The largest city in Europe, Istanbul attracts tourists from all over the world, straddling the border between Asia and Europe. Situated along the Bosporus Strait, visitors are drawn to the city’s rich history and its cultural significance with many diverse neighbourhoods to explore. Here, in the capital of Turkey travelers will find many attractions suited to their tastes from ancient palaces and fortresses, to stunning picturesque mosques and cathedrals, iconic historical landmarks, museums and art galleries. This city also has many modern amenities to offer its guests including popular shops, cafes, markets and a vibrant nightlife.
To make your time exploring this beautiful city more convenient and efficient, we have designed our interactive map of Istanbul to display all of its most important tourist attractions. Their specific locations are identified, and you can click on each attraction to learn more details about its historical and cultural significance as a popular landmark and tourist destination for those visiting Istanbul.
In addition, our tourist map is free to download in the event you need a map and go offline. Print a copy of our map showing the tourist attractions in Istanbul and take it with you wherever you go when traveling through this city.
Exploring the districts of Istanbul: Find tourist attractions
Istanbul is famous for its geographic positioning that straddles the Bosporus Strait. It is a major river that runs trough the center of this city. This is essentially the border that separates Europe from the rest of Asia. To the east side of the river is what is called the Asian Side of Istanbul, and to the west side of the river is what is known as the European side. If you are traveling and searching for tourist destinations to visit, you should be aware that most of these can be found on the European, or west side of the city of Istanbul.
On the European side, there are several key districts and neighbourhoods that you should know and be familiar with when traveling about this city. The first of these is Sultanahmet, it is the historic heart of Istanbul and home to many of its most popular tourist attractions including Hagia Sophia Mosque, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace and the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. From here, it is only another 10-to-15-minute walk to reach the Grand Bazaar, and approximately 20 minutes to reach the Suleymaniye Mosque.
Located across the Halic, also known as the Golden Horn, is the district of Beyoglu. This part of the neighbourhood is home to the famous Istiklal Avenue and a vibrant nightlife scene. Here you will find an avenue filled with beautiful buildings featuring an eclectic mix of architectural designs that include styles from the Neo-Gothic, Art Deco and Renaissance eras. There are many shops for travelers to explore along Istiklal Avenue, from high end luxury fashion brands to gifts and local craftsmanship and souvenirs. This district also features a rich culinary experience with many restaurants to choose from and several cultural landmarks nearby including Church of St. Anthony of Padua and the Galata Tower, located close to the northern shore of the Golden Horn.
Located further to the north, approximately 10-to-15-minutes from Beyoglu when traveling by bus, metro or taxi is the district of Besiktas. This is another part of Istanbul that is well known for its vibrance and cultural diversity. Here, you will also find Dolmabahce Palace, one of the grandest and most magnificent palaces in Turkey. This area is also home to the famous Besiktas football club.
Traveling back across the Halic, is one of Istanbul’s oldest city districts, Fatih. This area is full of neighbourhoods, featuring bright and colorful houses and historic churches. It also offers several libraries, both historic and modern, and is home to many of the city’s provincial authorities.
Getting around Istanbul: Locating transportation service providers
One of the best parts about the tourist attractions in Istanbul is that many of them are located in close proximity to one another. For example, it is relatively simple and convenient to travel between all of the attractions in Sultanahmet and Beyoglu on foot.
For longer distances, Istanbul’s tram system and its bus network provide reliable and cheap options for getting around the city. These systems are extensive with frequent services and include many lines stretching across the city and passing through key tourist spots. Riding the tram or bus as a passenger will typically cost you between 20 TL to 40 TL or approximately $0.50 USD to $2 USD for a one-way transfer ticket.
Meanwhile, the ferry services that are available in Istanbul will offer a more scenic and relaxing atmosphere for traveling about the Bosphorus river and the Golden Horn. Conveniently, there are several options to choose from, including longer tours and day trips that include stops made throughout the different ports at the city, plus romantic sunset and dinner services.
In other instances where public transportation may not be available, taxi providers are widely available and can be hailed on the street or booked via apps like BiTaksi. For those using smartphone apps, Uber is a ridesharing service that also operates in Istanbul, and is a reliable alternative to the taxi system. Traveling between Beonglu and Dolmabahce Palace would be expected to take approximately 5 minutes and cost 200 TL or roughly 6 EUR. Travelling between Dolmabahce Palace and Sultanahmet is longer and would depend on traffic during the time of day, but may cost closer to 350 TL or 10 EUR and take approximately 10-to-15 minutes of travel time.
