Istanbul Travel Tips - Travel Advice for Istanbul From a Former Resident
The top Istanbul travel tips need to be included in any Istanbul travel guide. Istanbul is a bustling, magical and at times overwhelming city to visit, but these Istanbul tips are from someone who lived there for three years. Consider this your one-stop-shop when it comes to travel advice for Istanbul.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know that Istanbul is my favourite city on the planet, and that I lived there from 2014-2017 with my now wife, Bri.
It’s why I love writing about the city as much as I do, and it’s also why my readers and followers regularly reach out for advice on how they should visit Istanbul. It’s advice I’m only too happy to give, since I want to encourage people to explore Istanbul. But it also occurred to me that it’s about time I had an article on Istanbul travel tips, so I had a place to send people when they visit.
For building an Istanbul itinerary, I usually send people to my incredibly in-depth hour long interview about first time travel to Istanbul, Turkey on the Amateur Traveler Podcast. I also direct them to our comprehensive guide on the best private tours in Istanbul, our list of the best places for Turkish breakfast in the city, and my article about the best place to stay in Istanbul. But in this article, I’m looking to give you a sense not just of what to see in Istanbul, but how to experience the magic of Istanbul.
While Istanbul is beloved by travellers around the world, I wouldn’t say it has a reputation as a particularly easy city to travel in, or live in for that matter. In fact, that’s why I took such pride in how well I fell into the rhythm of the city in the three years I was there.
During that time, I learned a few things, and I’ll be drawing upon what I learned in this article, culminating in some specific travel advice for Istanbul for you. These Istanbul tips and tricks should help you whether you’re visiting Istanbul as an American or from any other country.
Honestly, it’s just too boring as a travel writer to pump out lifeless itineraries, so that’s why I’m so cognizant of mixing things up, so I can ensure I approach all my writing with a certain degree of passion. I hope that these tips for visiting Istanbul are as helpful to you as they’ve been enjoyable to me writing them.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. Simply put, this means that we may receive a small commission for our honest and heartfelt recommendations, at no additional cost to you.
What’s Worth Knowing Before Your Istanbul Vacation?
As I said above, you pick up a few things having lived there for three years that you wish you would have known from day one, so let’s get into it.
Learn Some Basic Turkish Phrases
Most people assume that because Istanbul is so well-travelled and it’s such a sizeable city that, like many other cities like that, there’s going to be English everywhere. Well, no, that isn’t the case, and I’m very thankful for that.
Sure, in Sultanahmet and other highly touristy areas you’re going to be able to speak English at will, but if you hop into a cab anywhere on the modern side of the city, including Taksim Square and the like, there’s no guarantee your driver will know a lick of English.
And most importantly, when he knows you’re a foreigner, you’re about to get charged a lot more than usual. That’s probably the oldest trick in the book in Istanbul. Almost every single person that visited me was ripped off at least once in a cab, but it happened to folks who took the time to learn some Turkish far less, if at all.
Even just starting conversations with “merhaba” (hello), “nasılsın?” (how are you?), can make a big difference. When they asked how I was back, usually I’d just smile, nod my head and say, “iyi iyi,” which means “good, good.”
Now I spoke almost fluent Turkish and have a Turkish tattoo on my wrist, but I think anything will help.
I also found that Turkish people are so kind in helping you learn the language. They’ll never correct you, but you can always ask someone if you’re saying something right, and they’ll help. I’ve said this before, but I firmly believe that learning Turkish drastically changed my experience in that city, and very much for the better.
I wrote about Turkish phrases I’ll miss just before leaving, so you can learn a bit more there, otherwise I found both Memrise and Duolingo were very helpful for practice before departure.
Ensure you have a VIsa, Travel Insurance and an International Sim Card
Istanbul, Turkey is such a warm and welcoming place to visit, but it’s important to double check if you need a visa before you land in Istanbul. Many countries are required to purchase a visa on arrival at the Istanbul airport.
