Istanbul City Center Travel Guide

Istanbul

Istanbul City Center
Hagia Sophia featuring heritage architecture, a church or cathedral and a city
Basilica Cistern showing religious aspects, interior views and a church or cathedral
Galata Tower featuring a ferry, skyline and a river or creek
Hagia Sophia which includes interior views, views and religious elements

Experience the bustling atmosphere of the beating heart of Istanbul, with its splendid mix of cosmopolitan and historical attractions.

Visit Istanbul City Center to find a neighborhood full of opportunities. Go clubbing and shopping in Taksim, enjoy epic views of Istanbul and the Golden Horn from a famous tower and discover quirky museums.

The neighborhood fans out from the famous transportation hub of Taksim Square. Starting at the square’s imposing Monument of the Republic, you can take your pick from several museums and cultural centers before seeing more of the district.

Stroll along İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), Istanbul’s main shopping street. This seemingly endless pedestrian mall packs a lot in, from modern clothes shops to stunning art nouveau buildings and hip little bars. Take the funicular tram to speed up your journey along the street. It brings you to the 15th-century Galata Tower, which you can climb to enjoy some of Istanbul’s most epic vistas.

If you have the time and energy, however, it’s nicer to walk the length of the street. This allows you to take little side trips to find hidden treasures, such as the Balik Pazari (Fish Market) near Galatasaray Square. Nearby, the Cicek Pasaji (The Flower Courtyard) is a nice place to have lunch.

Go see where Agatha Christi wrote Murder on The Orient Express by strolling to the heritage-listed Pera Palace Hotel. Also don’t miss the nearby Pera Museum with its treasure trove of art in the Beyoğlu district. The Old Galata and Pera districts of the Istanbul City Center were already inhabited during the days of the Byzantine Empire and there are many more historical buildings to see here.

Hidden in the backstreets of Çukurcuma, wedged between İstiklal Avenue and Tophane, you can find the quirky Museum of Innocence which is based on a novel.

Leave the Istanbul City Center behind by crossing the Galata Bridge. Enjoy a fresh fish roll in one of the bridge’s popular seafood restaurants as you watch the sun go down. From the other end of the bridge you can explore the Sultanahmet district, home to the famous Blue Mosque.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Istanbul City Center

The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul

The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul

5 out of 5
Suzer Plaza, Askerocagi Caddesi, No:6, Elmadag/Sisli, Istanbul
The price is £202 per night from 7 Aug to 8 Aug
£202
7 Aug - 8 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,010 reviews)
"It was a excellent"

Reviewed on 13 Jul 2025

The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul
InterContinental Istanbul by IHG

InterContinental Istanbul by IHG

5 out of 5
Asker Ocagi Cad No: 1 Taksim, Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is £152 per night from 7 Aug to 8 Aug
£152
7 Aug - 8 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy an outdoor pool, a full-service spa and 3 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,007 reviews)
"The staffs are wonderful, the hotel is a classic and the location is fantastic."

Reviewed on 14 Jul 2025

InterContinental Istanbul by IHG
Carina Gold Hotel and Restaurant

Carina Gold Hotel and Restaurant

4 out of 5
Türbedar Sk. 20, Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is £84 per night from 19 Jul to 20 Jul
£84
19 Jul - 20 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (449 reviews)
"The Carina Gold Hotel is FABULOUS!!! First, the staff is warm, friendly and incredibly helpful. Second, the hotel is clean and comfortable. The air conditioning works well and the breakfast is worth the earlier wake up. Finally, the location can’t be beat. There hotel us between two tram stops, one ..."

Reviewed on 13 Jul 2025

Carina Gold Hotel and Restaurant
Sultanhan Hotel - Special Class

Sultanhan Hotel - Special Class

Piyer Loti Cad No:7, Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is £113 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
£113
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,011 reviews)
Highly Recommend!
"Highly recommend the Sultanhan Hotel! We were totally unfamiliar with Istanbul, so we took a chance on this booking and it worked out wonderfully. The location is as stated, walking distance to major destinations, including the Grand Bazaar and Blue Mosque, lots of shops and restaurants nearby, but ..."

Reviewed on 12 Jul 2025

Sultanhan Hotel - Special Class
Pera Palace Hotel

Pera Palace Hotel

Mesrutiyet Cad. No. 52, Tepebasi Beyoglu, Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is £177 per night from 6 Aug to 7 Aug
£177
6 Aug - 7 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 2 coffee shops/cafes. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,001 reviews)
"Wq"

Reviewed on 8 Jul 2025

Pera Palace Hotel
Ottoman's Life Hotel Deluxe

Ottoman's Life Hotel Deluxe

5 out of 5
Molla Gürani Cd., Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is £86 per night from 28 Jul to 29 Jul
£86
28 Jul - 29 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 indoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (767 reviews)
"Very clean hotel. Close to tram station and metro station is five minutes walk away. Across the doad is modern shopping mall with a food court with good selection of food joints."

Reviewed on 12 Jul 2025

Ottoman's Life Hotel Deluxe
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Istanbul City Center

Istanbul which includes a city, a marina and a sunset

Fatih

4.5/5(1,512 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Fatih. Sultanahmet Square is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Aksaray Station or Yusufpasa Station to see more of Istanbul.

Fatih
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Sirkeci

Travellers choose Sirkeci for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Sirkeci Station or Eminonu Station and check out top sights like Topkapi Palace.

Sirkeci
Galata Tower featuring cruising, general coastal views and a city

Galata

Travellers choose Galata for its abundant dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Sishane-Zemin Metro Station or Karakoy Tünel Station and check out top sights like Galata Tower.

Galata
Galata Tower featuring a bay or harbour, night scenes and a ferry

Karaköy

Spend some time visiting places like Galata Tower while getting to know Karaköy, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Karakoy Station or Karakoy Tünel Station to see more of the area.

Karaköy
Galata Tower featuring a bay or harbour, night scenes and a ferry

Beyoğlu

Enjoy the popular shops in Beyoğlu. Taksim Square is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Sishane-Zemin Metro Station or Tophane Station to see more of Istanbul.

Beyoğlu
Blue Mosque which includes a fountain, a mosque and a pond

Sultanahmet

Gourmet restaurants interesting history and top sights from Sultanahmet Square to Hagia Sophia – discover Sultanahmet, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Sultanahmet


Istanbul City Center Travel Guide

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