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Flight price per month

Per person in euros: cheapest direct return flight for 2 to 4 nights. Select a month for flight times, hotels and things to do.

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Discover Istanbul

Galata Tower, Istanbul
Galata Tower
Blue Mosque, Istanbul
Blue Mosque

City guide

About Istanbul

Istanbul spans two continents across the legendary waters of the Bosphorus Strait, uniting Europe on the west with Asia on the east. The historic capital of three successive global empires (Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman), it stands among the world's most compelling metropolises.

Urban life is an enchanting synthesis of imperial grandeur and contemporary dynamism: monumental domes and slender minarets punctuate the skyline, historic ferries crisscross the strait between continents, and the vibrant lanes of Beyoglu and Kadikoy hum with specialty coffee shops, open-air seafood markets, and art spaces.

Best time to go
Spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) offer the most pleasant conditions, with sunny skies, comfortable temperatures between 20 and 24°C, and fresh maritime breezes. In April, the city hosts the colorful International Tulip Festival. July and August are warm and humid. Winter can be cold with coastal winds, rain, and occasional dustings of snow.
From the airport
Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side sits 40 kilometres northwest of the city. Metro Line M11 links the airport directly to the urban subway network at Gayrettepe (transfer to Line M2 for Taksim). Comfortable Havaist express coaches run frequently to hubs including Taksim and Kadikoy. Taxis generally cost between 35 and 45 euros.
Getting around
Public transport is clean, extensive, and picturesque: modern subways, historic street trams, funiculars, and iconic Bosphorus passenger ferries connecting continents for standard transit fare. Purchase an Istanbulkart reloadable transit card at any major station or ferry pier upon arrival.

What to see in Istanbul

  • Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)A 6th-century masterpiece of Byzantine architecture featuring an immense hovering dome, gold-leaf mosaics, and imperial marble columns, later serving as an imperial mosque.
  • Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)The monumental 17th-century imperial mosque facing Hagia Sophia, celebrated for its six soaring minarets and thousands of handmade blue Iznik ceramic tiles.
  • Topkapi PalaceThe opulent palace complex from which Ottoman sultans governed an empire for four hundred years, set amidst serene gardens overlooking the Bosphorus and Golden Horn.
  • Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi) and Basilica CisternWander through one of the world's oldest covered markets with thousands of artisan stalls, and descend into the subterranean Byzantine water cistern lit by hundreds of marble columns.

Neighbourhoods

  • SultanahmetThe historic peninsula where Istanbul's greatest Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks stand within easy walking distance of one another.
  • Beyoglu, Karakoy, and GalataAcross the Golden Horn: steep cobblestone lanes around the medieval Galata Tower, independent design ateliers, and the vibrant pedestrian boulevard of Istiklal Street.
  • Kadikoy and ModaOn the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, reached by a scenic ferry ride: a bustling neighborhood of food markets, relaxed waterfront parks, and creative indie cafes.

Food and drink

Pick up a warm sesame-crusted simit bread ring from a street vendor cart. Eat a freshly grilled mackerel sandwich (balik ekmek) beside the Galata Bridge, sample traditional meze platters paired with anise-flavored raki, and savor classic doner and charcoal-grilled kebabs. Finish with flaky pistachio baklava and freshly brewed Turkish tea (cay) served in a delicate tulip-shaped glass.

Questions about Istanbul

What is the best way to cross from Europe to Asia in Istanbul?

Take a public passenger ferry from Eminonu or Karakoy across to Kadikoy. The voyage takes twenty minutes, costs standard transit fare, and offers breathtaking views of the city skyline.

What is the dress code when visiting mosques in Istanbul?

Remove your shoes before entering. Men and women should have shoulders and knees covered. Women are also required to cover their hair with a headscarf, which is often provided at the entrance if needed.

Month by month breakdown

Fotocredits (3)
  • Hagia Sophia door Adli Wahid, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Galata Tower door A.Savin, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Blue Mosque door Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons