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Best experiences:

Hagia Sophia

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
external facade of a large mosque with four turrets

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.

Best for ages 13+

Dolmabahce Palace

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Exterior view of grand, waterfront palace on a sunny day

An extraordinarily opulent 19th-century palace that blends Ottoman architecture with Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles.

Adult price: £9

Best for ages 18+

Istanbul’s palaces

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Opulent red-carpeted staircase in palace

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

Adult price: £2

Best for ages 8+

Istanbul’s extraordinary Ottoman mosques

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Interior of domed mosque with Arabic inscriptions on the walls

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.

Best for ages 13+

Topkapi Palace

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Palace building on a sunny day with trees in foreground

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.

Adult price: £17

Best for ages 18+

Blue Mosque

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Aerial view of large mosque with six minarets with blue sea in the background

The greatest of Istanbul’s Ottoman mosques, beautifully decorated with thousands of handmade ceramic tiles, the Blue Mosque combines Byzantine elements with traditional Islamic architecture.

Best for ages 13+

Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Turkish dancers in traditional, white skirts spin in front of musicians playing Turkish instruments and wearing conical hats

Hypnotic and haunting, the traditional sema ceremony of the whirling dervishes dates back to the 13th century. Watch the dervishes whirl to the Sufi’s haunting, hypnotic music.

Adult price: £10

Best for ages 13+

Duration: 75 minutes

When: Tuesday - Sunday

Frequency: weekly

World-class art in Istanbul

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
World-class art 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.

Adult price: £-

Best for ages 18+

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Intricate, illuminated Turkish lamps hanging from the ceiling inside a market

The oldest, biggest market in the world that glitters like an Aladdin’s cave. Over 5,000 shops on 66 covered streets.

Best for ages 8+

Istanbul’s best food & drink

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Brightly-coloured Turkish delights stacked in piles outside of a store

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

Adult price: £5

Duration: -

Spice Bazaar

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Colourful, triangular piles of spices in round terracotta dishes

Istanbul’s second largest market is a sensory wonderland, full to bursting with fragrant spices and sweets.

Best for ages 13+

Suleymaniye Mosque

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Aerial view of large, blue and white mosque on a sunny day

The grandest mosque in Istanbul, built in 1558, this iconic Byzantine beauty defines the Istanbul skyline.

Best for ages 18+

Basilica Cistern

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
View of ancient cistern with arched ceilings. Columns rise from the ground to meet the ceiling and there is a thin layer of reflective water on the ground.

Magical 6th-century underground cistern, once used to supply water to Istanbul’s Ottoman emperors.

Adult price: £3

Best for ages 8+

Boat tours along the Bosphorus

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Boat tours along the Bosphorus

One of the greatest urban boat journeys, a glide down the Bosphorus strait passes Ottoman palaces, forts and picturesque villages.

Adult price: £10

Best for ages 4+

Duration: 1 hour to full day

Afternoon tea at the Pera Palace Hotel

Istanbul , Marmara , Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Afternoon tea at the Pera Palace Hotel

Experience an older, imperial Istanbul by enjoying traditional afternoon tea in a gilded, red-velvet salon at this famous 19th-century hotel.

Adult price: £8

Best for ages 10+

Duration: 1-2 hours

Have a hammam in Istanbul

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Interior of a marble, Turkish bathhouse which is hexagonal and cast under yellow light from the skylights above

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.

Adult price: £18

Min age 6

Best for ages 18+

Duration: 1-3 hours

Istanbul Archaeological Museums

Istanbul , Marmara , Turkey

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Bucket List Experience
Rectangular, carved sarcophagus in a dark museum room

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

Adult price: £5

Best for ages 6+

Istanbul Modern

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

Man and a woman looking at paintings in a modern art gallery

A modern art museum housing the finest collection of modern and contemporary art in the country. The Modern’s temporary exhibits by Turkish and international artists – often organized in collaboration with MoMA (New York) and the Centre Pompidou (Paris) – are particularly exceptional.

Adult price: £4

Best for ages 18+

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Museum of Turkish Islamic Arts

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

Exterior of white museum with trees lining the entrance

This treasure trove of Islamic art and artefacts holds one of the world’s finest collections of Islamic-influenced glassware, rugs, ceramics, carpets, calligraphy, metalwork and ethnographic items, spanning over a thousand years. It offers a fascinating insight into the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Turkey. A must for decorative arts fans.

Adult price: £4

Best for ages 18+

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Kadikoy Market

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

View down a covered market with tourists and locals shopping at stalls

Located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, Kadikoy Market is Istanbul’s foodie central, a gastro-riot of local produce including seafood, fruit and vegetable stalls, herbs, spices and cheeses. There’s also a flea market mixed in, selling antiques, second-hand goods and surprising curiosities in over-filled stalls. Tuesdays and Fridays.

Best for ages 18+

Duration: All day

When: Tuesday & Friday

Frequency: weekly

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Istanbul Military Museum

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

Decorative metal Helmets Of Warriors Of Turkish Ottoman empire

A fascinating and quirky military museum with an astonishing array of uniforms, weapons and battle standards. Upstairs, there is a room devoted to the revolutionary statesman Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey. Go around 3pm for an unforgettably weird re-creation of a 17th-century military band concert.

Adult price: £1

Best for ages 13+

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Rahmi M. Koc Museum

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

Old, red motor car in a museum

This huge museum, dedicated to industrial heritage and technology, features just about everything from submarines to streetcars, mechanical toys to wacky inventions. Located in a historic waterfront building, it showcases a collection of vintage cars, trains, maritime artefacts, and scientific instruments. One for those interested in science, technology, and the history of transportation.

