbul
Immediate access
Book now for today
Historic buildings
320***24The ticket booking system is very convenient. You can enter by simply showing your mobile phone and scanning the QR code. You can also enter another palace by scanning the QR code. The experience is very good. You don’t have to worry about losing the paper ticket, and you don’t have to follow anyone. It’s very free.Istanbul
4.3km from downtown
From 34.78
Opens at 08:30
9. Grand Bazaar
7.9
4.5/5
519 reviewsNo.8 of Best Things to Do in Istanbul
LisliskaOne of the most beautiful and attractive East bazaars. There are many confectionary, spices, teas and things. Must visitIstanbul
959m from downtown
Free entry
Opens at 09:00
10. Istanbul Archaeological Museums
7.2
4.5/5
162 reviewsNo.9 of Best Things to Do in Istanbul
Museums
_We***60Istanbul Archaeology Museum is the most important archaeological museum in Turkey and one of the most outstanding in the world. It is located in the outer courtyard of Topkapi Palace and houses more than 1 million artifacts, covering civilizations from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome to Byzantium and Ottoman Empire. It is almost zero distance from the remains of ancient civilizations and can be called a "time container". #One of my favorite museumsIstanbul
803m from downtown
From 17.12
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Popular Types of Attractions in Istanbul
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