Istanbul / İstanbul

To me, Istanbul is the most beautiful city in the world. The Bosporus, the charming neighborhoods, and history with every footstep. I spent 3 ½ years living there and always look forward to returning.

There are so many things to see in the city that I can’t fit them all on one page. I’ve broken everything down geographically into districts. Use the menu to navigate to the districts and see what you can find in each one.

 

General Info


 

European Side of Istanbul

The European side of the city is where most visitor will focus their time. It contains the most historic parts of Istanbul and the great majority of attractions.

 

Beşiktaş

The Beşiktaş district has some beautiful neighborhoods along the Bosporus.

Areas:

Attractions:

Museums:

Palaces:

Parks:

 

Beyoğlu

Beyoğlu is one of Istanbul’s prime destinations, with spots like Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, and Galata.

Areas:

Streets and Squares

Museums

Historic Attractions:

Misc. Attractions:

Food and Restaurants:

 

Eyüp

Eyüp is a district of Istanbul that stretches from just west of the old city walls from the Golden Horn up to the Black Sea. It contains one of the most important sites in Islam.

Areas:

Attractions:

 

Fatih

Fatih is a huge district that makes up the most historic parts of Istanbul and all of old Constantinople. It also has several interesting historic neighborhoods to wander through.

Aerial view of the old city, Fatih, and the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey
Aerial view of the old city, Fatih, and the Golden Horn

Since Fatih covers such a large area and contains several neighborhoods, I’ve split it up into sections east and west of Atatürk Boulevard.

Neighborhoods East of Atatürk Boulevard:

Neighborhoods West of Atatürk Boulevard:

Historic Attractions:

Mosques:

Museums:

Parks:

Misc. Attractions

 

Greater Istanbul

There are a few areas far from Istanbul’s city center that might be of interest, but they’re definitely not must-sees.

Areas:

Attractions:

 

Sarıyer

Sarıyer is a district in Istanbul that makes up much of the European side of the northern Bosporus all the way to the Black Sea.

Areas:

Attractions:

 

Şişli

Şişli is a district of Istanbul where you really feel like you’re in a big city. Crowded, fast-paced, and full of traffic and tall buildings, it stretches from north of Taksim Square. There are a few interesting areas and minor tourist attractions to visit.

Areas:

Attractions:

 

Zeytinburnu

Zeytinburnu is a district in Istanbul just west of the old city walls. It has a few points of interest that are worth seeking out.

Zeytinburnu was known as Kyklobion (Κυκλόβιον) or Strongylon (Στρογγυλόν) during Byzantine times. Throughout Ottoman times, it had a large minority concentration of Armenians, Greeks, Jews, and Bulgarians. In the 1950s, a wave of Anatolian immigrants moved in and Zeytinburnu grew quickly.

Areas:

Attractions:


Asian Side of Istanbul

The Asian side of the city has some interesting neighborhoods and attractions and remains mostly off the beaten path.

 

Beykoz

Beykoz is a district of Istanbul that includes many small villages on the Asian side of the Bosporus all the way up to the Black Sea.

Areas:

Attractions:

 

Kadıköy

Kadıköy is one of my favorite districts of Istanbul. The Moda area is modern and cosmopolitan with great food and nightlife, Bağdat Caddesi is a long stretch of road lined with luxury shops and restaurants, and the seaside is a wonderful place to relax.

Aerial view of Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey
Aerial view of Kadıköy

Areas:

Attractions:

Food and Restaurants:

 

Princes’ Islands (Adalar)

The Princes’ Islands (Adalar) are an escape from Istanbul within the city limits. A short ferry ride from the mainland will take you a world away.

General Info:

Islands:

Attractions:

 

Üsküdar

Üsküdar is a district on the Asian side of the Bosporus in Istanbul. Central Üsküdar boasts some of the finest mosques in the city while the rest of the district lines the Bosporus with charming villages.

Neighborhoods, Villages, and Areas:

Attractions:

 

Events in Istanbul

 

Holidays in Istanbul

 

Miscellaneous Posts About Istanbul

Aerial view of Istanbul
Aerial view of Istanbul
Aerial view of the Bosporus
Aerial view of the Bosporus

 

Stay Connected in Istanbul *

With a flexible eSIM data plan from Saily, you can reduce or even eliminate international roaming fees AND save time, so you can enjoy your trip without missing a beat. Saily is built by Nord Security, trusted by over 14 million people worldwide, and is compatible with both iOS and Android.

Click here to learn more about Saily, or here to get started. Don’t forget to use this promo code to get 5% off: Special5

Saily Affordable eSIM Data Plans*This section contains an affiliate link. By clicking on the link or banner, I receive a small “thank you” and you receive an offer at no cost to you, unless you decide to make a purchase – a win-win for both of us!

Jump To

→ Jump To