Beyoglu Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

Must-Visit Places in Istanbul for First-Timers!

Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, Istanbul is truly a city with a rich history, brimming with beautiful and fun places to explore! Even after a week of fun, it still wasn't enough! / For first-timers in Istanbul, here are some must-visit spots: ✔️Hagia Sophia: One of the top ten most desirable churches in the world, this majestic Byzantine structure is a fusion of a church and a mosque. ✔️Blue Mosque: Adjacent to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque is Istanbul's largest domed structure, surrounded by six minarets, making it the only mosque in the world with six tall towers, and one of the top ten wonders of the world. ✔️Basilica Cistern: A mysterious world hidden underground, well worth a visit. ✔️Bosphorus Strait: This strait divides Istanbul into European and Asian sections, with beautiful scenery on both sides. Be sure to take a boat tour here, especially at dusk for a stunning sunset! ✔️Galata Tower: A medieval stone tower, one of the city's scenic viewpoints. Even if you don't enter the tower, taking photos below it is also great. If you want to climb the tower, it's recommended to come in the evening to catch the city sunset. ✔️Galata Bridge Located near the Galata Tower, spanning the Golden Horn, this bridge connects the new and old parts of the city. With many locals fishing on both sides, and pedestrian paths above and below, it's also a great spot for sightseeing. ✔️Grand Bazaar: If you want to buy local products and souvenirs, the Grand Bazaar is a must-visit. Covering 60 streets and housing 5000 shops, it's bustling and vibrant. ✔️Istiklal Avenue: Istanbul's version of the Champs-Élysées, with its must-ride nostalgic tram, truly romantic. The surrounding area also has many quiet, artistic alleys, perfect for a stroll. ✔️Balat District A favorite area among Istanbul's youth, home to many unique coffee shops and restaurants, with colorful buildings that are great for photos. ✔️Topkapi Palace: An old royal palace, once the Ottoman Empire's palace, now Turkey's largest museum, incredibly luxurious inside! ✔️Suleymaniye Mosque: The second-largest mosque in Istanbul, situated on higher ground, visible from the Bosphorus boat tour, and offering a truly great view. / ⭕️ 'Recommended Route': 𝘿𝙖𝙮1: Hagia Sophia—Basilica Cistern—Blue Mosque—Topkapi Palace—Explore the Old City 𝘿𝙖𝙮2: Grand Bazaar—Galata Bridge—Istiklal Avenue—Galata Tower—Watch the sunset from the tower 𝘿𝙖𝙮3: Balat District—Suleymaniye Mosque—Bosphorus Strait—Boat tour at sunset / ⭕️ 'Transport Tips': The Old City can be explored on foot with citywalk. For other trips, you can take buses and boat tours, all accessible with a single transit card. / ⭕️ 'Accommodation Recommendations': For accommodation, it's recommended to stay near the Galata Tower, close to the Old City, with concentrated attractions and convenient access to food, fun, and transportation.

Encounter the romantic city of Istanbul

The red vintage tram, the seagulls over the Galata Tower, the sunset at the Suleymaniye Mosque. These are the romance of Istanbul. Istanbul, Turkey, has a history as bright as the stars and intoxicating natural scenery. In this place that exudes both classical and modern charm, everything can be romantic to the extreme. To encounter romance, you must come to the Galata Bridge in Istanbul. The bridge spans the two continents of Asia and Europe. There are many famous ancient sites on both sides of the bridge. The bridge connects the old city and the new city, and the fishing rods on the bridge form a new landscape, especially at sunset, the scene is spectacular. Looking from one side, various fishing rods are arranged at a 45-degree angle, as if they are lining up to welcome guests from afar. On the Galata Bridge, you can enjoy the scenery on both sides. When the weather is clear, the Bosphorus Strait is cloudless, the sea is blue, and the cruise ship passes under the Galata Bridge. The seagulls follow the cruise ship, high and low, becoming the most agile embellishment of the beautiful bay. Walking on the Galata Bridge at sunset, looking at the Galata Tower, the seagulls flying around the Galata Tower in the twilight, and the mosque on the top of the mountain against the soft and dreamy sky. The Galata Tower is a landmark of the new city of Istanbul. Today, it still dominates the skyline north of the Golden Horn. Climbing to the top of the tower, you can have a 360-degree view of Istanbul.

@ GALATA TOWER IN ISTANBUL!

