Istanbul,Turkey

• Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)
• Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
• Topkapı Palace
• Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı)
• Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)
• Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
• Bosphorus cruise and waterfront districts
• Galata Tower
• Dolmabahçe Palace
• Süleymaniye Mosque
• Istiklal Avenue & Taksim
• Princes' Islands (Adalar)

• The Bosphorus Strait: dramatic cityscape with Europe and Asia facing each other
• Layered architecture: Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques and modern skyline
• Rich street-food culture and lively markets
• Historic neighborhoods: Sultanahmet, Beyoğlu, Karaköy, Balat
• Surviving Byzantine mosaics and Ottoman tile work
• Nightlife and contemporary art scene including galleries and biennials

• Take a Bosphorus cruise (short or full-day) to see palaces, forts and seaside mansions
• Explore Sultanahmet on foot: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Hippodrome
• Shop, haggle and sip tea in the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
• Ride a historic tram or take ferries between European and Asian sides
• Relax in a traditional Turkish bath (hammam)
• Try street foods: simit, döner, balik ekmek (fish sandwich), kumpir and baklava
• Visit museums: Topkapı Palace, Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Modern Istanbul
• Walk across Galata Bridge at sunset and enjoy the skyline views
• Cycle or take a horse-drawn phaeton on the Princes' Islands
• Attend a whirling dervish performance or a traditional music concert

• Istanbul Tulip Festival (April – city parks bloom)
• Istanbul Film Festival (April/May)
• Istanbul Biennial (contemporary art, every two years)
• Istanbul Music Festival (classical and world music, summer)
• Ramadan and Eid celebrations with special markets and nightly programs
• Istanbul Jazz Festival

Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November) for mild weather, fewer crowds and blooming parks. Late spring coincides with the Tulip Festival. Summer (July–August) is hot and crowded; winters can be cold, wet and occasionally snowy.

Istanbul has a transitional Mediterranean/humid subtropical climate: hot, humid summers (July–August), mild to cool wet winters (December–February), and pleasant, changeable spring and autumn seasons.

Istanbul is served by two main airports: Istanbul Airport (IST, on the European side) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW, on the Asian side). Public transport includes an expanding metro network, trams (line through Sultanahmet), buses, ferries and funiculars. Buy an Istanbulkart for seamless travel. Many historic sites have cobbled streets and steps; accessibility varies—some museums and newer transport stations have elevators and ramps, but expect limited access at older structures.

3–5 days to cover major highlights (Sultanahmet, a Bosphorus cruise, Taksim/Beyoğlu). 7–10 days to explore neighborhoods, take day trips to the Princes' Islands and dive deeper into museums and food culture.

Comfortable walking shoes for cobbled streets, layered clothing for changing weather, a light rain jacket in shoulder seasons. Bring modest clothing or a scarf for mosque visits (women should cover shoulders and head when required; men should avoid shorts inside mosques). A universal plug adapter (Type C/F) and a refillable water bottle are useful.

Must-try foods: kebabs, meze, baklava, Turkish delight (lokum), simit, çay (tea) and Turkish coffee. Souvenirs: hand-painted Iznik-style ceramics, carpets and kilims, spices, Turkish delight boxed selections, evil-eye (nazar boncuğu) amulets, copperware, tea sets and local olive oil products.