Balat
Balat is a historic neighborhood on the Golden Horn, the former Jewish and Greek quarter of Istanbul, now a colorful district of painted houses, antique shops, cafes in converted warehouses, and the Chora Church nearby. Free to walk.
City in Turkey
Istanbul
36 things to see
Few great cities reward a tight budget like Istanbul, where the public ferry across the Bosphorus costs only a few coins yet ranks among the best sightseeing rides anywhere, carrying you between Europe and Asia. The Blue Mosque is free to enter, and Sultanahmet Square, the Grand Bazaar, and the spice market cost nothing to wander. Gülhane Park near Topkapi Palace is a free green escape, and the Pierre Loti Hill area gives sweeping views over the Golden Horn without a ticket. Cross to the Asian side and the neighborhoods of Kadikoy and Uskudar are free to explore, and a simit (sesame bread ring) from a street cart fills you up for almost nothing. Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable weather and lower prices than the peak summer crush. From here, Bursa, Izmir, and the capital Ankara are all reachable by long-distance bus for budget onward travel.
What to see
Things to do in Istanbul
What each one costs, where the cost is known.
Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is a vast underground water storage chamber from the 6th century, supported by 336 marble columns in atmospheric low lighting. Entry costs a modest fee.
Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) is free to enter and famous for over 20,000 handmade Iznik tiles covering the interior. Visitors enter outside of prayer times through a side entrance.
Bosphorus Public Ferry
The cheapest way to "cruise" the Bosphorus is the public commuter ferry that runs between the European and Asian sides. A crossing from Eminonu to Kadikoy or Uskudar costs the same as a bus ride (a few lira with an Istanbulkart).
Chora Church
The Chora Church (Kariye Mosque) is a Byzantine church in the city walls district, famous for its 14th-century mosaics and frescoes that are considered among the finest surviving examples of Byzantine art. Entry conditions vary (it has alternated between museum and mosque status).
Ciragan Palace
Ciragan Palace is a 19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus waterfront between Ortakoy and Besiktas, now operating as a luxury hotel. Free to view from the outside and the Bosphorus shoreline walk.
Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahce Palace is the 19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus waterfront, built to rival the palaces of Europe. Entry is paid.
Eminonu District
Bustling waterfront district at the mouth of the Golden Horn where ferries, fish sandwich boats, and street vendors converge. The energy here is relentless from morning until late evening.
Fener Greek Patriarchate
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Fener neighborhood is the spiritual headquarters of Orthodox Christianity worldwide. Free to enter.
Galata Bridge
Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn and is one of Istanbul's most iconic free experiences. Fishermen line the upper deck casting lines into the water below, while the lower deck is packed with cheap fish restaurants.
Galata Tower
The Galata Tower is a medieval stone tower rising above the rooftops of Beyoglu on the European side. Entry to the observation deck is paid.
German Fountain
Ornate octagonal fountain gifted by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1901 to mark his visit to Istanbul. The domed canopy glitters with gold mosaic and sits at the northern end of the Hippodrome.
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, with over 4,000 shops spread across 61 covered streets. Entry is free.
Grand Bazaar Interior
The Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, with over 4,000 shops in 61 covered streets. Free to enter.
Gulhane Park
Gulhane Park was once part of the outer gardens of Topkapi Palace, now a public park shaded by old plane trees and cedars. Free.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is one of the most important buildings in human history, serving as a cathedral for nearly a thousand years before becoming a mosque, then a museum, and a mosque again. Entry is free.
Hippodrome of Constantinople
The Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) was the chariot-racing arena of Byzantine Constantinople, now an open park between the Blue Mosque and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. Free.
Istanbul Archaeological Museums
The Istanbul Archaeological Museums are a complex of three museums in the first courtyard of Topkapi Palace: the main Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Tiled Kiosk Museum. Entry is paid at a modest price.
Istiklal Avenue
Istiklal Avenue is Istanbul's main pedestrian boulevard, running from Taksim Square to the Galata Tower end, with a nostalgic red tram rattling down its center. Free to walk.