It can make your trip to Turkey so much easier if you purchase an e-Visa ahead of landing in Istanbul. If you need to do so, you can check if you need one ahead of time, and then purchase one here.
It’s also worth having travel insurance ahead your trip, just in case anything comes up while you’re away. Finally, to make it a little easier while you’re making your way around the city, having an eSIM card makes international travel a breeze. I’d highly recommend getting your hands on one of the best ones we’ve used in our travels.
Where to Stay in Istanbul, Turkey
It can be challenging to decide on a place to stay in Istanbul, since there are so many different neighbourhoods to focus your time in. For your first time visiting Istanbul, I’d recommend situating yourself in Sultanahmet or Beyoglu for your Istanbul trip. These are the closest neighbourhoods to the central tourist places, and they are also really lovely areas to stay.
If you plan to stay in and around Sultanahmet, it’s important to know that not many locals live in this area. It is mostly hotels, but many of those hotels also have incredible, up-close views and access to the famous sites of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul is an excellent hotel and is the perfect place to situate yourself in the heart of Sultanahmet. You will be steps away from the most iconic Istanbul landmarks if you stay here.
If you’re looking moreso in the Beyoglu or Taksim areas, these neighbourhoods offer stunning views of the Bosphorus and Sultanahmet from a small distance. My favourite views of Istanbul are from the hotels and rooftops of the Beyoglu area. World House Boutique Hotel is a wonderful hotel, with rooms looking right at the Galata Tower. The Pera Palace Hotel is also an incredible property, in a stunning location close to everything in and around Beyoglu, too.
Tips for Visiting Istanbul Once You’ve Landed
Here are a few of the best Istanbul insider tips I have for you to use once you’ve made your way to this incredible city.
Leave the Old Town
A lot of people who travel to Istanbul never leave the Old Town, which is called Sultanahmet. Now, it’s understandable - many of the classic Istanbul tourist spots are there, including the Hagia Sofia, Topkapı Palace, The Blue Mosque, The Basilica Cistern, and the list goes on and on.
However, Istanbul is more than just Sultanahmet. If you don’t cross the Galata Bridge into the modern part of the city, you simply haven’t been to Istanbul.
Personally, I’d spend one day in Beyoğlu. I’d start at Taksim Square, then walk down to the Galata Tower, and head up to the top. Get some Turkish breakfast at Cafe Privato after (or before), then wander down and explore Karaköy.
One of my favourite things to do when I lived in Istanbul was also to head to Bebek and start my day by getting some Turkish breakfast at Nezih. Then simply walk along the water and stop to appreciate Arnavutköy (get a drink at Alexandra’s rooftop for incredible views), Ortaköy (don’t forget to visit the Ortaköy Mosque and try kumpir), and then past Dolmabahçe Palace to Beşiktaş.
Once you arrive in Beşiktaş, get a beer at Joker, it’s a wicked spot. Or, you can go fancy, and get a drink at Vogue, which has some of the best views of the city.
It’s also not a bad idea to figure out how to fit in a half-day in your Istanbul itinerary just exploring Fener and Balat.
Honestly, you’re not going to go wrong whether you end up having a beer at Bomonti Brewery in Bomonti, or a çay in Cihangir, but you’ve got to leave the Old City - it’s a must.
Eat All the Turkish Breakfast
I’m not joking when I say that this may be the most important Istanbul travel tip—eat as much Turkish breakfast as humanly possible.
If I’m on death row, and they give me the chance to have one last meal, I’m getting Turkish breakfast. I don’t just think it’s the best meal in the nation, I firmly believe that Turkish breakfast is the best meal on the planet.
Done right, Turkish breakfast playfully weaves between sweet and savoury in a way that no other meal can. Homemade jams, freshly made bread, local cheese, the world’s best olives, endless tea, and so much more.
We actually have a complete article dedicated to the best places for Turkish breakfast in Istanbul. I’d highly recommend reading it before your trip to Istanbul starts, so you can make a plan to cover all of the incredible breakfast restaurants there during your visit.
