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Looking for the best activities in Istanbul, Turkey? You’re in the right place!
Istanbul is one of the most unique cities we’ve ever traveled to, full of history, amazing food, and gorgeous architecture. But to be honest, I had no idea what to expect before visiting. You might have that same feeling!
Lucky for you, we jumped in feet first and tried out so many activities. I’ve listed our top 10 things to do in Istanbul below!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Activity
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE activity is this food and market tour with a local. We tried SO much good food, explored local markets, and learned all about Istanbul!
Check out the 2,300+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here.
Tip: This tour is popular, book it in advance here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Activity
- Best Things to do in Istanbul
- 1. Taste your way through the city on a food and market tour
- 2. Take a luxury sunset cruise on the Bosphorus Strait
- 3. Relax in a traditional Turkish bath
- 4. Learn about Istanbul on a private guided tour (multi-day options)
- 5. Take an overnight trip to Cappadocia to see the hot air balloons
- 6. Learn how to cook Turkish food with a local mom
- 7. Visit the historic WWI battlefields of Gallipoli on a day trip
- 8. Explore Istanbul's hidden gems with a local
- 9. Take a day trip to Troy
- 10. Go on a folklore dinner cruise on the Bosphorus Strait
- Where to Stay in Istanbul, Turkey
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
Best Things to do in Istanbul
1. Taste your way through the city on a food and market tour
- Price: €119
- Duration: 5.5 hours
- Time: Tours available from 8:30 to 11:30 am
- Highlights: Exploring Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, visiting a spice market, trying local dishes, small group experience, and finding local eateries
- Inclusions: 8-9 food tastings, an English-speaking guide, coffee or tea tastings, and some vegetarian options
- Rating: 5 stars (check 2,400+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
By far my favorite way to explore a culture is through food. There is so much history, personality, and story wrapped into each traditional dish. That’s why we loved our experience on this food tour as our guide, Bahar, made it more than just food.
In a city as old as Istanbul, there is a lot of history within the streets. So we met Bahar at a coffee shop and started the food tour with breakfast. Turkish coffee is famous for a reason, I still dream about that first cup today! He then took us to explore the European side of Istanbul and to a historic spice market, where we sampled our way from stall to stall.
After, we hopped on a boat to cross the strait and visit the Asian side of Istanbul. Before visiting, I wasn’t aware that the city was split into two continents, so I loved having our guide teach us about this unique part of Istanbul. We explored the Kadikoy Market, trying wraps, dolma’s, and my favorite – baklava!
This half-day tour was a fantastic introduction to Istanbul. In a city so vibrant, we thought that this food tour was truly a feast to all our senses! I also loved learning about Istanbul’s old history through food. Plus, our guide made this whole experience fun and informational!
It’s important to note that most of the stops include vegetarian options, but not all. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t join – there are a lot of yummy options along the way!
Check out the 2,300+ 5-star reviews and book this top-rated tour here!
2. Take a luxury sunset cruise on the Bosphorus Strait
- Price: €45
- Duration: 2.25 hours
- Time: 4 – 6:30 pm, depending on the time of sunset
- Highlights: Luxury yacht cruise, seeing iconic city sights from the water, stunning sunset views on the Bosphorus Strait, and commentary from the local guide
- Inclusions: Complimentary drinks, fresh fruit, baklava and snacks, luxury yacht, and expert guide
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 2,300+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
The Bosphorus Strait is like a beacon in Istanbul, we always found ourselves near it. So when the chance to actually get on the water popped up, we couldn’t say no! This sunset cruise on the Bosphorus Strait was not only gorgeous but also a fun way to do some sightseeing.
We hopped aboard our luxury yacht and were immediately greeted by the crew! They served us coffee and snacks, and we quickly set sail.
What I really loved about this cruise was how much we got to see from the water, and how much we learned too. We passed by the Dolmabahce Palace, which dates back to the Ottoman Empire; the Rumeli Fortress, which was built in the 1450s; and sailed past the Golden Horn. The crew explained that the Golden Horn was once the most important trade center for Old Istanbul. It was pretty crazy knowing this strait has been used for centuries, as it was a hub for trade and commerce in ancient times!
Besides history, the views of the Strait and the city were gorgeous, including the sunset views! We felt that it was the perfect amount of time to enjoy the relaxing cruise, we never felt rushed or bored. There are lots of companies that offer cruises on the Bosphorus Strait, but we chose this one because of the 2,200+ 5-star reviews – it’s clearly the best choice in Istanbul!
Book this popular cruise here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you set sail.
