Istanbul
Where two continents share one skyline
The place
Istanbul is not a city you visit so much as one you fall into. Byzantium, Constantinople and Istanbul are stacked on the same seven hills, and you feel all three at once - a Roman cistern beneath your feet, an Ottoman dome overhead, a ferry horn carrying across the Bosphorus. The call to prayer rises five times a day over a skyline of minarets, and the strait below stitches Europe to Asia in a single shimmering seam.
Spend your mornings in Sultanahmet, where the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque face each other across a garden of fountains and tulips, then lose an afternoon in the Grand Bazaar - sixty covered streets, four thousand shops, the smell of leather, saffron and çay. By evening the city turns to the water: a sunset cruise past Ottoman palaces, a fish sandwich at Eminönü, a rooftop overlooking the Golden Horn as the lights come on.
What lingers, though, is the texture of ordinary life. The tea houses of Çukurcuma, the antique dealers of Galata, the bakeries selling simit by the dozen, the cats who own the city. Istanbul rewards the unhurried - give it three days and it will give you a thousand years.
What to do
Things to do in Istanbul
- Stand beneath the dome of the Hagia Sophia, a wonder for fifteen centuries
- Haggle through the Grand Bazaar and the spice-scented Egyptian Market
- Cruise the Bosphorus at sunset past waterfront palaces and fortresses
- Descend into the eerie, column-forested Basilica Cistern
- Watch the city wake from a Galata rooftop with Turkish breakfast
- Cross to the Asian side for the cafés and markets of Kadıköy
- Tour the opulent halls and harem of Topkapı Palace
Gallery
Good to know
Istanbul,
answered.
The practical questions every traveller asks us before they go - answered by our local team.
Which airport should I fly into for Istanbul?
Istanbul has two international airports. Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side is the main hub and handles most long-haul arrivals, about 40-50 minutes from Sultanahmet by taxi or the Havaist shuttle. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side is served mainly by low-cost carriers and works well if you are staying in Kadıköy or the Asian districts.
How many days do I need in Istanbul?
Three full days covers the essentials - Sultanahmet’s big sights, the Grand Bazaar, a Bosphorus cruise and an evening in Galata or Karaköy. Four to five days lets you add the Asian side, Topkapı’s harem and the neighbourhoods most visitors miss.
Do I need a visa to visit Istanbul?
Many nationalities enter Türkiye visa-free or with a simple e-visa obtained online before travel. Requirements vary by passport, and we arrange e-visa support as part of every package - check our e-visa service for your nationality.
Is Istanbul safe for tourists?
Istanbul is generally safe for visitors, with tourist areas well policed. As in any large city, watch for pickpockets in crowded spots like the Grand Bazaar and on trams, use licensed taxis or apps, and our packages include a local team on call throughout your stay.
Ready when you are
Packages featuring Istanbul
Browse handcrafted itineraries that include Istanbul, each available in three service levels - or message our local team and we'll tailor one around you.