TTP

Istanbul Travel Guide, Turkey

Istanbul From Space with Place-Names

Once you've settled into your Istanbul hotel, you might want to take a city tour for orientation, and later a Bosphorus cruise or an excursion to the Princes' Islands, to the nearby cities of Edirne, Iznik (Nicaea) or Bursa, Gallipoli and Troy, or even Ephesus or Cappadocia.

Many of Istanbul's top sights such as Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, are in Sultanahmet, as are many good hotels, including charming Ottoman inns.

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is just a 12- to 15-minute walk or short tram ride west of Sultanahmet along the old Roman road.

Most 4-star and 5-star hotels are near Taksim Square in Beyoglu, or on the Bosphorus.

You can see Istanbul's top sights in a rush on an overnight stay, but you'll need at least two days to do them justice, and three or four days to really get a sense of the city. In a week, you can get a good look at most of what Istanbul has to offer, do some shopping and enjoy an excursion as well.

Be sure to take some time to just sit at a sidewalk cafe and sip Turkish tea or coffee, or go native and smoke a nargile (water pipe). Dine on savory Turkish cuisine in an excellent Istanbul estaurant, consume a traditional fish sandwich by the Golden Horn, and you'll realize why it's my favorite city in all the world.

To make getting around fast, cheap and easy, get an Akbil transit pass. More...

Istanbul Time & Temp (click for weather)

Istanbul Hotels

Hotel Rates & Availability

Istanbul Hotel Index

Half- & Full-Day City Tours

Istanbul Maps

Istanbul Sights

Istanbul Restaurants

Istanbul Shopping

Istanbul Transport

Inexpensive Istanbul Holidays

Where to Go

TTP Homepage

Blue Mosque, Istanbul.

Istanbul, Turkey has so much to see and do, lots of good hotels and restaurants, fascinating bazaars and shops, even beaches.

<—Click on a map label for more info.

Here are more Istanbul maps.

Here's info on Atatürk Airport (IST) and how to use the Metro and tram, Havas airport buses, economical private transfer services, or taxis to get into the city, and how to get to the Büyük Otogar, Istanbul's main bus terminal. (You can also arrange a reserved taxi if you like.)

Also, here's info on Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side of the Bosphorus.

If you arrive by cruise ship or international ferry, you'll dock at the Yolcu Salonu. More..