3. Relax in a traditional Turkish bath
- Price: €115 – €210
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Time: Appointments run from 10:30 am to 3 pm
- Highlights: Ancient hammam-style steam bath, whole body scrub, massage, private room for your group, and gorgeous historic architecture
- Inclusions: Transportation to the spa, Turkish delight and coffee, use of towels and slippers, private room and therapist, full body scrub, foam massage, and the option to add a message
- Rating: 4.8 stars (check 300+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
We like to balance our adventurous activities with some relaxation. If you travel like we do, you’ll absolutely love this traditional Turkish bath experience.
A hammam (traditional Turkish bath) dates back over 600 years to the Ottoman times. This is a steam bath in an ornate marble room. The health benefits are supposed to revitalize your whole body, and the level of relaxation you’ll feel after will make you feel like a million bucks!
We booked this bath ahead of time after reading the hundreds of raving reviews (check them out here!). I was instantly impressed as they picked us up from our hotel to take us to the spa, and when we arrived were greeted with refreshments. They even sat us down to explain the spa packages so we could choose exactly what we wanted.
We went for the VIP experience, and I highly recommend it! Two hours of pampering including full body scrubs, peels, foam massages, and time to chill out in the sauna. This also included a signature massage, which was truly the cherry on top. If you don’t have time for the full VIP treatment, they also offer a 1-hour package.
Best of all, we had a private room for just the two of us, so it was a nice romantic getaway. We loved having all things Turkey, such as Turkish towels, Turkish delight, Turkish coffee, and Turkish steam baths – we couldn’t get enough!
This experience is popular – reserve your spot now so you don’t miss out!
4. Learn about Istanbul on a private guided tour (multi-day options)
- Price: €190 – €570
- Duration: 1 to 3 days
- Time: Tours start from 8 am to 1 pm
- Highlights: Guided tour of Hagia Sophia Mosque and Blue Mosque, Bosphorus Strait cruise, visit the markets, Balak neighborhood, Dolmabahce Palace, Topkapi Palace, and more
- Inclusions: Private guide, customizable itinerary (choice of 1, 2, or 3-day tour), transportation around the city, and hotel pick-up (if selected)
- Rating: 5 stars (check 6,500+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
If you want to see all of Istanbul in a quick and easy way, this private city tour is the way to go! We loved our experience on the 1-day tour, but you can also upgrade to make this a 2 or 3-day tour. There truly is so much to see and learn in this city, so the more time you have to explore the better!
Our tour guide, Fatima, is really what made this experience memorable. Since it’s a private tour, she let us pick and choose what wanted to see, but also guided us to the best city sights. I was blown away by her depth of knowledge of history and culture, and she was very personable so we had fun hanging out with her too.
We started off by exploring the two most famous mosques in Istanbul, Hagai Sophia and Blue Mosque, as that is what we were most interested in! She then took us to the Hippodrome, where chariot races were held during the ancient Roman era. The history was fascinating, and the architecture was simply stunning. We found the Basilica Cistern especially impressive!
I also really enjoyed touring the Topkapi Palace, which has some long-standing Ottoman history and yet again – beautiful design! Our final major stop of the day was the Grand Bazaar. I’m on the fence about this stop because it was pretty overwhelming, but definitely a must-see while in Istanbul. Fatima helped us haggle to make sure we were getting a fair price and good quality products – thanks, Fatima!
Our 1-day tour was jam-packed, so if you want to do the 2 or 3-day tour, I know you’ll see even more iconic sights! This is a great option for those who are short on time and want to dive into Istanbul’s history and culture. Be sure to bring extra cash, as certain entry fees were required and we also snacked along the way.
Book this tour with over 6,000 5-star reviews here, before it sells out!
5. Take an overnight trip to Cappadocia to see the hot air balloons
- Price: €522 – €730
- Duration: 2 days
- Time: Tours depart at 5 am
- Highlights: See the Cappadocia hot air balloons (option to ride in a hot air balloon), visit the Pasabag fairy chimneys, explore Devrent Valley rock formations, and see the Kaymakli Underground City.
- Inclusions: Roundtrip flights to Cappadocia from Istanbul, 1-night stay in a boutique cave hotel, professional guide, some meals, and museum skip-the-line tickets
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 300+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
The hot air balloons in Cappadocia are one of those bucket-list items for many travelers, myself included! However, it’s about a 7-8 hour drive from Istanbul to Cappadocia, so the best way to visit is on this 2-day all-inclusive tour.
What I love about this experience is how simple it is to travel around the country. It can often be really confusing (and costly) to book flights and organize transport in a new country – but this tour takes care of all the logistics for you! They provide transport, flights, and your hotel stay in Cappadocia and add in a ton of unique stops – you don’t have to lift a finger.
We chose to do the small group tour to save some money, but they also offer private tours. The tour was well organized and they were great at communicating, so it was a breeze to fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Once we arrived we started exploring!
We spent the day sightseeing, exploring tons of historic cities, monasteries, palaces, and underground cities. The landscape here is staggering, so a lot of the stops highlighted the natural beauty, like the impressive Fairy Chimneys rock formation. After a day of sightseeing, we rested in our boutique cave hotel so we could get up early for the hot air balloons!