Kadikoy
Kadikoy is the commercial heart of Istanbul's Asian side, a bustling neighborhood of markets, street food, bookshops, and vintage stores reached by a cheap ferry from Eminonu. Free to walk.
Miniaturk
Miniaturk is an outdoor miniature park on the Golden Horn with 1:25 scale models of 122 architectural landmarks from Turkey and the former Ottoman territories: mosques, palaces, churches, bridges, and ruins. Entry is paid at a modest price.
New Mosque
The New Mosque (Yeni Cami) stands at the foot of the Galata Bridge next to the Spice Bazaar. Free to enter.
Obelisk of Theodosius
Ancient Egyptian obelisk erected in the Hippodrome in 390 AD by Emperor Theodosius. Originally carved around 1450 BC, the marble pedestal at its base depicts scenes from the imperial box.
Ortakoy
Ortakoy is a waterfront neighborhood beneath the Bosphorus Bridge on the European side, with a baroque mosque right on the water, a weekend craft market, and waffle stalls. Free to walk.
Pierre Loti Viewpoint
The Pierre Loti viewpoint sits on a hilltop above the Eyup district at the far end of the Golden Horn, named after the French writer who frequented the cafe here. Free to visit.
Princes' Islands
The Princes' Islands are a group of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara, reachable by cheap public ferry from Kadikoy or Eminonu. The largest island, Buyukada, is car-free (horse carriages were recently replaced by electric vehicles) with Victorian-era wooden mansions, pine forests, swimming spots, and a hilltop monastery.
Rustem Pasha Mosque
Rustem Pasha Mosque is a small 16th-century mosque hidden above the shops near the Spice Bazaar, designed by the architect Sinan. Free.
Serpentine Column
Bronze column cast from melted Persian weapons after the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC. Constantine brought it from Delphi to Constantinople, and the weathered stump still stands in the Hippodrome.
Sirkeci Train Station
Sirkeci Station was the eastern terminus of the Orient Express, the end of the rail line from Paris. Free to enter.
Sogukcessme Street
Narrow Ottoman street of restored wooden houses squeezed between Hagia Sophia and the outer walls of Topkapi Palace. Walking the cobblestones feels like stepping into a quieter layer of the old city.
Spice Bazaar
The Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) is smaller and more manageable than the Grand Bazaar, with stalls piled high with dried fruits, Turkish delight, teas, and spices. Entry is free, and the free samples alone can constitute a snack.
Suleymaniye Mosque Complex
The Suleymaniye Complex is not just the mosque but an entire Ottoman social welfare system: a mosque, a hospital, a soup kitchen, a bath, a school, and a cemetery, all designed by the architect Sinan in the 1550s. Free.
Süleymaniye Mosque
The Süleymaniye Mosque is the masterwork of the architect Sinan and arguably more beautiful than the Blue Mosque, with far fewer crowds. Entry is free.
Taksim Square
Taksim Square is the modern heart of Istanbul's European side, anchored by the Republic Monument and the starting point of Istiklal Avenue. Free.
Topkapı Palace
Topkapı Palace was the seat of Ottoman power for nearly four centuries, sprawling across a hilltop overlooking the Bosphorus. Entry is paid, with the Harem section requiring a separate ticket.
Uskudar
Uskudar is the main waterfront neighborhood on Istanbul's Asian side, reached by a cheap ferry from Eminonu. Free to walk.
On foot
Walks and free tours in Istanbul
Tip-based tours and self-guided routes, which is usually the cheapest orientation there is.
Bosphorus Shoreline Walk
The Bosphorus Shoreline Walk follows the European waterfront from the Ortakoy neighborhood toward Bebek, passing Ottoman-era wooden mansions, waterfront cafes, and views across to the Asian shore. Free and one of the best self-guided walks in Istanbul.
Istanbul Old Town Free Tour
The Istanbul Old Town Free Tour is a tip-based guided walking tour covering the heart of the historic peninsula, including a mosque visit and the Grand Bazaar area. For budget travelers arriving in a city that spans two continents, it is the single most efficient way to orient in 2.5 hours.
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