About Istanbul
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, a megacity, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia. Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus – one of the world's busiest waterways – in northwestern Turkey, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its area of 5,461 square kilometers (2,109 mi2) is coterminous with Istanbul Province.
Cheap flights to Istanbul
The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $846 from New York, travelling 25 Oct – 7 Nov. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.
- NYC New York to Istanbul25 Oct – 7 Nov · IST from$846
- CHI Chicago to Istanbul16 Nov – 23 Nov · IST from$982
- SEA Seattle to Istanbul3 Apr – 18 Apr · IST from$1,001
- IAH Houston to Istanbul25 Nov – 1 Feb · IST from$1,013
- ATL Atlanta to Istanbul27 Aug – 4 Sep · IST from$1,079
- WAS Washington to Istanbul20 Dec – 6 Jan · IST from$1,757
- CMH Columbus to Istanbul11 Nov – 23 Nov · IST from$1,353
Cheapest month to fly
Airlines travellers compared most often: Qatar Airways, EgyptAir, United Airlines, Air Canada.
Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.
Search flights to IstanbulPlaces to visit in Istanbul
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Hagia Sophia
ReligiousA sixth-century Byzantine building with a vast dome that has served as a cathedral, museum and now a mosque. Dress modestly, and avoid Friday midday prayers when visitor access is limited.
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Blue Mosque
ReligiousAn Ottoman imperial mosque known for its six minarets and blue Iznik tiles lining the interior. It closes to visitors during prayer times, so plan your visit between them and bring a scarf if needed.
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Topkapi Palace
Historic · 1 mi from centreThe main residence of the Ottoman sultans for centuries, with courtyards, treasury rooms and sea views. Buy the Harem ticket as well, and arrive at opening time to beat the long lines.
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Grand Bazaar
MarketOne of the oldest covered markets in the world, with thousands of shops selling carpets, lamps, jewelry and spices. Haggling is expected, so compare a few shops before buying anything expensive.
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Basilica Cistern
HistoricA huge underground water reservoir from the Byzantine era, supported by rows of marble columns. Look for the two carved Medusa heads at the far end, and go early to avoid the queue.
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Galata Tower
ViewpointA medieval stone tower on the hill above Karakoy with a viewing balcony over the Golden Horn and old city. Lines can be long at sunset, so consider going in the morning.
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Suleymaniye Mosque
ReligiousA masterpiece by the architect Mimar Sinan, crowning one of the city's seven hills. It is usually calmer than the Blue Mosque, and the terrace behind it has fine views over the Golden Horn.
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Bosphorus
Nature · 10 mi from centreThe strait dividing Europe and Asia, lined with palaces, fortresses and wooden waterfront mansions. Public ferries from Eminonu are a cheap and easy alternative to private sightseeing cruises.
Things to do in Istanbul by type
115 tours, tickets and experiences across 12 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Art & culture 47 experiences A Day on Prince's Island - Full-Day Tour -
City tours 22 experiences Basilica Cistern with Skip the Line Ticket and Audioguide -
Cruise & Water Tours 18 experiences 2 Days Istanbul Sightseeing Combo: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and Boat Tour -
Specialist tours 10 experiences 2 Day / 1 Night: A Taste of Timeless Istanbul -
Day Trips & Excursions 10 experiences A Day on Prince's Island - Full-Day Tour -
Gastronomy & nightlife 6 experiences Camlica Tower - Ticket with Optional Dining Choices -
Classes 6 experiences Ebru (Turkish Marbling) Workshop at Kasımpaşa Mevlevihanesi - Ticket -
Travel Services 5 experiences Plaza Premium Lounge - Domestic Departures -
Shows, sports and special events 5 experiences Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Oriental Show -
Tickets & Attraction Passes 5 experiences 2 Days Istanbul Sightseeing Combo: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and Boat Tour -
Spa & Wellness 4 experiences Bliss VIP Turkish Bath - Ticket with Transfers -
Zoo, Aquarium & Nature 2 experiences A Day on Prince's Island - Full-Day Tour
- 1-3 hours 14
- Up to 1 hour 8
- 3-6 hours 8
- Over 6 hours 7
- Flexible 6
- Couples 11
- Youth 11
- Senior 10
- Families 9
- Families with kids 3
- Adult only 2
- Private 26
- Shore excursions 14
- Small group 11
- Skip the line 7
Top experiences in Istanbul
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 115 available.
