Cheap flights from Tirana🇹🇷 Istanbul

What to see in Istanbul

• Hagia Sophia and the Blue MosqueThe city's two best-known monuments, facing each other in Sultanahmet.
• Topkapi PalaceThe residence of the Ottoman sultans, with its treasury and views over the Bosphorus.
• Grand BazaarOne of the oldest covered markets in the world, with thousands of shops. The Spice Bazaar is a little further on.
• Galata Tower and IstiklalThe medieval tower with a 360-degree view, and the city's liveliest pedestrian street.
• The BosphorusA ferry ride between Europe and Asia costs the same as a bus ticket.
• Basilica CisternThe underground Byzantine reservoir with hundreds of columns, next to Hagia Sophia.
• Süleymaniye MosqueThe masterpiece of the architect Sinan, quieter than the Blue Mosque and with views over the Golden Horn.

Book tickets for museums and sights in Istanbul →

A 3-day itinerary

1. Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace. It's a full day: start early.
2. The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar in the morning, then the Süleymaniye Mosque. In the afternoon, cross the Galata Bridge, climb up to the Tower and walk along Istiklal to Taksim.
3. A ferry trip on the Bosphorus, then the Asian side: the Kadıköy market and sunset in Üsküdar.

Where to stay

• SultanahmetClose to the main monuments; quiet in the evening.
• Beyoğlu, Galata and KaraköyCafés, bars and nightlife, with views from the rooftop terraces.
• KadıköyOn the Asian side: markets, local bars and restaurants, and lower prices, all a ferry ride away.

What to eat

• KebabsFrom spicy Adana to İskender with yoghurt and tomato sauce.
• Balık ekmekA grilled fish sandwich, sold next to the Galata Bridge in Eminönü.
• Turkish breakfastDozens of small plates of cheeses, olives, eggs, honey and kaymak.
• Baklava and teaThe pistachio pastry and tea in a slender glass, at any time of day.

From the airport to the centre

Rather have a driver waiting? Book a transfer from the airport →

Getting around the city

Traffic is heavy, so avoid taxis at rush hour. The T1 tram links Sultanahmet with the Galata Bridge and Kabataş, the metro and the Marmaray train run under the Bosphorus, and the ferries are the loveliest way to change continents. You pay for all of them with the Istanbulkart.

Day trips from Istanbul

• Princes' IslandsCar-free, with wooden villas and pine trees, about an hour by ferry.
• Upper BosphorusThe long route of the public ferry takes you as far as Anadolu Kavağı, near the Black Sea.
• BursaThe first Ottoman capital, about 2-3 hours away by ferry and bus.

Tips

• Albanian citizens enter Turkey without a visa, for stays of up to 90 days.
• Get an Istanbulkart as soon as you arrive: it's valid on the metro, trams, buses and ferries.
• Take off your shoes to enter a mosque and wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees; women cover their heads with a scarf. During prayers visitors wait outside.
• In the bazaar haggling is part of the game: start at about half the asking price.

Frequently asked questions