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5 Must See Places in Istanbul, Turkiye

Writer: Jenn & LeonJenn & Leon

Updated: 15 hours ago

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkiye and one of the oldest cities in the world.


Spread across two continents, it is the former capital of the great Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.


Colorful stairs in Istanbul with vibrant murals and text: "5 Top Destinations." Rustic walls line the path under a clear blue sky.

This sprawling bustling metropolis is full of history and wonder and offers some of the most incredible attractions and hospitality in the world.


We loved it here and we are sure you will too!





These Are Our 5 Top Must-See Places in Istanbul, Will You Visit Them All?


Before you scroll on, please note that we DID NOT include the Hagia Sophia & Grand Bazaar in this blog.


This is intentional because we wanted to show you some perhaps lesser-known spots that are equally as good!


View of a waterfront cityscape with a mosque, modern buildings, and a boat on a wide river or sea under a clear sky.






Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links.


At no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you purchase through these links, which helps support our blog and keeps it free to use. ℹ️ Privacy Policy





1. Dolmabahçe Palace


This magnificent palace is one of the standout features of Istanbul and is located in the Beşiktaş district.


It has over 170 years of history to its name and was home to no less than 6 sultans!





It is also where the revered founder and first President of the Republic of Turkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, spent his final moments.


Ornate stone gate with intricate carvings under a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by a chain barrier.
The Sultan's Gate

Ornate white gates lead to a view of the sea under a partly cloudy sky, with people walking nearby on a sunny day.
The Gate of the Bosporus

Ornate clock tower with a detailed stone railing in the foreground, surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.
The clocktower

The construction of Dolmabahçe Palace began in 1843 and was completed in 1856 during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid I, replacing the older Topkapı Palace as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire.





The palace was built in the neoclassical architectural style and is a fusion of Ottoman and European design elements, reflecting the Ottoman Empire's efforts to modernize and Westernize.


A grand interior with ornate columns and arches, adorned with intricate carvings and a colorful, decorative dome ceiling. A red carpet runs through the space, bordered by stanchions.


You can have full access to the grounds, which showcase beautiful fountains and gardens, along with a café, gift shop, and of course, the main attraction of the Palace itself.


The Palace option is split into two parts, the main palace and then the Harem. Find out all you need to know in the blog post below.


The photo shows Dolmabahce Palace with an ornate gate and a map of Turkey with a star and crescent, alongside text urging visitors to see it before leaving Istanbul.




⪢ Easily Find Hotels in Istanbul and Beyond


Use our interactive map to easily locate the top hotels in Istanbul, sourced from various reputable platforms such as Booking, Vrbo, Expedia, Get Your Guide, and Hotels.com.







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2. Fatih Market & Fatih Mosque


Every Wednesday on the streets just outside of the Fatih Mosque, the roads are closed, and quite literally hundreds (if not thousands) of stalls pop up for Istanbul's largest outdoor market.


Canopies are strewn from building to building and it makes for quite the scene!


A busy outdoor market with numerous stalls, people shopping, and a cyclist passing through. Large awnings cover the area.


You will find everything here, from fruits & vegetables, herbs, spices, fish, meats, clothing, and much more.





It is a place to pick up a good bargain, and with such beautiful displays, it is hard not to be tempted!


It was amazing to see the sheer volume of goods on display from every angle, there were even rugs hanging between the buildings as the sellers used every inch of space.


Crowded outdoor market with various stalls and shoppers. A mosque with a large dome and minarets is visible in the background.
The Fatih mosque rises above the market.

The sellers are as entertaining as the items themselves as they shout out a constant stream of offers and prices.


It was an excellent experience and was made even better by the amazing scene of the Fatih Mosque's minarets piercing the sky.


A cloudy sky over a busy square with people walking near a mosque featuring tall minarets.

This Ottoman mosque was built in 1463 and is one of the largest of its kind in this ancient city.





After suffering earthquake damage, it was rebuilt in its current design in 1770 and is named after Fatih Sultan Mehmed, the Ottoman Sultan who conquered the city ten years before the Mosque's construction.


A historical mosque with a large dome and intricate architecture stands under a cloudy sky, with people gathered near the entrance.

The mosque features many striking domes, which are highly visible from a distance.


It certainly is a huge building and is also accompanied by a large complex of gardens and many spots to relax and enjoy the view.





It is constructed in the typical baroque style of many such buildings in the city.


You can visit the grounds and central courtyard, but we feel it is worth noting that this is a very conservative Muslim area, along with most of the Fatih district.




⪢ Easily Find Hotels Near Fatih Mosque


Use our interactive map to easily locate the top hotels in Istanbul, sourced from various reputable platforms such as Booking, Vrbo, Expedia, Get Your Guide, and Hotels.com.







 
 


3. Galata Tower


This medieval stone tower is located in the Galata / Karaköy quarter of Istanbul, very close to where the Golden Horn meets the Bosporus.


It is one of the oldest towers in the city.


View of the upper section of Galata Tower against a clear blue sky, showing the conical roof and observation deck with visitors.

Standing at 205ft tall with 9 floors, the Galata Tower was completed in 1348 and has had many functions over time.


Originally built as a lighthouse by the Byzantines, it was later used for surveillance and then as a dungeon by the Ottomans after they conquered Istanbul.





From the 16th century until 1960 it was used as a fire tower (most of Istanbul's buildings were of wood construction) and was vital in spotting fires before they spread. Ironically, the tower itself has been rebuilt twice due to internal fires.


Stone tower with conical roof and arched windows against a clear blue sky. Trees partially visible at the bottom.

Two people smile for a selfie with the Galata Tower in the background, surrounded by trees.

For less than USD 10, you can gain access to this important piece of Istanbul's history.


We did not go inside as we got there late in the day, but we were happy to have been in its presence either way!





