9 Unmissable Things to Do in Istanbul – History, Food, and Adventure

If there’s one city I could happily visit again and again, it’s Istanbul. The food is incredible, the bazaars are colorful and chaotic in the best way possible, and the architecture feels like walking through thousands of years of history.

I’m usually not someone who revisits cities – I always want to see somewhere new. But Istanbul? I could return countless times. Honestly, I could even live there.

During our trip, we discovered so many incredible places, but here are eight unmissable things to do in Istanbul that truly capture the spirit of the city.

1. Explore Sultanahmet’s Iconic Historical Attractions

The Sultanahmet district is the historic heart of the city and home to some of the most important landmarks from both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.

We spent several days exploring the area, visiting some of Istanbul’s most famous attractions.

2. Hagia Sophia – One of the World’s Greatest Architectural Wonders

The breathtaking Hagia Sophia is arguably Istanbul’s most famous landmark.

Originally built between 532 and 537 AD during the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian I, it served as the largest cathedral in the world for nearly 1,000 years. It was the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople—essentially the Orthodox equivalent of the Vatican.

After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II converted it into a mosque. Christian elements such as the altar and bells were removed, and Islamic features like the mihrab, minbar, and four towering minarets were added.

For centuries it served as a mosque before becoming a museum in 1935. Today it stands as one of the most extraordinary architectural monuments in the world.

3. Blue Mosque – The Last Imperial Mosque of Istanbul

Directly opposite Hagia Sophia stands the magnificent Blue Mosque, officially known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

Completed in 1616, it was commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I with the ambitious goal of rivaling Hagia Sophia.

The mosque is famous for its six minarets, a rare architectural feature. At the time, only the Great Mosque of Mecca had six minarets, which reportedly caused controversy. To resolve this, a seventh minaret was later added to the mosque in Mecca.

Inside, the mosque is decorated with over 20,000 blue Iznik tiles, which is how it earned its popular nickname.

4. Basilica Cistern – The Underground Water Palace

The mysterious Basilica Cistern was built in the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Justinian.

This enormous underground reservoir stored water for the Great Palace of Constantinople and helped protect the city during droughts or sieges.

The cistern contains 336 marble columns, and at the far end you’ll find two famous columns resting on carved Medusa heads.

I visited with my sister and—while the Medusa heads were fascinating—I have to admit I found the rest slightly underwhelming compared to the hype.

5. Topkapi Palace – Home of the Ottoman Sultans

We spent an entire morning exploring Topkapi Palace, which served as the primary residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years.

Built shortly after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, the palace was not only a royal residence but also the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire.

The complex includes government chambers, the famous Imperial Harem, and military training grounds.

Today, the palace functions as a museum displaying incredible treasures, including:

The 86-carat Spoonmaker’s Diamond
The famous Topkapi Dagger
Relics believed to belong to the Prophet Muhammad

For history lovers, this is easily one of the most fascinating places in Istanbul

6. Take a Ferry Ride Along the Bosphorus

One of the best ways to see Istanbul is from the water.

We took a Bosphorus ferry cruise for only 12 Turkish Lira, which lasted around 90 minutes.

The Bosphorus Strait divides Europe and Asia, meaning Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents.

Seeing the skyline from the water—with mosques, palaces, and minarets rising above the hills—was incredible. I even ended up chatting with the ferry captain, who turned out to be absolutely delightful.

If you can, take the cruise at sunset. It adds an extra layer of magic.

We took a ferry service costing only 12TL for an hour an a half along the Bosphorus. It was nice seeing Istanbul from a different viewpoint. Even though we didn’t have time to – i would suggest doing the cruise at sunset as it adds that little extra magic. I made friends with the captain – delightful.

7. Experience the Nightlife of Taksim Square

At night we visited Taksim Square, the vibrant heart of modern Istanbul.

The square sits at the end of Istiklal Avenue, one of the city’s busiest shopping streets.

Historically, “Taksim” means distribution in Arabic, referring to the area where Ottoman water lines once branched out to supply the city.

When we visited, there happened to be a festival taking place. The streets were filled with live music, food stalls, and crowds celebrating late into the night.

We ended the evening eating what might have been the best shawarma of the entire trip.

8. Get Lost in the Grand Bazaar

The legendary Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, dating back to the 15th century.

With more than 4,000 shops, it’s a dazzling maze selling everything from:

Turkish carpets
Silver jewellery
Colorful lanterns
Leather goods
Traditional clothing

Hannah and I got lost more times than I can count, but that’s half the fun. The atmosphere is vibrant, chaotic, and completely unforgettable.

I ended up buying a beautiful galabeya along with a few souvenirs.

9. Walk Across Galata Bridge and Visit Galata Tower

One of our favorite walks in Istanbul was across Galata Bridge toward the historic Galata Tower.

The tower was built by the Genoese in 1348 and originally called Christea Turris (“Tower of Christ”). It once formed part of the defensive walls protecting the medieval Genoese colony of Galata.

According to Ottoman travel stories, a 17th-century aviator named Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi supposedly flew from the tower across the Bosphorus using artificial wings.

Today the tower offers 360-degree views of Istanbul, making it one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Afterward we walked across Galata Bridge, which spans the Golden Horn.

The current bridge was built in 1994, replacing earlier versions dating back to the early 20th century. Interestingly, Leonardo da Vinci once designed a revolutionary bridge for this exact location in 1502, which would have been the longest bridge in the world at the time.

The lower level of the bridge is lined with restaurants and cafés, while the top is filled with hundreds of fishermen hoping to catch the biggest fish of the day.

Even though we were exhausted by that point, the walk felt incredibly romantic with stunning views over Istanbul’s skyline.

wheremaywanders

December 29, 2017

Asia