Adult price: £1

Best for ages 4+

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Beylerbeyi Palace

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

Waterfront palace flanked by trees on a sunny day

Built in 1865 by Sultan Abdulaziz (1830–1876) as a summer residence and to entertain guests, this stunning palace offers a fascinating insight into the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire and the decadent lifestyles of its sultans.

Adult price: £3

Best for ages 18+

Great Palace Mosaic Museum

Istanbul , Marmara Region , Turkey

Mosaic of man's face

For a glimpse into the ancient Byzantine era, try this museum showcasing a vast collection of beautifully preserved 5th and 6th-century AD mosaics and artefacts from the Great Palace of Constantinople, the palace of the first Byzantine Emperors. Marvel at intricate designs depicting mythological scenes, historical figures and nature.

Adult price: £2

Best for ages 18+

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Theodosian Walls

Istanbul, Marmara, Turkey

Grand, Roman wall over road entrance to city

These city walls, started by Emperor Constantine in AD 324 and expanded by later emperors, were the greatest fortifications of late antiquity – though not sufficient to prevent the successful Ottoman invasion in AD 1453. Many sections were sadly dismantled in the 19th century as the city expanded.

Best for ages 18+

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Cable car to Eyup

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

Aerial view of Istanbul and the Bosphorus with mosque in the foreground

Escape the city mayhem by taking Istanbul’s teleferik (cable car) up to the interesting suburban village of Eyup, older than Istanbul itself. Sip on a Turkish coffee at one of the many cafes and tea gardens, and admire the panoramic views of the city’s skyline and the Golden Horn. The 10-minute ride starts at the bottom of Pierre Loti Hill.

Best for ages 13+

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Istanbul Biennial

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

Istanbul Biennial

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.

Best for ages 18+

Duration: 9 weeks

When: Sept-Nov

Frequency: bi-annually

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Kucuksu Palace

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

Rectangular waterfront palace with gate leading directly onto water

On the lesser-explored Asian side of Istanbul, this petite palace, built in 1857, served as a hunting lodge and summer retreat for Sultan Abdulmecid I. Inside, it’s lavishly furnished with crystal chandeliers, marble fireplaces and Persian rugs. It’s open to the public as a museum.

Adult price: £1

Best for ages 18+

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Sakip Sabanci Museum

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

Interior of museum showing various sculptures on gallery floor

Set in a grand villa on the banks of the Bosphorus, this museum features a permanent collection of calligraphy, paintings, and archaeological finds from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras.

Adult price: £3

Best for ages 18+

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Vefa Bozacisi

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

Vefa Bozacisi

A historic shop founded in 1876, this is the place to try boza, an ancient fermented drink, made from water, barley and sugar and garnished with cinnamon and chickpea powder. In summer, sira a local grape juice is also served.

Best for ages 4+

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Mikla

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

Close up of a plate with small octopus tentacle and orange sauce

One of the world’s best restaurants, Mikla is headed up by chef Mehmet Gurs, father of the New Anatolian Kitchen culinary movement. Situated on a rooftop terrace in Beyoglu, all meals come with spectacular views.

Adult price: £45

Best for ages 18+

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Santralistanbul

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

Old factory converted into a modern art museum

Housed in the city’s former power plant, this vibrant cultural complex houses contemporary art galleries, a museum, theatres, a library, and a concert hall. It also features outdoor spaces and a scenic waterfront. There’s a diverse program of exhibitions; it’s art museum combines industrial archaeology and contemporary Turkish art in Istanbul’s answer to London’s Tate Modern.

Best for ages 18+

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Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

Exterior of a red and white brick Turkish bathhouse with cafe tables beneath the pillars at the front

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.

Adult price: £50

Min age 6

Best for ages 18+

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Chora Museum

Istanbul , Marmara Region , Turkey

Gold-tiled interior of Turkish church with religious frescos

An unassuming 11th-century church that’s home to a remarkable collection of late-Byzantine paintings and mosaics in a far more intimate and accessible setting than the vast Hagia Sophia. Open daily.

Best for ages 18+

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Tekfur Palace

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

Ruins of former palace

One of the city’s oldest and best-preserved Byzantine palaces, the Tekfur Palace aka ‘Palace of the Porphyrogenitus’ was built during the 12th century as a royal residence for the Byzantine emperors. It now lies abandoned, with ruins for visitors to explore.

Adult price: £2

Best for ages 18+

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Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

Exterior of a Turkish bathhouse on a sunny day, comprising various interconnected domed buildings that are a sandy white with grey-blue roofs

A big beautiful bathhouse dating back to 1580, it recently reopened after a 7-year restoration. It includes a special hammam for children (of all ages). 

Adult price: £10

Best for ages 4+

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Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

Islamic man with traditional dress smoking shisha, drinking tea

Super authentic spot near the Grand Bazaar where you can smoke nargile (a water pipe or hookah) and drink tea in the courtyard of a mosque from 1709.

Adult price: £5

Min age 18

Best for ages 18+

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Catma Mescit Hamami

Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey

Inside the Hammam at Catma Mescit Hamami in Istanbul

A beautiful 16th-century hammam designed by Mimar Sinan, this bathhouse offers facial masks and other spa treatments alongside classic Turkish treatments. As authentic as it gets.

Adult price: £42

Min age 6

Best for ages 13+

Duration: 1-3 hours

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Pera Museum

Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey

View of art museum in old hotel

A museum offering a glimpse into the world of Orientalist paintings, and contemporary Turkish art. It houses fine collections of Ottoman art, tiles and ceramics – plus big-name travelling exhibitions – set in a former grand hotel.

Adult price: £2

Best for ages 18+

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