Visit the Asian Side of Istanbul
When people are planning their upcoming Istanbul vacation, they often neglect to realize that Istanbul straddles two continents. Not only that, but they fail to realize that both sides are worth visiting.
This right here is why I personally recommend spending a week in Istanbul to get a full feeling for the city. Having a full week allows you to have one day, or half-day on the Asian side.
Firstly, taking the ferry from the European side to the Asian side is an experience unto itself, and I personally feel that’s the only way you get a feeling for the magnitude of the structures in Sultanahmet, particularly as it relates to Topkapı Palace. Seeing Sultanahmet from the water is a special experience, and same with Galata as well.
If you’re in Istanbul, you’ve got to get out on the Bosphorus - end of discussion.
If you’ve got limited time on the Asian side, I wouldn’t complicate things too much. I’d spend most of my time walking around Kadıköy, which you could easily argue is Istanbul’s coolest neighbourhood that tourists don’t really know about. Visit the cafes, bars, shops, and restaurants in the area. It’s the perfect neighbourhood to get lost in on purpose.
Then, hop a cab to Çamlıca Hill, which is in Üsküdar. It sits over 250 metres above sea level, and you’ll get an unparalleled view of the Bosphorus Bridge, and just the Bosphorus in general.
Go Out for Meze (and Sip on Rakı)
If it’s Friday night (or actually any night), it’s hard to think of anything I’d rather do in Istanbul than go out for meze. A lot of meze restaurants will have live music as well, and often the music really compliments the atmosphere.
Meze, if you don’t know, is simply a meal in which your table shares a mixture or assortment of dishes. Typically, you’ll choose several dishes from the cold menu, which you’ll usually have first, and then you’ll enjoy some rakı and each other’s company, and eventually order some dishes from the hot menu.
There are few experiences I miss more than going out to a meze restaurant in Istanbul when the streets are humming with people.
Oh, and if you haven’t tried rakı, you need to. It’s an anise-flavoured booze that goes well with fish and savoury foods such as cheese. The best part is that it’s really an energy filled night if you’re drinking rakı, but just be careful as this stuff is strong.
If you want to explore the meze culture, it’s not a bad idea to head down to the area known as Nevizade, and look for the narrow street that’s lined with restaurants as far as the eye can see. Personally, when I’m in town, I usually go to Bi’ Garip Meyhane in Nişantaşı, as my friend runs the restaurant and I’ve always had good meals there.
Bad meze restaurants don’t survive in Istanbul, so my best advice is to look for a place that’s busy with not a lot of foreigners, and go for it. Then you can practice all that Turkish you learned before you left!
Eat Turkish Street Food
There are some street foods that Istanbul is well known for. All street food vendors in Istanbul only accept cash in the form of Turkish Lira, so many sure you have some small bills available when you visit.
A lot of tourists love to recommend the fish sandwiches or “Balik Ekmek” (fish bread) that you can eat along the Bosphorus, but that wasn’t really a staple for us during my time living in Istanbul. Many people enjoy them though, so you really just need to walk down along the Galata Bridge or the shoreline of the Golden Horn to find a street vendor if you’d like to try one.
Another excellent street food to try in Turkey is their fresh juices. Turkish vendors litter the streets, especially in the Beyoglu area, with carts of oranges and pomegranates to squeeze fresh juice for anyone who stops by. You can even get a blend of these depending on the vendor. Our local farmers’ market in Istanbul used to offer a blend of these juices with ginger juice every Saturday, which was such a delight. Either way, get yourself either a “portakal suyu” (orange juice) or “nar suyu” (pomegranate juice) during your visit.
Other well-known street foods in Turkey include roasted chestnuts, which are especially popular during the cooler months in the city. Their nutty smell fills the air of pedestrian areas and streets, like Istiklal Cadessi. Simit is another popular street food. They’re essentially Turkish bagels. Borek (a filo pastry) and Dondurma (Turkish ice cream), are also popular street foods.
