Istanbul City Tour

Istanbul City Tour

Get inspired by the tour routes recommended by our advisory team.

The Bosphorus

In addition to being part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia, the Bosphorus separates Anatolia from Thrace. It is one of Istanbul’s most popular areas, especially in the summer months. Its shores are surrounded by beautiful neighbourhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden waterside mansions, parks and gardens, restaurants and cafés.

Ortaköy

Ortaköy is a neighbourhood in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district, formerly a small village, located right in the middle of the European side of the Bosphorus shore. During the Ottoman period and the early years of the Republic it was a cosmopolitan place where Turkish, Greek, Armenian and Jewish communities lived together, and it is still home to different faiths today.

With its art galleries, nightclubs, cafés, bars and restaurants, it is a popular spot for both locals and tourists. The Neo-Baroque Ortaköy Mosque, right above the pier, is an important structure framing the waters of the Bosphorus. The European pylon of the Bosphorus Bridge is also located here.

Taksim

Located on Istanbul’s European side, Taksim Square is an important tourism and entertainment area with its restaurants and shops. With the central station of the metro network, it is regarded as the heart of modern Istanbul. On the square stands the Republic Monument, made in 1928 by the famous Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica, commemorating the founding of the Republic of Türkiye.

Bebek

Bebek is a historic quarter in the Beşiktaş district, on the European shore of the Bosphorus, surrounded by neighbourhoods such as Arnavutköy, Etiler and Rumeli Hisarı. With its deep, sheltered bay and panoramic view, it is one of the Bosphorus’s most sought-after residential areas.

Along with many luxury restaurants and cafés, it offers a wonderful walking experience by the Bosphorus. Bebek is also home to Boğaziçi University, founded in 1971 and one of Türkiye’s leading higher-education institutions.

Emirgan Grove

Emirgan Grove is a historic urban park in the Emirgan quarter on the Bosphorus, in Istanbul’s Sarıyer district, and is one of the city’s largest public parks. The high-walled park covers an area of 470,000 m² on a slope; it contains two ponds and more than 120 plant species.

Three historic pavilions — named the Yellow Pavilion, the Pink Pavilion and the White Pavilion after their colours — are open to visitors as cafés and restaurants. The park is closely associated with the tulip; the International Tulip Festival, held every April since 2005, makes the park attractive and colourful.

Üsküdar

Üsküdar is a large district on the Anatolian shore of the Bosphorus, home to around half a million people. On the Asian side you can walk along the Bosphorus shores while admiring the beauty of the city’s European side. Üsküdar is also where Istanbul’s historic landmark, the Maiden’s Tower, is located.

The Princes’ Islands

The Princes’ Islands consist of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara, southeast of Istanbul. The 6th-century Hagia Yorgi Church at the highest point of Büyükada, the largest island, is a fine spot for a panoramic view. The pine forests of the nearby Dilburnu Nature Park offer a pleasant sight; the Adalar Museum can be visited to learn the islands’ history.

Balat

Balat is a modest quarter with narrow cobblestone streets and colourful houses, where popular cafés and modern galleries sit alongside old-fashioned neighbourhood grocers. With the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, synagogues and Byzantine churches, it has witnessed a cosmopolitan past as a centre for the area’s Jewish, Greek and Armenian communities. With its gold mosaics and frescoes, the Chora Museum is one of the area’s important sights.

Nişantaşı

A wonderful choice for luxury shopping, Nişantaşı is in the Şişli district, made up of quarters such as Teşvikiye, Osmanbey, Maçka and Pangaltı. Along with the stores of world-famous brands, it is home to many popular cafés, restaurants and nightclubs. Türkiye’s most expensive shopping street, Abdi İpekçi Street, is also here.