A weekend in Istanbul: travel guide, attractions and things to do

Why you should visit Istanbul

Istanbul is a “magical meeting place” which straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, said Lonely Planet. With mosques, markets, art galleries and monuments, Turkey’s largest city has more “top-notch attractions than it has minarets” – and “that’s a lot”. Best of all, some of Istanbul’s top sites “don’t cost a thing” to visit.

As Byzantium and then Constantinople, this city has been at the heart of intercontinental travel and commerce since ancient times. The ebb and flow of empires – first Greek, then Roman, then Ottoman – has enriched its architecture, culture and cuisine, which borrow liberally from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, but summers are less oppressive here than at Turkey’s southern resorts. Expect highs of 22C in May, 29C in August and 20C in October. Rain is more common in the winter months, but sunny days can still bring temperatures in the mid teens.

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Top attractions and things to do

Mosques and historic buildings

As “a city of empires past”, there are historic structures scattered throughout Istanbul, said National Geographic. Iconic landmarks include the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Galata Tower. Did you know there are more than 3,000 mosques in Turkey’s largest city? If you want to go “off the beaten path”, and for “fewer crowds”, head to Süleymaniye Mosque instead of the Blue Mosque. “The sprawling mosque campus is considered the best work in Istanbul by Mimar Sinan, and the courtyard offers a terrific view of the city.”

Hagia Sophia

This is a building that has held “many identities”, said Katie Nadworny on Travel + Leisure. Over the past 15 centuries Hagia Sophia has turned from church to mosque to museum and back to mosque again. There is no longer a fee to experience the “ultimate palimpsest of a building”. And while some of the famous mosaics and frescoes are covered, “many are still visible”.

Blue Mosque

Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are conveniently located within walking distance of one another. The “monumental” Blue Mosque, more properly known as the Sultanahmet Camii, “dominates the southeastern side of the Hippodrome”, said Rough Guides. With its six minarets, “imposing bulk” and “commanding position” on the skyline of old Istanbul, “it is one of the most famous and visited monuments in the city”.

Museums

Istanbul is “a museum unto itself” and the city’s best museums offer “a journey through time”, said Jennifer Hattam on Lonely Planet. According to Istanbeautiful, the “must visit” museums in Istanbul include Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern Museum, Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Dolmabahce Palace Museum, and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art.

Grand Bazaar

Those who prefer to worship at the altar of commerce can lose themselves in the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets. While the Grand Bazaar gets “more than its fair share of souvenir-hungry visitors”, the area around it is “relatively little explored”, said Rough Guides. This is “a shame” as it holds some “very worthwhile attractions”, from the historic Çemberlitaş Hamamı Turkish baths to the city’s very best mosque, the hilltop Süleymaniye Mosque. “It’s easy to see how you can spend a day in this area alone.”

The Bosphorus

The mosques, palaces and museums of the old city will keep you occupied for a couple of days at least, and then there’s the Bosphorus, the two-mile-wide river that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Med – and which divides Europe from Asia. A busy thoroughfare as well as a scenic attraction, the river is plied by ferries and tourist boats, which dart between the jetties, hotels and mansions lining the shore.

Nightlife

The “never sleeping” city of Istanbul is “loaded” with eclectic bars, clubs, and restaurants to “satiate the night crawler in you”, said Kushal Walia on Travel Triangle. The locals here “party hard” and “hog on to the luscious delectable delicacies way too often”. Experience the fun at trendy places such as Reina (“party all night”), Sortie (“wine and dine”), and Supperclub (“charming ambience”).

Places to stay: best hotels

Quiet space is “not so easy to come by” in Istanbul, especially in the “intensity” of the old town, said Holden Frith on TheWeek.co.uk. This helps to explain why the neighbourhood’s most luxurious hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, can be found in an old prison. With a prime spot in the heart of the old city, this recently refurbished hotel is a “serene launchpad” for Istanbul’s greatest attractions.

Istanbul is the hotspot where “worlds, cultures, religions and empires collide”, said Condé Nast Traveller. A “unique fusion” of “East-West, ancient-modern, grit and grandeur”, the city’s “exquisitely restored” Ottoman palaces and mansions now house an abundance of top-drawer hotels. One place that’s “worthy of a stay” is The Peninsula Istanbul. Made up of four separate buildings, the hotel sprawls across 250m of “prime Galataport waterfront property” taking in views of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, and the old city.

There are 11 hotels in Istanbul which have been given a 9/10 rating by the experts on The Telegraph. Pick of the bunch is Sumahan on the Water, a former Ottoman-era distillery situated on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Strait. Other highly rated hotels include the “hip boutique” Georges Hotel Galata and the “history-filled” Pera Palace Hotel.

While Turkey’s Mediterranean resorts do a brisk trade in beach retreats, Istanbul is for those who want to reconnect with the world rather than get away from it all. The Six Senses Kocatas Mansions provides a “haven of restfulness”, said Holden Frith on TheWeek.co.uk. Few places could be more laid-back than the Six Senses, which occupies two 19th-century palaces on the shores of the Bosphorus. The guest rooms are large, bright and, like the city itself, a harmonious blend of influences.

For a stylish stay head to Vakko Hotel & Residence, the exciting debut property of Turkish fashion house Vakko. Located in the fashionable Nişantaşı neighbourhood – which is filled with bustling lanes, architectural gems, and amazing shopping – Vakko Hotel & Residence brings a stylish new dimension to the city’s hotel scene.

Eating and drinking

The world-famous Turkish cuisine is “so much more than kebap and döner”, said The Istanbul Insider. “Whether you love meat, fish, or just vegetables, you’ll never be short of choices.” Among the top things to eat include a Turkish breakfast “on the coastline of the Bosphorus in the areas like Bebek and Rumelihisarı”, and menemen, a “delicious Turkish style omelette”.

Food is an event in itself in Istanbul and the city offers exceptional cuisine to suit all budgets. Grilled meats and flatbreads abound in pavement cafes and kiosks throughout the city. For a more diverse sample of Anatolian cooking, head to Balikci Sabahattin, a few streets away from the Blue Mosque. There you will find a healthy proportion of Istanbul residents among the holidaymakers – all enjoying a seafood-forward menu, as well as an extensive wine list.

In the 2023 Michelin Guide there is one restaurant in Istanbul with two Michelin stars, four with one star, and ten that have been awarded a Bib Gourmand. The two-star Turk Fatih Tutak is a “chic, contemporary” establishment which puts produce from local traders “on a pedestal”, said the Guide. And at Neolokal, which holds one star and a green star for gastronomy and sustainability, guests will be served “exciting cuisine” and fine Turkish wines. The location of this restaurant, in the Salt Galata, “makes your experience all the more memorable”, said the Guide.

For cocktails, mezze and snacks, head to the rooftop Sureyya Teras at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, where the domes of Hagia Sophia provide an incomparable backdrop.

Transport: how to get to Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the world’s best connected airports and direct flights link it to many UK airports. Turkish Airlines, which offers a meal and in-flight entertainment on most trips, is the most comfortable option for the four-hour journey. The airline also runs a “Stopover in Istanbul” offer for transit passengers travelling via Istanbul Airport, which includes free accommodation in partner hotels.

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