To Understand Istanbul, You Need to Understand Its History
As far as Istanbul tips are concerned, this may seem obvious, but I want to stress the point again. Istanbul is a complicated city of layers. Without knowing much, you’ll still have a wonderful visit to Istanbul (anybody can appreciate the aesthetics of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar, for example), but if you want some depth to your visit, you should do a little reading before you arrive.
For example, I studied the Byzantine Empire extensively when I was living in South Korea (random, I know), and that’s where my fascination with Istanbul came about, as I realized it was essentially a second Rome of sorts, and the seat of Christianity for more than a millennium.
But you also need to know about the sacking of the city in 1452, the Ottoman Empire, and, in my humble opinion, you cannot understand modern day Turkey without understanding the late great Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
I can’t speak for this list being exhaustive, but I try to only talk about things which I know or have read personally, and these are books that guided me in understanding Istanbul and Turkey:
Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescues Civilization by Lars Brownworth
Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières
Atatürk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey by Andrew Mango
Istanbul: Memories and the City - Orhan Pamuk
Portrait of a Turkish Family - Irfan Orga
Poems of Nazım Hikmet - Nâzım Hikmet Ran
Again, there’s plenty more reading you can do, but these are just some of the novels that guided me in my exploration of this beautiful yet complicated city and country.
Go A Little Beyond the Most Common Tourist Attractions and Experiences
You can’t go wrong during your first time visiting Istanbul, but if you have the time to spend a little longer in this city, it’s worth going a little beyond the typical Istanbul tourist trail.
Take public transportation to another part of the city. Take a private Bosphorus cruise for you and your close friends or family. Buy an Istanbul museum pass and visit the Istanbul Modern museum.
Wherever you go that’s a little further from the typical tourist trail, you won’t regret it in this incredible city.
Istanbul is a City of Vantage Points
I know this isn’t necessarily typical “travel advice” for Istanbul, but I think it’s worth knowing this if you’re going to visit Istanbul.
Wherever you can, you should explore an area on the street level, and then get up high to see what you just explored from a different vantage point. Almost every area has this option since it’s such a hilly city.
I’m not just talking about Galata Tower, Çamlıca Hill, or other Istanbul tourist sites, either.
You can get above the action by going to a rooftop bar or restaurant. Balkon was a favourite of mine near the Pera neighbourhood, 360 Istanbul, right off Istiklal also had epic views (though is expensive), the Symbol Nargile Lounge Teras is a great bet in Beyoğlu, Vogue in Beşiktaş and, finally, Seven Hills Restaurant is a good option in Sultanahmet.
Honestly, every area has a spot, and I’m not exaggerating.
If You’ve Got the Time, Take a Day Trip From Istanbul
Bursa is known as a spot to do a little skiing, but I’d say it’s worth the day trip anytime of year. In my humble opinion, it’s one of the most underrated cities in Turkey.
If you’ve only got a few days in Istanbul, then you honestly shouldn’t even be considering a day trip. However, if you’ve got a full week, for example, then it could be something to consider.
One of my favourite days in Istanbul, actually, was a trip I took out to Kilyos shortly after arriving. If you’re a fan of history, then you could consider a day trip to Gallipoli or Troy, though I would say your best bet is to take the ferry to Bursa, spend some time at the Green Mosque and other nearby historical sites, and eat as much Iskender as you can.
Another option is to hop on a plane to ever liberal and cosmopolitan Izmir, or simply check out the Princes’ Islands, which you can see from the shores of Istanbul. Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands is an archipelago of nine islands. I’d probably choose Heybeliada before any other, because of its more relaxed atmosphere, its beaches and swimming, and also some neat cafes and restaurants.
Think About the Best Time to Visit Istanbul
If you do come to Istanbul for the Tulip Festival, head straight to Emirgan Park - it’s amazing!
My general feeling is that you’ve got the chance to come to Istanbul, then you should just take it, but if you’re planning in advance and have some options, there are some times which are better than others.
My personal favourite time to be in Istanbul is in the spring. The Tulip Festival is in full swing, and there’s a fresh energy in the city. I’d say anywhere from March to June here, really.