Istanbul Classics: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Gran Bazaar with Bosphorus Cruise
From $105 per adult
Old Town: Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar - Full-Day Small Group Tour
From $86 per adult
Istanbul's Highlights: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar - Half-Day Tour
From $38 per adult
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show with Transfers
From $35 per adult
Special Offer: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia – Private Full-Day Tour
From $174 per adult
Istanbul Highlights: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern - Private Tour
From $138 per adult
Istanbul Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with optional Bosphorus Cruise
From $64 per adult
Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus cruise, Turkish lunch, Dolmabahce Palace and Asian Side - Full-Day Tour
From $126 per adult
Byzantine and Ottoman Relics: Blue Mosque,Hagia Sophia,Topkapi Palace & Grand Bazaar
From $87 per adult
Bosphorus Cruise and Spice Bazaar - Bus and Boat Tour
From $40 per adult
Istanbul Classics: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar - Private Half-Day Tour
From $311 per adult
A Day on Prince's Island - Full-Day Tour
From $49 per adult
Best time to visit Istanbul
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Istanbul is May to October, when average daytime highs are around 68–89°F and rain falls on about 7 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Istanbul weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 69° 52° 0%
- Thu 22 Oct 70° 55° 8%
- Fri 23 Oct 71° 58° 71%
- Sat 24 Oct 64° 54° 70%
- Sun 25 Oct 66° 49° 4%
- Mon 26 Oct 69° 55° 18%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Turkish lira (TRY)1 US dollar ≈ ₺49.6
- Language
- Turkish
- Calling code
- +90
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- Europe/IstanbulUTC+3
- Capital
- Ankara
Upcoming public holidays in Turkiye
- Republic DayCumhuriyet Bayramı
- New Year's DayYılbaşı
- Eid al-Fitr First Day (Tentative Date)Ramazan Bayramı 1. Gün (Tentative Date)
- Eid al-Fitr Second Day (Tentative Date)Ramazan Bayramı 2. Gün (Tentative Date)
- Eid al-Fitr Third Day (Tentative Date)Ramazan Bayramı 3. Gün (Tentative Date)
- National Independence & Children's DayUlusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Istanbul
These are the airports closest to central Istanbul. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- ISL Atatürk Airport8 mi (13 km) from the city centre
- IST Istanbul Airport21 mi (33 km) from the city centre
Getting around Istanbul
İETT (or just toplu taşıma) is the municipality's public transportation company. Istanbul's public transit system can be difficult to figure out. However, if you put some effort into it, you can avoid taxis and not walk too much.
İstanbulkart
The İstanbulkart.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}[dead link] is Istanbul's public transport smart card, which can be used as a ticket on buses, trams, suburban trains, metro, local ferries, etc. If you are in Istanbul for more than a day or two and intend to use public transport, it will pay for itself in a few trips.
By train
The Marmaray cross-town train, opened in March 2019, links Halkali mainline station in the west with Bakırköy, Zeytinburnu, Sirkeci and Üsküdar either side of the Bosphorus, and Bostancı, Kartal, Pendik and Gebze to the east; plus many small suburban stations. (Pendik and Gebze are on the YHT main line.) Trains run every 15 min 06:00-23:00 and between city centre and end of the line takes an hour. The central sections are shared with the metro.
By metro
The city Metro[dead link] has many lines, although not all are equally useful to the visitor:
Istanbul travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Istanbul is May to October, when average daytime highs are around 68–89°F and rain falls on about 7 days a month.
What is the weather like in Istanbul?
July is usually the warmest month in Istanbul, with average highs of 89°F (32°C). February is the coolest, with average lows of 39°F (4°C). The wettest month is typically December, with about 116 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Istanbul?
Atatürk Airport (ISL) is the closest airport, about 8 miles (13 km) from the centre of Istanbul. Other nearby airports include Istanbul Airport (IST, 21 mi).
How much are flights to Istanbul?
The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Istanbul in the last 30 days was $846 from New York, travelling 25 Oct – 7 Nov. October is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $846.
What currency is used in Istanbul?
Istanbul uses the Turkish lira (TRY). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ ₺49.6.
What time zone is Istanbul in?
Istanbul uses the Europe/Istanbul time zone (currently UTC+3). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Istanbul?
İETT (or just toplu taşıma) is the municipality's public transportation company. Istanbul's public transit system can be difficult to figure out. However, if you put some effort into it, you can avoid taxis and not walk too much.
What are the best places to visit in Istanbul?
Top sights in Istanbul include Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. A sixth-century Byzantine building with a vast dome that has served as a cathedral, museum and now a mosque. Dress modestly, and avoid Friday midday prayers when visitor access is limited.
What are the top things to do in Istanbul?
Popular experiences you can book in Istanbul include Istanbul Classics: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Gran Bazaar with Bosphorus Cruise, Old Town: Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar - Full-Day Small Group Tour and Istanbul's Highlights: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar - Half-Day Tour. Destina Holidays offers 115 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Istanbul?
The most popular types of experiences in Istanbul are art & culture (47), city tours (22), cruise & water tours (18) and specialist tours (10). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
