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Voykit pocket guide · Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul
İstanbul
Istanbul is a hills-and-water city: do Sultanahmet at opening, cross the water by tram or ferry, keep Galata and Karaköy for the late afternoon — and never plan a day of stairs with a suitcase.
Istanbul's big sights sit close together on the old peninsula, but the city is steep, crowded and cut in two by water. The trips that go wrong are the ones that queue at Hagia Sophia at noon, drag a suitcase up Galata's cobbles, or land at the far airport in the evening peak. Four walking clusters cover a first visit; ferries and day trips leave from one kept bed.
- Country
- Türkiye (Turkey)
- Local name
- İstanbul
- Best months
- Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov
- Time zone
- Europe/Istanbul
- Stay
- 2 days: Sultanahmet morning, Topkapı, Eminönü at dusk
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TRY
- Money
- Cards work in hotels, malls and most restaurants; cash (lira) for small shops, markets, tea houses and taxis without an app. Contactless is common. Carry small notes.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₺1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₺2,500–5,000 excl. bed · High ₺5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Turkcell, Vodafone or Türk Telekom; passport for registration; a foreign phone may be registered on entry. eSIM is the simplest option.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 112 · Tourist police (Sultanahmet) Ask your hotel for the current number (check)
- Plugs
- 230 V, 50 Hz; two-pin European sockets (type C and F).
- Tipping
- Not expected at simit carts or tea stalls. Round up taxi fares; 5–10% in sit-down restaurants if a service charge is not already on the bill; a few lira for a hammam attendant.
- Water
- Tap water is treated but most visitors drink bottled water.
- Toilets
- Cafés, mosques (some paid), malls and museums; carry ₺20–50 in coins.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Simit (sesame ring) from a street cart | ₺25–45 |
| Tea (çay), a glass | ₺30–60 |
| Turkish coffee, café | ₺150–300 |
| Fish sandwich (balık ekmek) at Eminönü | ₺250–450 |
| Lokanta lunch, main plus side | ₺400–900 |
| Short taxi ride | ₺200–500 |
| Tram, metro or ferry ride | ₺30–50 |
| Airport taxi to Sultanahmet | ₺1,500–2,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Istanbul Airport (IST)
- IST to Sultanahmet: one taxi or ride-hail car, 45–100 minutes depending on traffic — the airport is 40 km (25 mi) out, so the risk is the evening peak and the walk from the door to a narrow street.IST to Sultanahmet: one taxi or ride-hail car, 45–100 minutes depending on traffic — the airport is 25 mi (40 km) out, so the risk is the evening peak and the walk from the door to a narrow street.
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
- SAW to Sultanahmet: one taxi or ride-hail car across the Bosphorus, 60–120 minutes — the airport is on the Asian side, and evening traffic decides whether you arrive at 22:30 or after midnight.SAW to Sultanahmet: one taxi or ride-hail car across the Bosphorus, 60–120 minutes — the airport is on the Asian side, and evening traffic decides whether you arrive at 10:30 PM or after midnight.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul Airport (IST) (İstanbul Havalimanı) | Most international flights; about 40 km (25 mi) north-west of the old cityMost international flights; about 25 mi (40 km) north-west of the old city | Taxi or car 45–100 min; Havaist buses; metro M11 then a change |
| Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) (Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı) | Low-cost and regional flights; on the Asian side | Taxi or bus 60–120 min; Havabus; M4 metro and a ferry or Marmaray (check) |
| Halkalı and Marmaray stations (Halkalı, Sirkeci, Üsküdar) | The Marmaray commuter line under the Bosphorus and the airport shuttle links (check) | Sirkeci to Sultanahmet 10 min on foot or one tram stop |
| Esenler and Alibeyköy bus stations (Esenler Otogarı) | Long-distance coaches across Türkiye | Metro, tram or taxi 30–60 min |
| Yenikapı ferry and bus quays (Yenikapı) | Fast ferries to Bursa, Yalova and the Marmara coast (check) | Metro M2 or a taxi 15–25 min |
Typical fares
- Airport IST to Sultanahmet, taxi or ride-hail car
- ₺1,500–2,500, 45–100 min depending on traffic
- Short taxi ride, old city
- ₺200–500
- Tram T1, Sultanahmet to Karaköy
- About 10–15 min; Istanbulkart fare (check)
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside a cluster; tram T1 along the old peninsula to Karaköy; ferries across the Bosphorus; metro and Marmaray for longer hops; taxi or ride-hailing car at night or with bags. An Istanbulkart works on every public mode.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside a cluster |
| Tram T1 | Istanbulkart, about ₺30–50 a ride (check) | Sultanahmet, Eminönü, Karaköy, Kabataş |
| Metro and Marmaray | Istanbulkart | Longer hops, the Asian side, the airport link (check) |
| Ferry | Istanbulkart; short public crossings about ₺30–60 | Kadıköy, Üsküdar, Bosphorus, Princes' Islands |
| Funicular (Tünel and Kabataş–Taksim) | Istanbulkart | Karaköy to İstiklal and Kabataş to Taksim |
| Taxi | Meter only; short ride ₺200–500 | Bags, night, the airport |
| Ride-hailing (BiTaksi, Uber, iTaksi) | Fare shown before you ride | Bags, late night, peak hours |
| Dolmuş and minibus | Cash, low fares | Local hops if you know the route |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass needed: an Istanbulkart pays for itself after a few rides; museum passes are worth it only with three or more paid museums.
