Türkiye

Istanbul

A city spread across both shores of the Bosphorus, in Europe and Asia.

Source: Wikidata

Istanbul

Where the places cluster

© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL

Featured places in Istanbul

Order: by the number of Wikipedia languages with an article on the place.

Places to visit Museums Green spaces Food and drink

At a glance

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The repository holds 383 place records for this city (measured ).

Climate month by month

Getting there and getting around
MonthAverage high (°C)Average low (°C)Precipitation (mm)Wet days (≥1 mm)
Jan8.74.079.912.6
Feb9.44.166.811.4
Mar11.95.753.810.1
Apr16.08.943.47.8
May21.113.835.76.6
Jun26.118.734.27.1
Jul29.221.720.03.5
Aug29.4 warmest22.420.93.4
Sep25.519.149.07.1
Oct20.214.563.88.3
Nov15.510.265.79.5
Dec10.76.180.5 wettest12.2

Source: NASA POWER, 2001–2025

Getting there and getting around

Getting there

Recorded airport: IST

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Neighbourhoods

City layers

Structures with a known building year, grouped by period; choose a period to filter the places on this page.

Building year unknown: 82 — not on the line.

City guide

History

The Byzantine layer: Hagia Irene 350, Church of the Holy Apostles, Little Hagia Sophia 526, Hagia Sophia 532, St Mary of the Mongols, Nea Ekklesia. Eski İmaret Mosque, Atik Mustafa Pasha Mosque (1059) and Vefa Kilise Mosque were built as churches and later converted; both types appear in their records. The Ottoman layer: Mahmut Pasha Bath 1464, Ebulfazl Mosque 1553, Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque 1577, Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque 1578, Nusretiye Mosque 1826. The Republican layer: Taksim Republic Monument 1928, Bayonet Monument 1960.

Source: Wikidata

Places to visit

Most cluster on the historic peninsula and around Beyoğlu. On this page, the places with Wikipedia articles in the most languages: , , , , .

Source: Wikidata

Museums

Some are major institutions, others small single-subject collections: the Hilye-i Şerif and Prayer Beads Museum, the Beta Yeni Han Coffee Museum, the Ottoman Bank Museum, the Pera Palace Atatürk Museum, the Galata Mevlevi House Museum, the Istanbul University Beyazıt Tower Monument Museum. Opening hours and ticket prices change too often to be written here.

Source: Wikidata

Bazaars and markets

Our records hold five bazaar and market entries for Istanbul: the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, Mahmutpaşa Bazaar, the Old Book Bazaar and the Unkapanı produce hall. All five sit in Fatih. We do not recommend restaurants or businesses; well-known food and drink by district, with sources, is in the "Food and drink" section.

Source: Wikidata

Food and drink

  • Eminönü Fish sandwiches (balık ekmek) grilled on boats by the pier are the street food here and around the Galata Bridge.
  • Eminönü, Karaköy On the ferries leaving these piers, simit (a sesame bread ring) and tea go with the crossing.
  • Karaköy Known for its long-established baklava makers.
  • Ortaköy Kumpir (stuffed baked potato) stalls line the square.
  • Sarıyer Known for börek, a savoury filled pastry.
  • Kanlıca Its yoghurt is eaten at the pier with a dusting of icing sugar.
  • Vefa Known for boza, a winter drink.
  • Kadıköy In its market, fishmongers, meze shops, greengrocers and bakeries stand side by side; the meyhane (tavern) tradition lives on here.
  • Beşiktaş In its market area there is a street where breakfast places cluster.
  • Fatih, Kadınlar Pazarı Known for büryan kebab (lamb slow-cooked in a pit oven) and perde pilavı (rice baked in a pastry crust) from the cuisine of Siirt.
  • Kumkapı Known for its fish restaurants; its fish market was demolished in 2015.
  • Beyoğlu, Nevizade Sokağı Known for its meyhanes (taverns) and nightlife.
  • Balat Its streets have breakfast, coffee and dessert places; some are on Vodina Caddesi, next to craft workshops.
  • Silivri Silivri yoghurt is registered as a geographical indication (mahreç işareti) tied to the district of Silivri (2022).

Sources: listelist · Culinary Backstreets · istanbul.com · Yummy Istanbul · Property Turkey · Gazete Vatan (Engin Akın) · bianet · yemek.com · istairport.com · CNN Türk · SALT Araştırma · Time Out İstanbul · TÜRKPATENT

Parks and green spaces

Green spaces in our records include Belgrad Forest, Emirgan Park, Gülhane Park and Yıldız Park. Open and green spaces for the city in IBB open data (parks, recreation areas, groves, urban forests, memorial forests, squares): 570.

Sources: Wikidata · IBB Open Data

Hotel amenities

Among the published hotels, free wifi is recorded at 3,789, air conditioning at 3,342, 24-hour front desk at 3,237 and luggage storage at 3,055.

Source: dipbul measurement

City layers

Practical information

Time zone
UTC+3
Currency
Turkish lira (TRY)
Plugs and voltage
C, F — 230 V
Official language
Turkish
Emergency number
112
Card payments
Widely accepted

Check official sources before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

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Frequently asked questions

Do you need a visa for Istanbul?

Visa status in this guide: Depends on your nationality. Entry rules can change, so verify with official sources before travel.

Go to the related section
Which airport is used for Istanbul?

Flight searches in this guide use the airport code IST for Istanbul.

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Related guides

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Sources: Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · NASA POWER · İBB open data (Istanbul Municipality) · dipbul measurement · Credits

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