City guides
Istanbul
A huge, busy city split by the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia, with Ottoman palaces, grand mosques, old bazaars and cheap public ferries. Most sights sit close together in the old city, but the city is hilly and traffic is heavy, so trams, metro and ferries are the easiest way to move. It is easy for Iranian families: food is halal almost everywhere and many shops and hotels are used to Iranian guests.
Good for
- Families
- First trip abroad
- History and mosques
- Shopping
- Food
- Short city breaks
A good length: 5 days
Plan one area per day (old city, Galata and the Bosphorus, the Asian side) and use ferries between them instead of taxis.
Best months
April, May, September, October
Per person per day
- Budget
- US$55
- Mid-range
- US$120
- Comfort
- US$300
Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, three simple meals, public transport and one paid sight. Big palaces and Hagia Sophia cost about 25 to 50 EUR each, so add them separately (2026).
Where to stay and spend time
Sultanahmet
Stay or visitHagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Basilica Cistern are all a short walk apart, and the T1 tram stops in the middle.
For: First-timers, families, older travellers
Watch out: Restaurants on the main squares charge more and carpet-shop touts are common; walk a few streets away to eat.
Open in mapSirkeci and Eminönü
Stay or visitCheaper hotels than Sultanahmet, the Spice Bazaar and ferry piers on the doorstep, and Marmaray and tram stations for the whole city.
For: Budget travellers, people who want transport close by
Watch out: Very crowded by day around the bazaar and the piers; keep bags in front.
Open in mapLaleli and Aksaray
Good baseA wholesale clothing district that many Iranian shoppers know, with low-cost hotels, Persian-speaking shop staff and a few Iranian eateries, a few stops from Sultanahmet on the T1 tram.
For: Shoppers, people on a tight budget
Watch out: Busy and noisy, and some streets feel rough late at night; compare prices before buying.
Open in mapGalata and Karaköy
Stay or visitOld streets around Galata Tower with cafés and small hotels, a short walk over the Galata Bridge to the old city and close to ferries.
For: Couples, younger travellers, café lovers
Watch out: Very steep streets and stairs, hard with suitcases or for older people.
Open in mapTaksim and İstiklal Street
Stay or visitA long pedestrian shopping street with the old red tram, many hotels and direct airport buses to both airports.
For: Shoppers, people who like evening life
Watch out: Pickpockets in crowds and the 'let's have a drink' bar trick at night; streets can be closed on protest days.
Open in mapBeşiktaş and Ortaköy
Worth a visitDolmabahçe Palace, a lively local market, and Ortaköy Mosque right on the water under the Bosphorus Bridge.
For: Everyone, for a Bosphorus afternoon
Watch out: Road traffic along the shore is slow at rush hour; arrive by ferry.
Open in mapKadıköy and Moda
Stay or visitThe Asian side's food market streets, seaside walks in Moda and fair prices, 20 minutes by ferry from Eminönü and on the metro line from Sabiha Gökçen airport.
For: Repeat visitors, food lovers, people who want local life
Open in map
Places worth your time
- Sights
Hagia Sophia
Sultanahmet · 1 to 2 hours
Foreign visitors enter on a paid route through the upper gallery (about 25 EUR in 2026, not in the Museum Pass). Go at opening time; it is a working mosque, so women need a headscarf and visits pause at prayer times.
- SightsFree
Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque)
Sultanahmet · 30 to 45 minutes
Free to enter, with blue tiles and six minarets. Closed to visitors during the five prayers, longest at Friday noon; shoes come off at the door.
- Museums
Topkapı Palace
Sultanahmet · 3 to 4 hours
The Ottoman sultans' palace with courtyards, treasury and the Harem, and views over the Bosphorus. Closed on Tuesdays; the ticket with the Harem is about 2,750 lira (about 55 USD, 2026) and is included in the Museum Pass. Lots of walking.
- Sights
Basilica Cistern
Sultanahmet · 45 minutes
A huge underground water hall with columns and the Medusa heads. It has its own ticket and is not in the Museum Pass; queues are shortest early.
- MarketsFree
Grand Bazaar
Beyazıt · 2 hours
One of the oldest covered markets in the world, with jewellery, lamps, carpets and sweets. Closed on Sundays; the first price is only a starting point, so bargain calmly.