- Late at night
- Trams and the metro run to about midnight; ferries stop earlier; taxis and ride-hailing run all night.
See and do
01Hagia SophiaAyasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi
The single building that explains the city; the dome is worth the queue.
Hours: best At opening · Price: About €25 for foreigners (check) · Time: 1–1.5 h · 41.0086, 28.9802
02Topkapı PalaceTopkapı Sarayı
Courtyards, treasury and Bosphorus views of the sultans' residence.
Hours: best At opening · Price: About €40; Harem extra (check) · Time: 2–3 h · 41.0115, 28.9833
03Basilica CisternYerebatan Sarnıcı
A cool, underground forest of columns lit from below.
Hours: best Early or late · Price: About €25–30 (check) · Time: 30–40 min · 41.0084, 28.9779
04Blue MosqueSultanahmet Camii
A working mosque with blue tiles and a big courtyard; free and short.
Hours: best Outside prayer times · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min · 41.0054, 28.9768
05Spice BazaarMısır Çarşısı
Colour, smells and tastings by the ferry quay.
Hours: best Mid-morning · Price: Free to browse · Time: 30–45 min · 41.0166, 28.9707
06Galata TowerGalata Kulesi
A view of both skylines and the Golden Horn.
Hours: best Opening or after 19:00 · Price: About €30 (check) · Time: 40 minHours: best Opening or after 7:00 PM · Price: About €30 (check) · Time: 40 min · 41.0256, 28.9741
07Public ferry to Kadıköy or Üsküdar
A cheap cruise across the strait and back.
Hours: best Late afternoon · Price: About ₺30–60 · Time: 1–2 h
08Fish sandwich at EminönüEminönü balık ekmek
A messy, cheap and reliable local lunch.
Hours: best Lunch · Price: ₺250–450 · Time: 30 min · 41.0179, 28.9736
09Süleymaniye Mosque
Sinan's masterpiece and a calm terrace above the Golden Horn.
Hours: best Mid-morning · Price: Free · Time: 45 min
10Grand Bazaar
A maze of shops that shows the trade side of the city.
