Istanbul Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors, Türkiye

Are you planning a trip to Istanbul, the largest and most visited city in Türkiye? If so, then we hope you’ll find everything you want to know prior to visiting Istanbul in this travel tips post.

This guide aims to answer every question you might have when visiting Istanbul for the first time, such as how to get to Istanbul and get around this massive city, where to stay, what to eat, the best time to visit and how many days you should plan to spend there.

If you’d like to see what we got up to in the city, then make sure to watch our Istanbul Part 1 and Istanbul Part 2 videos on our YouTube channel. For more Türkiye videos, check out our Türkiye Series.

Introducing Istanbul, Türkiye

The city has a rich history, and it would take us way too long to run through it in its entirety. Instead we’ve collected a few interesting facts about Istanbul, so you can get a feel for the city before we dive into some of our top travel tips:

1. Istanbul isn’t the capital of Türkiye, despite it being the largest city in the country and acting as the capital of many empires throughout history. The capital city is, in fact, Ankara.
2. The city’s name was officially changed from Constantinople to Istanbul in 1930.
3. Istanbul is the only city in the world that’s situated across two different continents: Europe and Asia.
4. The city was built on seven hills to match the seven hills of Rome.
5. Istanbul has more than 15 million residents. This is about 19% of the entire country’s population.
6. Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is the largest covered market in the world.
7. Istanbul Airport (IST) has one of the greatest number of direct flight connections to destinations around the world.
8. Due to the city’s close proximity to the North Anatolian Fault Line, it is prone to frequent earthquakes.
9. Istanbul has a long history of caring for cats that dates back to the Ottomans, and there are several hundred thousand cats roaming Istanbul today.
10. There are over 3,000 mosques in Istanbul, and the city is also home to the largest mosque in Türkiye: Camlica Mosque. 

Is Istanbul Safe to Visit? – Top Istanbul Safety Travel Tips

Istanbul is generally considered a safe city to visit and we never felt unsafe when walking around. However, there are a few things to bear in mind before your visit:

Petty crime and pickpocketing. Istanbul is a huge and very busy city, so make sure to stay vigilant when walking around in busy areas. Unfortunately, pickpocketing isn’t unheard of.

Dress code. Although the majority of the population is Muslim, you can wear what you want on the streets of Istanbul. That being said, if you want to visit mosques, then you’ll need to wear something a little more loose-fitting that covers your arms and legs. If you’re female, then you should also pack a headscarf. On a different note, catcalling can occur on the streets, so you may not want to wear something too revealing.

Natural disasters. Istanbul is prone to earthquakes and tremors thanks to its close proximity to the North Anatolian Fault Line.

Travel warnings. There have been a few terror attacks and political unrest in Istanbul in recent years. It’s always good to check the government’s website and the news for up-to-date information.

Travel Insurance. We never go anywhere without travel insurance, so make sure to buy one prior to your visit too. There are many different companies out there, offering varying levels of cover depending on your needs. We personally use SafetyWing, who offer a high level of coverage at a much more affordable price than most other insurers.

How to Get to Istanbul?

By Plane

Istanbul has two airports: New Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side of the city. Both offer direct flights to many countries around the world, although you’ll have more options at Istanbul Airport.

Istanbul airport is well connected to the city centre by public transport. You can take metro line M11 from the airport to the city centre, and may need one or two changes depending on where you’re staying. You can check out the metro map here. Note that you should buy an Istanbulkart before using public transport in the city.

If you’re arriving to Sabiha Gokcen Airport, then you can take the Havabus shuttle to Kadiköy (Asia side) or Taksim (European side). Of course, you can always use a taxi or a pre-booked transfer, especially if you’re arriving at unfriendly hours.

By Train or By Bus

There are a few trains you can take to get to Istanbul. A popular journey is the Sofia-Istanbul Express, a night train running daily between Sofia in Bulgaria and Istanbul. You can also travel by train between the Romanian capital Bucharest and Istanbul.

If you’re visiting from other European countries, you can take a bus to Istanbul. There are direct Flixbus services from nearby countries such as Romania (Bucharest) and Bulgaria (Sofia). The bus will drop you off at the Bus Station, where you can take a metro, bus or taxi into the centre.

How to Get Around Istanbul?

Istanbul is huge, and if you’d like to save some money on taxi fares, we recommend using public transport. It’s easy to use and pretty efficient. You’ll need to buy an Istanbulkart, which is a one time purchase. Then you can just top up the card and use it to travel on the metro, buses, trams and ferries within the city.

You can use Google Maps to plan your journey to different areas of the city.

• By Metro. Using Istanbul’s metro system will be the fastest way to get around the city. It’s also quite simple to use once you have an Istanbulkart. Click here to check out Istanbul’s metro map.
• By Bus. Another popular way to get around the city is by bus. There are a ton of different bus lines running across Istanbul. It’s a great mode of transport to use if you want to get somewhere that isn’t on the metro lines.
• By Ferry. You’ll most likely use ferries to travel between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. It’s definitely a fun, and also scenic, way to get around Istanbul.
• On Foot. Whenever we can, we enjoy exploring a new place on foot. You can discover so much more whilst walking than by taking taxis everywhere.