This was a sight to behold, there were hundreds of balloons! You can choose to go on a hot air balloon ride, just be sure to tell the tour company when you book it, as that expense isn’t included in the tour package. But I recommend going for it – when in Cappadocia right!?
There are even more epic stops included on this tour and lots of little details that make this experience totally worth it. It’s certainly a popular experience and likely to sell out, so don’t hesitate to reserve your spot!
Reserve this tour now and pay later when you book in advance here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
6. Learn how to cook Turkish food with a local mom
- Price: €85
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 10 am, 5 pm, or 6 pm
- Highlights: Visit a local home, learn how to cook Turkish recipes, eat with the family, and learn about Turkish culture
- Inclusions: All cooking tools and ingredients, breakfast or dinner
- Rating: 5 stars (check 70+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
We all know that moms make the best food, and that’s true here in Istanbul too! This cooking class with a local mom was the ultimate way to dive into Turkey’s culture. What’s more authentic and immersive than being in the kitchen, sharing a meal, and a few laughs too?
This three-hour cooking class can be booked as a small group or a private experience, and you can decide if you want to cook breakfast or dinner. We opted to cook dinner with a small group because we like to make friends during these experiences! Our Turkish mom, Nura, was a delight (or shall I say, a Turkish Delight) and welcomed us into her home.
Nura had all the ingredients ready to go and gave us a lot of chances to be hands-on. I was thankful for her patience, as I’m not the world’s best cook, but she was great at instructing! This experience was cool because we tried a lot of new dishes that we hadn’t heard of before. It’s like getting off the tourist track with a culinary experience!
My favorite dish was borek, which is a thin pastry dough and is quite difficult to make. But the taste made it all worth it! After all the cooking was done, we sat down for the meal together, asking lots of questions about living in Istanbul and Turkish life. This ended up being a really enriching experience and one of my favorite memories in Istanbul!
Check availability and book this tour in advance here.
7. Visit the historic WWI battlefields of Gallipoli on a day trip
- Price: €210
- Duration: 17 hours
- Time: Tours depart at 6 am
- Highlights: Visiting the WWI Gallipoli battlefields, Brighton Beach, ANZAC Cove, cemeteries, and memorial sites, and learning from the expert guide
- Inclusions: Roundtrip transportation from your hotel, lunch, entrance fees, and expert guide.
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 350+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
This full-day tour to the Gallipoli peninsula certainly isn’t for the faint of heart! Gallipoli was the site of significant battles during WWI and is known as one of the greatest Ottoman victories. This was also the first major military campaign for Australia and New Zealand, which helped develop their individual national identities.
Unfortunately, war is war, so a lot of lives were lost during the 8-month battle in 1915. The peninsula has now become a great memorial site, with lots of historic battlefields, cemeteries, and memorial statues and locations.
As an Aussie myself, this was a very significant place to visit. ANZAC Day is an important day of remembrance in Australia, so seeing ANZAC Cove, where the campaign began, put it all into perspective. Our tour guide, Burak, was amazing and had a depth of knowledge that brought the events to life.
This is definitely a long day, as Gallipoli is about a 5-hour drive from Istanbul. So we departed early, had about 5 hours in the national park, and then had another 5-hour drive home. But we stopped by so many memorial sights and learned a lot, I think this tour is worthwhile for any history buff!
This tour is likely to sell out – reserve your spot here and get FREE cancellation options.
8. Explore Istanbul’s hidden gems with a local
- Price: €190
- Duration: 11-12 hours
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: Getting off the beaten path to explore Karakoy, Kadikoy, Balat, and Fener; Bosphorus Strait cruise; and Turkish bath experience.
- Inclusions: Transportation around the city, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Turkish bath, small group tour, and local guide
- Rating: 5 stars (check 350+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
After hitting the main attractions in Istanbul, we were curious about what else there was to the city. So we joined this full-day tour that takes you off the beaten path and to some hidden gems, and it certainly gave us a unique experience! Plus, with over 350 5-star reviews, we aren’t the only ones who thought this was a worthwhile experience.
We met our guide, Metin, at 9 am and started the day with breakfast. This was just the start of hidden gems because I never would have found this place on my own! He took us to trendy neighborhoods that are more on the local side, such as Karakoy and Balat which are known for their colorful houses and cute stray cats. One of my favorite experiences was eating roasted chestnuts in Karakoy!
While this tour was mostly hidden gems, we did do some iconic Istanbul activities, like taking a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait and a Turkish bath. But, both experiences were so relaxing and luxurious that I wasn’t complaining about it! Since they were included in the tour price, they felt like they were free activities, which made it even better.