Hours: best Early · Price: Free to browse · Time: 1–2 h
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Princes' Islands | Ferry 60–90 min | Full day |
| Bursa | Ferry and bus 2–3 h | Long day or overnight |
| Edirne | Bus 2.5–3 h | Long day or overnight |
| Gallipoli and Çanakkale | Bus about 5 h, or a tour | Two days |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simit and tea | Simit, a sesame ring, with tea · Sultanahmet, Gülhane Park | ₺30–100 | Budget |
| Street snacks and tea | Simit, roasted chestnuts, corn and tea · Sultanahmet and Gülhane | ₺30–120 | Budget |
| Döner and dürüm stalls | Döner in bread or a wrap · Eminönü, Beyoğlu | ₺200–400 | Budget |
| Köfte lokanta, Sultanahmet | Grilled köfte with piyaz and bread · Sultanahmet | ₺400–800 | Mid-range |
| Fish sandwich at Eminönü | Fish sandwich by the Galata Bridge · Eminönü | ₺250–450 | Mid-range |
| Turkish breakfast, Karaköy | Turkish breakfast spread with tea · Karaköy | ₺500–1,200 | Mid-range |
| Bosphorus fish restaurants and meyhane dinners | Mezes, fish and rakı · Karaköy, Beyoğlu, Bosphorus villages | ₺1,500–4,000 | Splurge |
| Modern Turkish tasting menus | A tasting menu with local wine · Beyoğlu, Karaköy | ₺3,000–7,000 | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate in lira. Addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | ₺1,500–3,000 | Sultanahmet, Beyoğlu hostels and small hotels | Hostels, family guesthouses |
| mid | ₺3,500–8,000 | Sultanahmet, Karaköy, Galata | 3–4 star hotels, boutique hotels |
| splurge | ₺12,000–35,000+ | Bosphorus, Beyoğlu, Sultanahmet | 5-star hotels, palace hotels |
Per room per night in TRY, 2026 estimate.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Merhabamehr-ha-BAH |
| Good morning | Günaydıngewn-eye-DUHN |
| Thank you | Teşekkür ederimteh-shek-KEWR eh-deh-rim |
| How much is this? | Bu ne kadar?boo neh kah-DAR |
| Too expensive | Çok pahalıchoke pah-hah-LUH |
| The bill, please | Hesap lütfenheh-SAHP lewt-FEN |
| No meat, please | Et yok lütfenet yok lewt-FEN |
| Please use the meter | Taksimetre lütfentahk-see-MEH-treh lewt-FEN |
| Please take me to this address | Lütfen beni bu adrese götürünlewt-FEN beh-nee boo ah-DREH-seh guh-tewr-EWN |
| No, thank you | Hayır, teşekkürlerhah-YUHR teh-shek-kewr-LER |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Mosques: Shoulders and knees covered; women cover the hair; shoes off at the door and carried in a bag; no visiting during the five daily prayers and the Friday midday prayer.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people, especially women and children; no flash in mosques; no photos of people praying.
- Tea: Accepting tea in a shop does not oblige you to buy, but it starts a conversation; say 'no, thank you' with a smile if you do not want to sit.
- Bargaining: Expected in the bazaars; smile, counter, and walk away politely. Never at shops with posted prices.
- Greetings: A handshake and 'merhaba' are enough; some devout Muslims avoid shaking hands with the opposite sex, so wait for them to offer.
- Ramadan: Avoid eating or drinking in front of fasting people in daylight if you can; restaurants stay open in Istanbul and evenings are lively at iftar time.
- Tipping: Round up taxi fares; 5–10% in sit-down restaurants if service is not already added.
Red lines
- Mosques: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off, no photos of people praying.
- Do not follow a stranger to a 'friend's' carpet shop or bar.
- Do not drink from a glass or bottle you did not see opened in nightlife streets.
Scams and watch-outs
- Bar and club invitations from friendly strangers: overpriced bills and worse; decline.
- The shoe-shine brush drop: say no and keep walking.
- Carpet-shop 'tours' offered by a 'student' or a 'local': it is a sales visit.
- Taxis with fixed fares, broken meters or a detour: use the meter or an app.
- Fake or resold tickets outside major sights: buy from the official ticket office or site.
One and two days
1 day
A long layover. Skip: Topkapı, the palace: it needs its own half day.
- 08:308:30 AMHagia Sophia at opening
- 10:3010:30 AMBasilica Cistern
- 12:3012:30 PMKöfte lunch in Sultanahmet
- 14:002:00 PMTram to Eminönü and the Spice Bazaar
- 16:004:00 PMFish sandwich and a ferry at dusk
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Türkiye tourism (Go Türkiye): goturkiye.com/
- Wikivoyage — Istanbul: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Istanbul
- UNESCO — Historic Areas of Istanbul: whc.unesco.org/en/list/356/
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Istanbulİstanbul
Lütfen beni bu adrese götürün
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i ŞerifiHagia Sophia
- Topkapı SarayıTopkapı Palace
- Yerebatan SarnıcıBasilica Cistern
- Sultanahmet CamiiBlue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
- Mısır ÇarşısıSpice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
- Galata KulesiGalata Tower
- Police, ambulance, fire112
- Tourist police (Sultanahmet)Ask your hotel for the current number (check)
Most consulates are in Beyoğlu and Şişli; write your own embassy's 24-hour line below.
Show the address on a map; taxis should use the meter.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/istanbul). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.