Istanbul
Istanbul is the only major city on earth that straddles two continents, and it wears fifteen centuries of imperial history — Byzantine, then Ottoman — in plain sight. Between the domes of Sultanahmet, the bazaars, and the ferry-laced Bosphorus, it offers more layered city life per square kilometre than almost anywhere in the world.
April–May, September–November
Mixed
Typical cost profile for visitors
- 0 highlighted sights
- 0 recommended stays
- 0 places to eat
Finding Istanbul
Reading Istanbul
01The Quiet Corners of Istanbul That Locals Love
Away from the Sultanahmet queues, Istanbul softens into painted houses, antique lanes and tea gardens above the Golden Horn. Here is where the city goes to breathe.
02First Time in Istanbul: Everything You Need to Know
Where to stay, how the ferries work, what the Istanbulkart is and how to plan your days — the practical playbook for a first visit to Istanbul.
03Istanbul: The Two-Continent City, from Hagia Sophia to the Bosphorus
Byzantine domes, Ottoman bazaars and a strait full of ferries between Europe and Asia — a first-timer's guide to the essential Istanbul, district by district.
04The Finest Museums and Galleries of Istanbul
Fifteen centuries of empire left Istanbul with museums few cities can match. From Topkapi's treasury to the new waterfront home of Istanbul Modern, here is where to spend your indoor hours.
05Istanbul Stays for Every Budget: The Areas That Make Sense
Ottoman palace or Kadıköy guesthouse, the rule is the same: in Istanbul, choose the shore and the hill before you choose the hotel. A district-by-district guide.
Istanbul, framed