- MarketsFree
Spice Bazaar
Eminönü · 1 hour
Spices, Turkish delight, dried fruit and tea. The side streets around it are cheaper than the main hall and sell the same goods.
- SightsFree
Süleymaniye Mosque
Fatih · 1 hour
Many travellers like it more than the Blue Mosque: calmer, free, with a garden terrace looking over the Golden Horn. Uphill from the Spice Bazaar.
- ParksFree
Gülhane Park
Sultanahmet · 1 hour
Shady park next to Topkapı with benches and tea gardens, good for a rest with children or older parents; tulips in April.
- Views
Galata Tower
Galata · 1 hour
Round stone tower with a 360 degree view. The ticket is pricey (about 30 EUR in 2026) and the queue long; the free view from the square below is enough for many people.
- Views
Bosphorus by public ferry
Eminönü · 1 to 2 hours
City ferries cost a normal transit fare with an Istanbulkart and show the same palaces and bridges as tour boats. Sit on the open deck; take a jacket, it is windy.
- Museums
Dolmabahçe Palace
Beşiktaş · 2 hours
A grand 19th century palace on the water with chandeliers and gardens. Separate ticket, not in the Museum Pass, about 2,000 lira (about 40 USD, 2026); closed on Mondays.
- Museums
Istanbul Archaeological Museums
Sultanahmet · 1 to 2 hours
Quiet museum near Gülhane with ancient statues and tombs; included in the Museum Pass (about 15 EUR alone, 2026).
- FoodFree
Kadıköy market streets
Kadıköy · 2 to 3 hours
Fish, pickles, cheese, sweets and small home-style restaurants. The ferry ride from Eminönü is part of the fun.
- Day trips
Princes' Islands
Sea of Marmara · Full day
Car-free islands with wooden mansions, reached by city ferry from Kabataş or Kadıköy. Go on a weekday; weekend ferries are packed.
Getting around
From the airport
Metro M11 (from IST)about 75 min
From the arrivals level go down to the metro, ride M11 to Gayrettepe (about 35 minutes), then change to M2 for Taksim or onward to the old city. Pay with an Istanbulkart bought from the machines at the station. Runs roughly 06:00 to midnight.
about 1 USD for M11 plus about 1 USD for the next line, with an Istanbulkart (2026)
Havaist bus (from IST)about 90 min
Buses leave from floor -2 of the terminal to Taksim, Beşiktaş, Aksaray, Kadıköy and other districts. No cash on board: pay with an Istanbulkart or a bank card. Easier than the metro with big suitcases; time depends on traffic.
about 4 to 5 USD (2026)
Taxi or app taxi (from IST)about 55 min
Use the official taxi rank or book through BiTaksi or Uber (which sends licensed yellow taxis). Make sure the meter is on; the airport is about 45 km from the old city.
about 40 to 55 USD on the meter, plus tolls (2026)
From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): M4 metro or Havabusabout 60 min
Many low-cost flights land at SAW on the Asian side. The M4 metro inside the terminal goes to Kadıköy in about 50 minutes; Havabus coaches go to Kadıköy and Taksim.
about 1 USD by metro, about 10 USD by Havabus to Taksim (2026)
In the city
Istanbulkart
One rechargeable card for metro, tram, bus, Marmaray and ferries. Buy it at yellow machines in stations for about 165 lira (about 3.3 USD) and top up with lira cash; a normal ride is about 46 lira (about 0.9 USD) since July 2026. One card can pay for the whole family: tap once for each person.
Tram T1
The most useful line for visitors: Kabataş, Karaköy, Eminönü, Sultanahmet, Laleli and Aksaray. Very full at rush hour; watch your pockets.
City ferries
Ferries link Eminönü, Karaköy, Kabataş and Beşiktaş with Kadıköy and Üsküdar on the Asian side. Cheap, scenic and faster than crossing by road.
Marmaray and metro
Marmaray trains run under the Bosphorus between Sirkeci and Üsküdar and on to both sides of the city; the metro covers Taksim and the business districts. Fares rise slightly with distance on Marmaray.
Taxis and ride apps
BiTaksi, Uber (yellow taxis only) and the city's iTaksi app all work and show the driver and route; add a card in the app if you have a foreign one, otherwise pay cash. Street taxis use a meter (about 72 lira start and 48 lira per km since July 2026). Common tricks: no meter, long detours and swapping a 200 note for a 20; keep small notes and follow the route on your phone.
