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EURASIA · TURKEY
The 6 Best Things to Do in Istanbul
Two continents, grand mosques, and spice-market bustle
Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus — Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, hammams, sprawling bazaars, and the call to prayer echoing over the water. Endlessly layered.
BEST TIME
April–May and September–November
TYPICAL BUDGET
$700–$1,500 per person for a long weekend
6 best things to do in Istanbul
1
Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
3
Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
6
Rooftop meze with a view
How to fit it into a day
Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
Spend the morning on the highlight, then in the afternoon or evening: topkapı palace.
See it laid out day by day: the 3-day Istanbul itinerary →
LOCAL TIP
A cheap public ferry across the Bosphorus beats any paid “cruise.”
Turn this list into a real trip
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Build my Istanbul trip — free →Istanbul itineraries by length
Things to do elsewhere