Metin was a fantastic guide, he was full of information and loves living in Istanbul, so it felt very authentic. Plus, he showed us some of his favorite local spots that we returned to later in our trip. Overall, you can’t ask for a better way to see the city!
Check all the glowing reviews and book this tour here!
9. Take a day trip to Troy
- Price: €125
- Duration: 17 hours
- Time: 6 am
- Highlights: Visiting the Trojan Horse, learning about ancient Troy and its mythology, and seeing the archeological site
- Inclusions: Roundtrip transportation from your hotel, all entrance fees, lunch, and an expert guide
- Rating: 4.5 (check 100+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
The ancient city of Troy is full of legend and history, with its mythological tales and excavated evidence. This full-day tour from Istanbul is such a unique experience and the best way to explore Troy!
It’s about a 4.5-hour drive to the Troy archeological site, so taking an organized tour made it easier to get there from Istanbul. There is also so much to uncover here (literally!) that I was keen on getting a knowledgeable tour guide to tell me all about it.
I’d heard of Troy in Greek Mythology, and as in Homer’s Illiad and Odyssey, so seeing it as a real city was fascinating. Troy dates back to 3,600 BC, and the city had been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times. Now the archeological site has layers of ruins from various periods which we learned about while wandering around with our guide.
We also got to see a replica of the Trojan Horse, which made for a great photo op! While this was a long day, I thought it was really rewarding and a great way to dive into ancient history.
This tour is likely to sell out – book it here to access FREE cancellation.
10. Go on a folklore dinner cruise on the Bosphorus Strait
- Price: €43 – €62
- Duration: 5 hours
- Time: 8 pm
- Highlights: Seeing a traditional folklore show with Turkish dance and music, a 4-hour cruise on the Bosphorus, a gourmet dinner, and a fun and lively atmosphere.
- Inclusions: Roundtrip transportation from the hotel to the boat, entertainment, dinner, alcoholic drinks (if selected), and the cruise
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 250+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
Take your Bosphorus Strait experience to the next level with this dinner cruise and show!
We were fortunate enough to take a few cruises on the Bosphorus Strait, and I think this particular dinner cruise was my favorite. Seeing Istanbul all lit up from the water was so pretty, but the show was the most memorable part! The show was full of traditional folk music and dances and gorgeous costumes. The belly dancers were seriously impressive, and they even pulled a few audience members into the show – so be prepared for anything!
After the show ended, the music turned up and we could hit the dance floor! This was more of a party vibe than a cultural experience towards the end, but we thought it was super fun. There were outdoor decks that had more of a chill vibe if your not up for dancing.
Of course, I can’t forget about dinner, which boasted traditional Turkish cuisine. Everything was fresh and we got our choice of mains, plus dessert to finish it off. When booking this dinner cruise, you can choose to include alcoholic beverages if you’d like, and we definitely thought it was a good deal for how much we ate and drank!
This dinner show combines Istanbul’s unique history and culture, with a little bit of party and makes for a great evening out!
Check availability and book this cruise in advance here!
Where to Stay in Istanbul, Turkey
With a full itinerary in Istanbul, you’ll need the perfect hotel to rest and relax! Luckily, you’ve got a lot of options, no matter your budget or preferred location.
To help narrow it down, I’ve listed three great hotels for the luxury traveler, someone looking for a mid-range option, or those with a tight budget!
Luxury – $$$
Hotel De Reve Galata is a luxury option, featuring incredible views, pristine rooms, and high-class service. I love the modern and upmarket design in every room, offering twin, double, or corner suites. You can choose to have a room with a jacuzzi, a sea-facing view, or a balcony, and you can enjoy the onsite bar and restaurants.
This hotel is located in a central location, and prices start around €400. You can book this luxury stay on Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
If you’re looking for a conveniently located hotel at a mid price point, the Royan Hotel Hagia Sophia has you covered! Located meters away from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, you can easily reach Istanbul’s top sights. The rooms are well-equipeed and high-quality, so you’ll have a comfortable stay. You can get a standard room for only €150 a night, or upgrade to a suite, or to include a private Turkish bath!
Check availability and book this stay on Booking.com.
Budget – $
Stylish Hotel Old City is a great option for budget travelers, and I love it’s Old City location. You can choose between dorm rooms or private rooms, both are pretty basic but very clean and have everything you need! Best of all, it’s a great price point – dorm rooms are only about €15 a night, and a private room starts at €40.
Book this affordable stay on Booking.com.
For more options, check out all the hotels in Istanbul here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
Istanbul, Turkey turned out to be one of my favorite cities we’ve traveled to! With so much history and culture, we had a great time diving into Istanbul. I’m sure you’ll feel the same way if you check off some of these top activities we listed here!
If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out our other blog posts. We’ve traveled all over the world and have put together travel guides and tips for visiting our favorite places. Here are a few places and activities you should consider checking out!
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