BUILT AS A WATCHTOWER AT THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE LOST WALLS OF GALATA, THE TOWER IS NOW AN EXHIBITION SPACE AND MUSEUM.. THE TOWER IS A SYMBOL OF BEYOGU AND ISTANBUL. THE ENTRANCE TICKET HAS BEEN INCREASED BUT THE TOWER IS WORTH A VISIT. ONCE YOU ENTER, THERE IS NOTHING MUCH INSIDE BUT THE VIEW FROM THE TOWER IS AMAZING #passionpassport #mytripvlog #urbanexplorer #tripblazers #awesomepic #cafe #awesomepic #celebratewithtrip #couplestrip #2023travelwish #passionpassport

🇹🇷 The magnificent Galata Tower 🏰

Attraction: Galata Tower Address: Bereketzade, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye Opening Hours: 8:30 am to 10pm Galata Tower is a stone tower located in the Galata district of Istanbul, Turkey. It is 67 meters tall and has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Istanbul. The tower was constructed in 1348 and over the centuries, it has served various purposes, including as a watchtower, a lighthouse, and even a prison. One of the main attractions of Galata Tower is its observation deck, which offers amazing panoramic views of Istanbul. Tip: Arrive early during weekends as the queue can be very long. #timetotravel

🇹🇷 Must Try in Istanbul- Istanbul Nostalgic Tram 🚋

Activity: Istanbul nostalgic tramways Location: The termini are Taksim Square and Tünel Square Operating time : 7am to 8pm Taking the tram is a must experience in Istanbul, although the tram is small, the trams carry an average of 6000 passengers daily! There are two heritage tramways in Istanbul – the European side tramway, Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway which runs from Taksim to Tünel. The Tram goes slow and you can enjoy the view outside which is a great experience. #timetotravel #istanbul #turkey #tram

🇹🇷 Best Place to Stay in Istanbul : Gafa Garden 🏨

Hotel Name: Gafa Garden Address: Gafa Garden, 26, Tel Sk., Beyoğlu, Türkiye Price: Dorm Bed €10 per night I enjoyed my stay in Gafa Garden. It is located centrally in Istanbul, near Taksim area. This place is near to many restaurants, shops as well as public transport. The place is very affordable and bed was comfortable. The best thing about this place is the free breakfast it comes with the accommodation. There was lots of authentic local food to eat. I strongly recommend this place. Rating (out of 5) Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Food. : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Location ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Room : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #timetotravel

The Bustling Taksim Square In Istanbul

#wecreate #istanbul #turkey #europe #mustvisit #attraction #urbanexplorer #holiday #placeofinterest Taksim Square is located in Istanbul where this is a very famous popular attraction not only for foreigners but local as well! Situated in the heart of Istanbul, located at Gümüşsuyu, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye, this place gets really busy thruout the day with loads of people who come here for shopping, nightlife, food and bars that overlook the city and into sea of marmara. This is basically like an orchard Road of Singapore. But a heads up, taking a taxi here can get quite expensive due to the bad traffic around taksim, so if you want do come here early and not in mid afternoon. You will be able to get the turkey delights here since many of these shops sells it. There are also turkey ice cream shops, souvenirs, and oh!!!! yes! Taksim Square is also famous for people who believe in those hand made willow hoop called dream catcher.

And the Surroundings

Taksim Square is situated in Beyoglu in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, and is a major tourist and leisure district. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station (Taksim) of the Istanbul Metro Network. The location of the Republic Monument which was inaugurated in 1928 beside is a Mosque complex- Taksim Mosque which can hold up to 3000 worshippers at the same time and is inaugurated in 2021. The Church of St. Anthony of Padua is the largest Catholic church in Istanbul located at Istiklal Avenuse Taksim is a busy nightlife, shopping and dining area. Vintage trams shuttle visitors along Istiklal Avenue, the city's main pedestrian boulevard, which is lined with 19th century buildings housing international shopping chains, movie theaters, restaurants and cafes.

[Xin Zhi Shi] This restaurant is listed in the "nearby ranking" in Istislal Caddest. It tastes yummy. Lamb chop is very tender. Roasted chicken wings are also tasty. Freshly hand-made hotcake is authentic. It would be much better if you take some soup. The drink is a mixture of yogurt, water and salt. It is sparse but cleanses the palate. You can have a cup of Turkey black tea after meal to keep your stomach warm. That's a perfect day!

Before I came to Turkey, I always thought that Turkey was a war-torn country, and it was "the crossroads of Eastern and Western civilizations". This kind of view seemed to be the protagonist in East and West. Turkey was just an aisle or intersection, but this trip told me that this is not the case. Turkey itself is a huge and independent civilization, with Islam behind 1.6 billion people.

When I went to Shierqi, I just heard that the hot air balloon in Turkey is very good, but there are hot air balloons in many places, so the idea of ​​going to Turkey is intermittent and has not been acted on. Of course, before departure, I thought that if it were not for Kappa's hot air balloon, the Mediterranean paraglider, the romance of the Aegean Sea, and the speciality across Eurasia, I am afraid that I would not go to Turkey?