On foot
The old city core is walkable, but Istanbul is very hilly and has cobbles and steep stairs, especially in Galata and around Süleymaniye. With children or older parents, ride the tram uphill and walk downhill, and rest in mosque courtyards and parks.
Food
Halal food: Almost all meat in Turkey is halal and pork is very rare, so you can eat in ordinary restaurants without worry. Some places in Beyoğlu and Kadıköy serve alcohol; if that matters, choose a lokanta (home-style restaurant) or a kebab house.
Persian food and community: Laleli and Aksaray have long had Iranian shoppers, Persian-speaking shop staff and a few Iranian eateries. Iranian-run cafés and restaurants have also grown in Beyoğlu and Kadıköy in recent years. Turkish kebab, rice and stews are close to Iranian taste anyway.
- A lokanta (esnaf lokantası) shows its dishes behind glass, so you can point and choose; cheap and filling.
- Try simit for breakfast and the fish sandwich boats at Eminönü.
- In fish restaurants ask the price by weight before they cook.
- Drink bottled water; tap water is safe in theory but locals do not drink it.
- Leave about 5 to 10 percent for good table service; it is not required in simple places.
Money and phone
Cash: Bring US dollars or euros in clean, new notes and change them bit by bit at exchange offices (döviz) around the Grand Bazaar, Sirkeci or Laleli, which give much better rates than the airport. In early November 2026 one dollar was about 50 lira. Compare the buying rate on the board and count your lira at the counter.
Cards: Iranian bank cards do not work in Turkey, so plan to pay most things in cash and keep the rest in the hotel safe. Card payment is everywhere, so a card from a relative abroad or an international prepaid card (bought before the trip) makes taxi apps, museums and big shops easier. Pay in lira, not in your card's currency, if a machine asks.
SIM and internet: Turkcell's tourist pack is about 1,800 lira (about 36 USD) for 20 GB and 28 days in 2026, sold only in Turkcell stores with your passport; Vodafone and Türk Telekom sell similar packs, also at the airport, where prices are higher. A foreign phone works on a Turkish SIM for 120 days. After 120 days a foreign phone must be registered, which costs a very large fee (about 54,000 lira in 2026). Several travel eSIM websites are blocked inside Turkey, so buy and install any eSIM before you fly.
What travellers say
Advice that travellers from many countries repeat, chosen for Iranian visitors.
- Buy an Istanbulkart on day one and use it for everything, including ferries.
- Reach Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı at opening time; by late morning the queues are long.
- Check closing days: Topkapı on Tuesday, Dolmabahçe on Monday, the Grand Bazaar on Sunday.
- Mosques close to visitors at prayer times, longest at Friday noon; women need a headscarf and everyone covers knees and shoulders.
- Bargain in the bazaars but stay friendly; walking away often brings the price down.
- Take a public ferry instead of an expensive Bosphorus tour; the view is the same.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the city is hilly and the stone streets are slippery after rain.
- Avoid road travel at rush hour; rail and ferries are faster than taxis most of the day.
- Weekends and holidays are much busier at big sights and on island ferries.
For Iranian travellers
- Iranian passport holders can visit Turkey for short trips without arranging a visa in advance; see our visa page for the current rule.
- Bring enough cash for the whole trip, since your Iranian card will not work, and do not change all of it on day one.
- The Consulate General of Iran is on Ankara Caddesi in Cağaloğlu, near Sirkeci in Fatih; keep a photo of your passport in case it is lost.
- Around Nowruz and in summer many Iranians come at once and hotel prices rise; book early.
- Laleli shops speak Persian and know Iranian taste, but that does not mean the lowest price; compare with other streets.
- Hotels booked from Iran through an agency and paid in toman save you from card problems; check that the booking shows in the hotel's system.
- Do not change money with people on the street, even if they speak Persian and offer a better rate.
Stay safe
- Emergency number for police, ambulance and fire: 112.
- A shoe-shiner 'drops' his brush and asks for money after you return it; just walk on.
- A friendly stranger in Taksim invites you to a bar or club, and the bill is huge; say no politely.
- Pickpockets work on the T1 tram, İstiklal Street and around the bazaars; keep phones and passports in a front or inside pocket.
- Count your change in taxis and shops, and never hand over large notes without saying the amount.
Checked 7 November 2026