Istanbul travel guide
The Istanbul travel guide, piece by piece.
Sights, neighbourhoods, food, ferries and day trips, each laid out in its own guide with prices, closed days and an honest list of what to skip.
The six guides
Plan the whole trip
Each guide is its own panel: start with one, and the rest fit around it.
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01
Things to Do
Forty sights grouped by neighbourhood, with prices, closed days and what to skip. Open the guide -
02
Itinerary
Day-by-day plans for one to seven days, layovers and second visits. Open the guide -
03
Where to Stay
Each neighbourhood compared on room price, travel time and evening character. Open the guide -
04
Food
Forty dishes, where to try each and what they cost, plus what is overrated. Open the guide -
05
Getting Around
The Istanbulkart, T1 tram, metro, Marmaray, ferries and taxis, with fares. Open the guide -
06
Day Trips
Twenty escapes ranked by time in the seat, with the public-transport route for each. Open the guide
New in the guide
Older guides-
Things to Do ·
40 Free Things to Do in Istanbul (and the Nearly-Free Ferry Trick)
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Things to Do ·
Top 10 Must-See Attractions in Istanbul, Ranked (and How Long Each Takes)
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Neighbourhoods ·
Besiktas, Ortakoy, Bebek & Nisantasi
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Before You Go ·
Is Istanbul Worth Visiting?
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Things to Do ·
Istanbul History & Culture for Visitors
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Before You Go ·
Istanbul Events Calendar 2026-2027
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Things to Do ·
Best Museums in Istanbul
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Things to Do ·
Istanbul Museum Pass & City Passes 2026
Before you go
Visas, airports, seasons and the forty things worth knowing before you land.
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Do I Need a Visa for Turkey?
Turkey's entry rules passport by passport as of September 2026, the 150-day validity rule and where official sources disagree, how to avoid e-visa agent sites, and the money, SIM and packing essentials. -
Istanbul Airport to City Centre
Every way into Istanbul from IST and Sabiha Gokcen compared on price and time, with September 2026 fares, the night-time gaps, the airport-to-airport transfer and the scams to ignore. -
Best Time to Visit Istanbul
Istanbul month by month with real temperature, rainfall, sunshine and sea-temperature figures, what hotels cost in each, the events calendar and which month suits which kind of trip. -
Istanbul Travel Tips
The Istanbul rules that actually change your trip: the Istanbulkart, the four closed days, prayer-time windows, the taxi tariff, the scams worth knowing and what everything costs in September 2026.