Istanbul Travel Tips for Getting Around. We generally recommend getting to your desired neighbourhood by public transport, and then just walking between attractions once you’re there. If you’ve just arrived in the city, it’s always a good idea to join a free walking tour where you won’t just see, but also learn, a lot about Istanbul.

Where to Stay in Istanbul?

As we keep saying, the city is huge. Therefore, it has many different areas you could choose to stay. It depends on how long you’re spending in Istanbul, but one of our travel tips is to base yourself on the European side of the city.

Now, if you want to be close to the main historical attractions, or you only have about 2 days in Istanbul, then book something within the Sultanahmet neighbourhood. If you have about 3 days, and want to be based in the more modern part of the city, close to cafes, bars, restaurants and plenty of attractions, then look for a place in the Beyoglu district.

• Accommodations in the Sultanahmet District of Istanbul.
• Accommodations in the Beyoglu District of Istanbul.

However, if you’re staying in the city for longer, or are looking for something a little cheaper, then you could consider staying somewhere in Balat, just outside the Sultanahmet area, Beşiktaş, just outside Beyoglu district, or even in Kadiköy, on the Asian side of Istanbul.

How Many Days Do You Need in Istanbul?

After spending an entire week in the city, we realised that we could easily have stayed there for a month and still had something new to do every day!

Now, of course, we appreciate that not everyone can stay in Istanbul for longer than a few days. To get a good feel for the city we generally recommend spending a minimum of 3 days. That will allow you to visit the historical area on one day, then explore the modern part of the city on another. On your third day, you can take a ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul.

If you can, then we highly recommend adding an extra day to your itinerary. That way you can venture out to the colourful Balat neighbourhood, visit some of the most beautiful mosques in Istanbul and generally take in everything at a more relaxed pace. Many top attractions such as Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar and Dolmabahce Palace are huge, and could easily take up quite a few hours each.

Based on our experience, we recommend narrowing down your list to what you really want to see and acknowledging the fact that you probably won’t be able to fit everything in on a shorter visit.

Best Time to Visit Istanbul?

Istanbul is a great city break destination all year-round. However, as always there are better and worse times to visit.

The peak season is normally from June to August, especially during the school holidays. Expect bigger crowds, higher temperatures and soaring prices at this time. The winter months are generally a bit gloomier, but you can definitely snag more affordable transport and hotel deals. Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November) are probably the ideal times to visit to balance the crowds, prices and weather conditions.

Another thing you might want to consider before booking is Ramadan. For some, it can be a great opportunity to gain insight into Turkish culture and Islamic traditions. However, note that during Ramadan businesses and eateries will have different opening times, so you need to plan accordingly, as well as being mindful of the local practices.

Best Neighbourhoods to Visit in Istanbul

Istanbul has 39 districts, so it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to visit at first. Below we’ll list the most popular districts and areas that you’ll want to explore as a first timer.

1. European Side of Istanbul (Fatih, Beyoğlu and Beşiktaş)

• Sultanahmet neighbourhood. This is essentially the Historic Centre of Istanbul located within the Fatih district. Most of Istanbul’s top attractions are located here such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Read our dedicated Sultanahmet guide here.
• Eminönü Neighbourhood. This is the area within the Fatih district where you’ll find the Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar and popular mosques such as Süleymaniye Mosque and Rüstem Pasha Mosque.
• Balat and Fener Neighbourhoods. They’re also located within the Fatih district. These areas are some of the most colourful in Istanbul. Read our Balat and Fener guide here.
• Beyoglu District. It is basically the more modern part of Istanbul. You’ll most likely visit some attractions within the Karaköy neighbourhood, such as the Galata Tower, Istiklal Street and Taksim square. Read our Beyoglu district guide here.
• Beşiktaş District. It is where you’ll find Dolmabahce Palace, and the very popular Ortaköy Mosque, along the banks of the Bosphorus Strait.

2. Asian Side of Istanbul (Anatolia)

• Kadiköy Neighbourhood. It is one of the most visited areas on the Asian side of Istanbul. Here you can go on a coastal walk, enjoy some shopping and take a nostalgic tram ride.
• Üsküdar Neighbourhood. It is another popular district to visit on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. You’ll find plenty of stunning landmarks here, such as Beylerbeyi Palace and Camlica Mosque.

Read our one day guide to the Asian side of Istanbul.

What to Eat in Istanbul?

Istanbul has a very diverse food culture, and is a great place to indulge yourself in Turkish cuisine. Below we’ve listed a few foods and drinks you should definitely try during your visit:

Istanbul Travel Tips. Do you want to learn more about Turkish cuisine? Then make sure to book a street food tour to have a fantastic gastronomic experience.

Final Thoughts on Istanbul Travel Tips

We hope you enjoyed reading this Istanbul travel tips post, and that you found it helpful in planning your own trip to this stunning city. Once we got to know the different districts and where everything was located, it was fairly easy to navigate around this massive place. Spending an entire week there definitely allowed us to see a bit more of the city, without having to rush around too much.

Have you ever been to Istanbul before? If so, when and how long did you visit for? What was your overall experience in the city? If not, would you add Istanbul to your bucket list? Let us know in the comments below.