Istanbul was one of those cities I kept meaning to visit and somehow never quite got to. When I finally went, I spent the first day slightly annoyed at myself for waiting so long. This city is extraordinary. It’s the only city in the world that straddles two continents, and you feel that duality everywhere: in the architecture, the food, the energy, the history. Byzantine mosaics inside Ottoman mosques. A bazaar that has been trading for 500 years. A Bosphorus strait where container ships glide past waterfront palaces at sunset.
There’s nowhere else in Europe, or Asia, quite like it. Here’s what to put on your Istanbul bucket list.
VISITING ISTANBUL: THE ESSENTIALS
✈️ Getting There / Istanbul Airport (IST) is one of Europe’s busiest hubs with direct flights from most UK airports. Book a private airport transfer with WelcomePickups: the airport is 45 minutes from the city centre, and having a transfer pre-booked means you don’t have to deal with taxi negotiation on arrival. Search for flights on Skyscanner.
🚇 Getting Around / Get an Istanbulkart, the rechargeable transport card that works on all metro, tram, ferry, bus, and funicular lines. Buy it at yellow machines in metro stations and ferry terminals. If you need a taxi, use the BiTaksi app rather than flagging one down — it’s the local equivalent of Uber and avoids the risk of being overcharged.
🎟️ Tours / Istanbul rewards a guided tour, especially for the history-heavy sites. The best ones to book in advance:
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table
Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, & Hagia Sophia Tour
Topkapi Palace & