20 x Best Places to Visit in Istanbul

Istanbul tourist attractions are a gateway to various ancient attractions and stylish neighborhoods that provide visitors with a magical experience. It boasts some tallest structures, from which you can soar to get a dazzling view of the city below. In Istanbul, embark on a magnificent vacation filled with spa resorts, culinary surprises, and picturesque views. The town is strewn with the gorgeous vestiges of its historical history and new avenues that enchant visitors.

Photo by Ibrahim Uzun on Unsplash

From the highest tower, Galata Tower, to the opulent Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul has some top tourist attractions to suit every type of traveler. From the world-renowned Istanbul Archaeological Museum to the lively markets of Nişantaş, Istanbul offers travelers a kaleidoscope of experiences. Many locations to visit in Istanbul greet guests with a warm embrace and tell the story of the city's ancient magnificence. It features various religious structures, including the Chora Church and the Basilica Cistern, that provide visitors with peace and calm.

The city's imperial heritage and energy make it one of the most attractive cities in the world. It also features some of the most stunning green places, such as Gulhane Park, which provides the perfect escape for those seeking seclusion. The city is also a shopping enthusiast's dream, including multi-specialty malls and local flea markets. It also offers kids-friendly zones, such as Kidzania, that pique their interest and provide them with a fun-filled experience.

1. Galata Tower

Galata Tower is one of Turkey's and Istanbul's most famous tourist attractions. It is one of the oldest and highest towers in Istanbul and is also known as Galata Kulesi in Turkish. There is a restaurant and a cafe on the upper floors of the building, where you may enjoy your meal while looking out over the city.

2. Prince’s Island

Prince's Island is a group of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara. It is a popular destination for visitors and locals looking to escape the city life's hustle and bustle. It is dotted with scented orange, lemon, and pink magnolia trees and grand wooden homes.

Because royal empresses and princes were exiled here in the past, the island became known as Prince's Island. Prince's Island should be your go-to spot to experience the tranquility and sunshine or swim in the sea.

3. Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque, located in the Sultanahmet area, is a superb example of Turkish and Islamic architecture and one of Istanbul's most visited sights and mosques. It also represents a triumph of harmony, balance, and grace.

4. Istanbul Modern Museum

5. Sultanahmet Square

This historic hippodrome and public space in the heart of the old city has been well-known as a gathering place since the Byzantine era. Uncover the history of this famous gathering place as you walk by the monument ruins that remain.

The Serpent Column, the seven Statues of Porphyrius, constructed to honor a legendary charioteer from the sixth century, and the Walled Obelisk are among the highlights. The 16th-century German Fountain at the other end is well worth a look.

6. Sea Life Aquarium

Sea Life is an aquarium and entertainment center in Bayrampasa's Forum Shopping Center in Istanbul. It is the world's fifth largest aquarium, with 47 display tanks and over 15,000 sea species. Visitors can interact with and enjoy the beautiful sea creatures, the most extensive European shark collection, the Digital Aquarium, the Turtle Hospital, and much more.

7. Bosphorus Bridge

8. Istanbul Archaeological Museum

Istanbul Archaeological Museums, located in the Sultanahmet area, are one of the world's most prosperous archaeology museums. The Archaeology Museum,  the Tiled Pavilion, and the Museum of the Ancient Orient are three different museums in one place that include an enormous array of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine creations and objects like sculptures and sarcophagi.

9. Grand Bazar

Explore one of the world's most famous markets, the Grand Bazaar. As you walk the maze-like routes packed with colorful sellers selling local art, fabrics, and commodities, prepare for sensory excess in the most extraordinary manner possible.

The busy surroundings and the market's sights, sounds, and smells are unique experiences. Take a break from shopping and have an authentic cup of Turkish coffee or tea at one of the Grand Bazaar's cafes or food vendors.

10. Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia, located in the Sultanahmet area, is a former church and museum, now a mosque. It is one of the world's best architectural works. It is regarded as the world's eighth wonder, allowing visitors to learn about the history of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. The Hagia Sophia presently operates as a mosque thus, entrance is free.

11. Emirgan Park

12. Taksim Square

13. Sulyemaniye Mosque

14. Chora Church

The Chora Church is located away from the usual path for tourists, but visitors say the breathtaking Byzantine art is well worth the effort. The biography of Jesus and his mother, Mary, is shown in marvelous mosaics and frescoes. It has been recognized as one of Byzantine architecture's most outstanding remaining masterpieces, known as the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora.

15. Rustem Pasha Mosque

16. Rumelihisari

17. Basilica Cistern

Basilica Cistern is one of the Istanbul's most stunning and magical structures. The two Medusa Heads, which serve as supports under the two columns on the northwest side of the cistern, pique the visitors' interest.

18. Dolmabahce Palace

The Dolmabahce Palace, which is likened to the Palace of Versailles, has been represented as luxurious, plush, and elegant. Turkey's most prosperous palace, built in the nineteenth century with 14 tons of gold leaf, incorporates ancient Ottoman architecture with European Neoclassical, Baroque, and Rococo styles.

19. Madame Tussauds Istanbul Wax Museum

20. Topkapi Palace

The Ottoman Empire's administrative center was the Topkapi Palace. This palace was occupied for 400 years until Dolmabahce Palace was built in the mid-nineteenth century. The Harem, where the Sultan's mother, wives, and concubines stayed, is one of the most excellent places to visit in Topkapi Palace.

Topkapi Palace is a stunning landmark in Istanbul. Every room is adorned with fantastic tile work. The grounds are brimming with tulips and hyacinths if you visit in the spring. Furthermore, the views of Istanbul from here are spectacular.