City guide
Istanbul
Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus strait, spreading across both Europe and Asia, with a historic core of Ottoman and Byzantine monuments packed into the Sultanahmet peninsula. Ferries cross constantly between continents while the Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower anchor a city that is equal parts imperial capital and modern metropolis.
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Istanbul travel guides
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Top things to do in Istanbul
The most popular sights, with 2026 entrance fees. Prices are adult admission — cheapest at the gate. Many of the best things are free.
| Attraction | Entrance | Time | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hagia Sophia | €25 | 1-1.5 hours | A 6th-century Byzantine cathedral turned Ottoman mosque turned museum turned active mosque again (2020); its vast dome and surviving Christian mosaics alongside Islamic calligraphy make it Istanbul's single most iconic building. |
| Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) | Free | 30-45 minutes | The early-17th-century mosque famed for its six minarets and interior blue Iznik tilework, directly facing Hagia Sophia across Sultanahmet Square. |
| Topkapi Palace | Varies | 2-3 hours | The primary residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years, with the Imperial Treasury (Topkapi Dagger, Spoonmaker's Diamond), sacred relics, and the labyrinthine Harem quarters. |
| Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici) | ₺1,950 | 45 minutes-1 hour | A 6th-century underground Byzantine cistern of 336 columns, including the famous Medusa-head column bases, now atmospherically lit and walked via raised platforms. |
| Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) | Free | 1.5-2 hours | One of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, with 4,000+ shops across 61 streets selling carpets, jewelry, ceramics and leather since the 1450s. |
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