While summer may be the most convenient time for you to come see Istanbul, I would avoid it if you can. The Bosphorus does ensure that there’s always some breeze in the city, but the heat in the summer can be downright oppressive.
Being a Canadian, I didn’t find the winter too bad, but you should know that if it snows, the city pretty much shuts down. Many of the streets are steep and narrow, which makes it impossible to get around via car. Thankfully, the winter only really lasts a couple of weeks, or maybe a month maximum. Winter runs roughly from mid to late December for to the middle of January.
If you can’t go in the spring, then fall will do just fine, as it is lovely in the fall. If you can get to Istanbul in September especially, it’s gorgeous, but October tends to be nice as well, and even early to mid November is pleasant, especially if you’re from winter climes like me.
If this article was up your alley, you might also want to read about my experience flying First Class with Turkish Airlines or Staying at the Famous Raffles Istanbul Hotel
Embrace the Chaos
I’ve always told people that Istanbul is, in short, “beautiful chaos.” Before people come to Istanbul, I often find they’re concerned it’s going to be too busy, or chaotic, or different. But if the place you were visiting was like the place you just left, there would be no incentive to travel.
If you feel like visiting a city like Istanbul might be outside your comfort zone, that’s even more of a reason to visit. It’s a good thing to feel displaced, or to feel in awe of a place that’s different from your homeland. I’ve always believed that true growth cannot happen within your comfort zone.
Even after a day or two, you’ll find your groove in the pace of life in Istanbul. The secret is to drink as much çay and kahve (Turkish coffee) as the rest of the city, so you’ve got a little kick in your step. You’ll quickly understand why Istanbul is so upbeat and ready to go - it’s a well caffeinated city, and I love it.
I won’t lie, Istanbul is a city that can at times be indifferent to your plight. It’s not a city that’s going to coddle you and hope you like it, but when you understand the movement and the majesty of the city, it’s like you’ve cracked the code and you open the vault to its wonders.
Is Istanbul Safe?
This is the question that I get asked more than any other. Almost every reader and follower that decides to go to Istanbul sends me some query about safety in Istanbul.
Without getting too much into politics and so forth, if you’re asking whether you’re safe to visit Istanbul as a tourist, I wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. If I was offered a plane ticket to go back to Istanbul tomorrow, I would go in a heartbeat, without an ounce of trepidation.
My honest feeling is that the people who are for some reason frightened to travel to Istanbul have literally no idea what the city is like. There are few places in the world where I’ve felt more welcomed than in Istanbul, and that’s largely because of the warmth of the Turkish people. I truly felt at home there.
There are no guarantees in life, but all I can say is that I’ve spent over 1000 days in Istanbul, and I’m just fine, my friends.
And Those Are My Travel Tips for Istanbul
You can probably tell by now that I’m not just passionate about the city, but I’m passionate about encouraging people to visit.
For one reason or another, Istanbul is a city that is shrouded in mystery worldwide, and there are too many people who don’t seem to want to uncover what makes this city tick, largely because they don’t understand what this city even consists of.
There’s something for everyone here. Sure, spend some time at the Istanbul tourist spots, but also realize that you may have just as profound an experience eating Turkish breakfast, or listening to live music at a meyhane.
Ideally, try to spend a full week in the city, and collect as many memories as you can. It’s a city where it’ll take you quite some time digest all those memories, and all that you experienced, but that’s the mark of a truly great city to me. If everything is too cut and dry, too black and white, then, to me, there’s not enough of an underlying intensity to a place.
I hope I’ve answered some questions you may have had honestly, and if you’ve got anymore, just add them below in the comments, and I’ll be sure to help you out.
Many of you know that I have a Turkish tattoo on my wrist that reads, “yavaş yavaş.” It means “slowly, slowly,” and is all about understanding that things take time to materialize, but that we must also respect fate’s plan for us.
And so, my friend, I hope fate brings you to Istanbul, and you find everything you’re looking for.