On Independence Street, everyone is learning how to pose for photos from me

Istanbul's Independence Street is like the Champs-Elysées of Paris; it may not be as grand and opulent as the Champs-Elysées, but it is to the people of Shanghai what East Nanjing Road is. Coffee shops/boutiques/delicious food, there really is everything... even two visits weren't enough for me. 📸 About taking photos Here, I really have the photo of my life! Wherever I go, everyone is learning how to pose for photos from me! No matter the skin color! ▫️ I didn't take the photo while running. It was a 'demonstration photo pose' I did just before starting to run, when the driver had just stepped up (there will be about 5 minutes here). ▫️ After starting, I ran a quick two steps (everyone was making way for me as I ran and cheering me on) and quickly posed in front. 🔸 Vintage 'Ding Ding Car' It runs from one end of the street to the other, and then back again; after half an hour, it does it all over again. On the bustling street, it seems to have no real traffic value, but it is a place where everyone rushes to take photos. Even local lads, while it's running, hang on the back just for a good photo 📸 You can also pay by card to sit on it for 17₺ a trip 🔸 Starbucks - 'Turkish Tea Latte' The shops on this street all have this Turkey-exclusive drink (I have two cups every day when I come to Istanbul!!). Some shops will directly indicate the tea latte, see pictures 1️⃣2️⃣, if not: iced Turkish tea with milk 🧋 Don't miss out on the milk tea! ✔️ Coffee shops/cake shops/patisseries are dazzling ✔️ There are also a plethora of restaurant choices here, you can just find one that catches your eye like we did ✔️ Malls/Sephora/shopping brands, they can also help with tax refunds. ▫️ After coming down from the Galata Tower, take the tram to Beyoglu ☞ On both sides of Independence Street are Galata St (for a high view and Taksim Square (by the sea), going to see the Mediterranean, feeding pigeons, are all good choices

Beyoğlu Bliss: Balkan Feast Memories

#myfoodies Address - Balkan Lokantası Katip mustafa çelebi mh istiklal cd, Büyük Parmakkapı Sk. no : 9/1, 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye Ambiance/Facilities/Highlights - Traditional Balkan Cuisine Avg. Price per Person - 100TL ++ Rating - Great As I entered the Balkan Lokantası Restaurant nestled in the heart of Beyoğlu, Turkey, the warm aroma of traditional Balkan cuisine enveloped me. The cozy atmosphere and the soft melodies of Balkan music added to the charm of this hidden gem. Seated on the upper level with a view of the bustling streets below, I perused the menu. My choice was simple yet tantalizing: cheese-baked potatoes with a golden, crispy crust, tender pieces of chicken, and a plate of green beans cooked in the Balkan style. As the dishes arrived, the vibrant colors and fragrant spices painted a delicious picture. The cheese-baked potatoes were a comforting delight, oozing with rich, melted cheese. The tender, flavorful chicken and the aromatic green beans transported me to the heart of the Balkans. With each bite, I savored not only the exquisite flavors but also the sense of cultural immersion, making this meal at Balkan Lokantası a memory to treasure. #trip #2023travel #2023trip #2023travelwish #2023旅行願望 #timetotravel #tripblazers #historical #heritage #deliciousfood #supportlocal

It’s a gorgeous winter in Istanbul

The Galata Tower stands tall in the beautiful city of Istanbul Turkey. The history in this city goes back thousands of years between the Romans, the ottoman empire and others before them. The city of Istanbul has many beautiful mosques, trendy shops and countless amounts of smaller restaurants that will treat you to the unique flavors of Turkish cuisine. The Turkish hospitality is second to no other country as you will be treated with respect, love and a sense of admiration non-comparable to any other country in the region. Indulge yourself with fresh dates, spices and unique dishes featuring lamb, couscous and recently introduced falafel‘s. The prices all across Istanbul are reasonable and their culture is inviting. #travel #wanderlust #travelling #traveller #travelphotography #instatravel #adventure #journey #travelgram #travelpassion #travellifestyle #myjourney #wonderlust #trip #ilovetravel #tripblazers #traveling #traveladdicted #travelgoals #traveljournal #igtravel #traveladdict #travelpics #bestvacations #travelphotos #traveler #tourist #travelblog #tourism #istanbul

