Senior travel: Istanbul
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
Was this useful?
Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 65 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Basilica CisternStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 40 minSteps lead down to the walkways; a lift has been offered at times (check); the walkways are wet and slippery.
- Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)Step-free: partial (check before you go) · about 40 minA ramp or steps at the visitor entrance (check); flat carpeted interior; the courtyard has cobbles.
- Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)Step-free: partial (check before you go) · about 45 minFlat inside but with small steps at entrances; crowded and narrow aisles.
- Hagia SophiaStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minA ramp and visitor route exist; the stone floors are uneven and worn; the upper gallery is a sloped ramp.
- Topkapı PalaceStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 150 minA large hilly site with cobbles; some ramps, several sections with steps; the Harem has steps.
- Galata TowerStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 55 minA lift takes you most of the way; the last flight is a narrow stair; the approach is a steep cobbled hill.
Getting around in Istanbul
Istanbul is hard on wheels. The old peninsula is hilly and cobbled, pavements are narrow with high kerbs, and older sights have steps. Trams and newer metro stations have lifts; ferries have ramps. Plan by taxi and pick a hotel with a lift.
- Pavements:
- Narrow, sloped and often blocked by cars, tables and scooters; cobbles in Sultanahmet, Galata and Karaköy.
- Getting around:
- Tram T1 has step-free boarding at most stops (check); taxis with a folded chair are the usual option; ferries have ramps but a gap.
- Hotels:
- Modern hotels have lifts; older guesthouses often do not: ask for a room number and floor before booking.
- Toilets:
- Accessible toilets in museums, malls and modern hotels; rare in old mosques and bazaars.
- Mosques:
- Steps or ramps at entrances; visitors leave shoes at the door; a folding chair may be allowed (ask).
Stairs at the hotel areas
- Karaköy and Galata: 1 flights up, 0 down, 90 m walk from the stop
Medicines and health on the ground
The Türkiye (Turkey) guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Heat:
- July and August afternoons are hot on paved squares; shade, water and a break from 13:00 to 16:00.
- Food and water:
- Tap water is chlorinated and most visitors drink bottled water; eat where the turnover is fast.
- Pharmacies:
- Well stocked; the on-duty pharmacy list is posted on each door.
- Air quality:
- Traffic fumes near main roads; a mask is optional in winter or if you are sensitive.
- Stairs and cobbles:
- Sprains are common on wet cobbles; wear closed shoes with grip.
- Vaccinations:
- Routine vaccinations up to date; ask a travel clinic about hepatitis A and tetanus.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.