The local area is also full of nice restaurants, cafes, and stores, and is well worth a visit!


Find out all you need to know in our blog post below.


Aerial view of Galata Tower in Istanbul with surrounding cityscape and text saying "Galata Tower - Over 650 years of history.




⪢ Find Hotels Near the Galata Tower


Use our interactive map to easily locate the top hotels nearby, sourced from various reputable platforms such as Booking, Vrbo, Expedia, Get Your Guide, and Hotels.com.







 
 


4. Colorful Balat


Balat was the historical home of the Jewish community of Istanbul in the 17th century and is located next to the Greek quarter of Fener.


It is steeped in culture and tradition and has gone on to house many ethnicities over the years.


It is part of the 'old' city and has a wonderful and encapsulating charm amongst its winding cobbled streets and mix of restored and abandoned buildings.


A row of colorful, narrow houses in blue, yellow, green, and red. A person stands in front, beside a potted plant.

The famous colored mansion houses of Kiremit Street, Balat, are one of the most photographed places in Istanbul, and this street is a hub of tourist and local activity every day in Balat.





We stayed in the yellow one Jenn is standing in front of in the photo. It has apartments to rent through Airbnb, and we had a very pleasant stay for one month.


They come fully equipped with a self-contained kitchen and bathroom and are all decorated and presented in the traditional old styles that run throughout this neighborhood.


Colorful outdoor staircase with vibrant murals and plant pots, flanked by stone walls, leading up to buildings under a clear blue sky.

Perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of Istanbul, Balat is gradually becoming more popular among tourists and locals alike.


The infusion of Turkish, Greek, Jewish, and Latin culture is evident throughout its winding and hilly streets.


The beautifully painted steps of the İncir Ağacı Kahvesi Café are a very popular attraction, alongside the vibrant and colorful umbrellas of the café next door.


We certainly took a few photos here!



Balat is not just charming for its colors, though. It is also crammed full of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, independent and antique stores.





There is just so much to see, on every corner there is some form of presentation which just adds to the bespoke and alluring nature of this place.



We are both big fans of street art, and Balat certainly has an abundance of this too!


We will share much more in an upcoming blog post, including the old wall, 'the 5th largest castle of Europe,' Phanar Greek Orthodox College, and the cast iron Bulgarian Church of St Stephen.


A person sits on a brick pathway in front of a decorative iron door, surrounded by stone walls and steps, with greenery above.

This corner café is located on the main street of Vodina Caddesi.


The owners of Café Dora, Elif and his wife are always leading from the front and greeting passersby with a warm welcome.





It has great food and a wonderful vibe with a real traditional Turkish feel. It is named after the owners' Rottweiler Dora who you simply must meet!


We highly recommend it!


Street view of Cafe Dora in Balat, Istanbul, featuring a blue building with outdoor seating and a red awning. Nearby, a mosque minaret is visible under a clear sky.




⪢ Check Out These Hotels in Balat


Use our interactive map to easily locate the top hotels in Istanbul, sourced from various reputable platforms such as Booking, Vrbo, Expedia, Get Your Guide, and Hotels.com.







 
 


5. Çamlıca Hill & Çamlıca Mosque


The Grand Çamlıca Mosque was opened in March 2019 and is located on Çamlıca Hill of the Üsküdar district in Istanbul.


This mosque features no less than 70 domes and has 6 minarets, making it the largest mosque in Turkey.





It can accommodate up to 63,000 people! It has a brilliant outside space that showcases some amazing views of the city due to its placement at the top of Çamlıca Hill.


It is serene, peaceful, and well worth checking out!


A large mosque with multiple domes and minarets is shown under a clear blue sky, with the sun directly above it.
The Grand Çamlıca Mosque, the largest mosque in Turkey

Interior of a grand mosque with intricate ceiling designs, large chandeliers, stained glass windows, and expansive open space. People are walking on the carpeted floor.
Inside The Grand Çamlıca Mosque

The Grand Çamlıca Mosque was part of several 'mega projects' orchestrated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan aimed at stimulating the Turkish economy.


The interior design is fairly minimalist in its approach, but as you can see, it is both grand and striking due to the sheer scale of the building.





At 72 meters in height, the main dome symbolizes the 72 nations of the capital. The mosque also features the world's largest finial!


There is an onsite museum and gallery and parking for up to 3,500 cars.


A man in a blue T-shirt and black cap stands outdoors with a cityscape in the background under a clear sky.
The hill offers stunning city views!

Çamlıca Hill is in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul and is 288 meters above sea level.


It offers breathtaking views of the city and the Bosporus, including the mouth of the Golden Horn. It is a must-see place for this alone!





The hill also has many amenities, taking advantage of the views, including food options and walking gardens.


The restaurant has an excellent breakfast with seating areas overlooking the gardens and, of course, THAT view. It is also famous for having the best simit bread in the city!


A large mosque with five minarets is surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.
View of the Çamlıca Mosque from Çamlıca Hill

Be sure to bring along a blanket so you can sit in the grass and enjoy this beautiful area.


If possible, try to arrive close to sunset time as this is the best place to see the sunset in all of Istanbul!


⪢ Easily Find Hotels in Istanbul and Beyond


Use our interactive map to easily locate the top hotels in Istanbul, sourced from various reputable platforms such as Booking, Vrbo, Expedia, Get Your Guide, and Hotels.com.







 
 




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Your FREE Interactive Map of Türkiye


Check out all of the places we visited in Türkiye courtesy of this interactive map from Wanderlog.


Tap any of the numbers for more information, including directions, our blog posts, links to reviews, and much more.





Wanderlog is a free travel planning app for iOS and Android devices that allows users to create trip itineraries, organize flights, hotels, and car reservations, view places to visit on a map, and collaborate with friends.



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