Morning Brew: Taksim's Literary Oasis

#myfoodies Address - Turkish-German Bookstore & Cafe Şahkulu, İstiklal Cd. No:237, 34431 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye Ambiance/Facilities/Highlights - Cafe full of books with great music Avg. Price per Person - 70TL ++ Rating - Great As the first rays of sunlight gently embraced Taksim Tunnel, I found myself at the enchanting Turkish-German Bookstore & Cafe Türk Alman Kitabevi & Cafe. Nestled in the heart of Istanbul, this hidden gem beckoned with the promise of literary treasures and aromatic delights. The moment I entered, the aroma of freshly brewed Turkish coffee enveloped me like a warm, welcoming hug. The place was a haven for bibliophiles and coffee enthusiasts, with bookshelves stretching to the heavens, housing both Turkish and German classics. I settled into a cozy corner with my steaming coffee, the rich brew awakening my senses. The ambience was a fusion of cultures, where whispers of Turkish tales blended with the echoes of German poetry. I immersed myself in a novel by Orhan Pamuk, sipping coffee between the lines. The symphony of caffeine and words created a magical morning, making me feel like I was part of a timeless story, a wanderer in the pages of a literary world where dreams and reality intermingled. #trip #2023travel #2023trip #2023travelwish #2023旅行願望 #timetotravel #tripblazers #historical #heritage #deliciousfood #supportlocal #cafe

Dawn's Delight at Taksim Tünel

#myfoodies Address - Espressolab Taksim Tünel Şahkulu, İstiklal Cd. No:233, 34420 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye Ambiance/Facilities/Highlights - Freshly brew coffee and pastry Avg. Price per Person - 80TL ++ Rating - Great As the first rays of dawn painted the Istanbul skyline with hues of soft pink and gold, I found myself nestled in a corner of Espressolab Taksim Tünel, a quaint coffee shop with a soulful charm. The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans wafted through the air, soothing my senses. The barista, a master of his craft, crafted a perfect cappuccino, its creamy swirls a work of art. Seated by the window, I watched the city come alive. The historic Taksim Square and its iconic red tram slowly filled with passengers, while the melodious call to prayer echoed from a nearby mosque. With each sip of my coffee, I felt the rhythm of this vibrant city intertwine with my own, a dance of serenity and energy. Espressolab Taksim Tünel became my haven, a place where the city's heartbeats met mine in perfect harmony, a perfect start to a new day in Istanbul. #trip #2023travel #2023trip #2023travelwish #2023旅行願望 #timetotravel #tripblazers #historical #heritage #deliciousfood #supportlocal #cafe

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus 🇹🇷

#fallingseason Staying at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus in autumn was a true delight. This luxurious gem on the shores of the Bosphorus offered a mesmerizing backdrop as the season transformed the surrounding trees into a tapestry of rich fall colors. The hotel's opulent interior, combined with modern amenities and exemplary service, made my stay exceptional. The panoramic views from my room of the Bosphorus, with its shimmering waters and the historic cityscape, were simply breathtaking. As the temperatures cooled, the hotel's spa and fine dining restaurant provided a cozy sanctuary. The fusion of international and Turkish cuisine was a culinary adventure. In autumn, the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus is a refined sanctuary, offering a seamless blend of luxury, culture, and natural beauty. It's the perfect choice for an exquisite autumn escape in Istanbul. #turkey #Istanbul

Very good view of Istanbul

very good stay here, they say upgrade to a suite for me…. but the room would not look likes a suite in my mind….I am confirmed the service is good here, but I don’t likes that always the staff here always ask my satisfaction during all the stay…. According to phone, face to face….. Also, the hotel would not have a Club Lounge that you could have a dinner at bar or restaurant in the hotel. and very good location of the hotel that you could visit many attractions around the hotel.

The JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus offers an exceptional experience that seamlessly blends breathtaking views, an ideal location, and unparalleled service. The crowning jewel of this haven is its awe-inspiring view platform, providing a panoramic vista of the majestic Bosphorus strait and the iconic cityscape of Istanbul. Nestled perfectly along the shores, its prime location allows for easy access to both historical landmarks and vibrant neighborhoods, striking a balance between serenity and the city's pulsating energy. However, what truly sets this establishment apart is its unwavering commitment to exceptional service. The staff's warmth and attentiveness create an atmosphere where every guest feels valued and indulged. Whether it's the elegantly designed rooms offering comfort and style or the culinary delights served at the restaurants, each element is meticulously crafted to exceed expectations. For those seeking an elevated experience blending luxury, stunning views, and impeccable service, the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus stands as an epitome of hospitality at its finest. #luxuryhotels

Istanbul -- Amazing view of Asia & Europe for a celebration lunch

Blue sky, sea view, boats and yachts, open view of both Asia & Europe in front if us, and beautiful mosques on rolling hills all around us. Local Turkish wines good from the 1st dish to the last. The wine glasses were nice to the touch, and I couldnt help taking its pictures against the big window too. 😆 Dessert were also wonderful, and one of the desserts reminded us of the cool rocks & landscape in #cappadocia! I found this restaurant on Google Map just the day before, and found that it's a wonderful place for lunch with my family. We wanted to find a place to celebrate my mom's birthday, and liked it a lot. Octo is the restaurant name, but I cannot find it on the location tag list here. 😅 Imagine the night view from these photos.....! Oh, I want to visit Istanbul again! #falltrip #familytrip #freehotelstay