39 Best things to see & do in Istanbul

Filled with artistic treasures left by two great historical empires, Istanbul has also recently emerged as a major player on the world’s contemporary art scene.

One of the world’s top showcases for international contemporary art. Every 2 years,  renowned artists from around the world display paintings, installations, films, and more in unique settings all across the city.

Splendid Imperial palaces and gardens, built for the sultans, line the Bosphorus River in Istanbul, including the must-see Topkapi and Dolmabahce.

These magnificent granite and marble behemoths that dominate the city’s exotic skyline, painstakingly decorated with thousands of hand-made ceramic tiles, dazzle inside & out.

Our summary of the typical food ingredients and flavours, cooking styles, dining scene and best foodie experiences in Istanbul.

The hammam, or Turkish Bath, performed in beautiful old bathhouses, is the most civilised of rituals – a deeply restorative sweat-out, skin cleanse, relaxation and massage rolled into one. A quintessential Turkish experience.

The 15th and-16th century home of the Ottoman Sultans, this magnificently decadent palace is a perfectly preserved time capsule of life at the top in this most exotic of empires.

A masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, this world-renowned 6th-century marvel encapsulates the essence of the lost Ottoman Empire. Initially a cathedral, it’s now a museum as well as a functioning mosque – and a must-see in Istanbul.

Three world-class collections, including the famous Alexander sarcophagus, fascinating prehistoric art and gorgeous Ottoman tiles.

This gleaming white bathhouse was designed in 1556 by Mimar Sinan, the architect of the city’s greatest mosques – it’s now a modern, luxurious spa (albeit an expensive one) and a destination in itself. A basic 30-minute bath treatment includes a kese scrub and olive-oil soap massage.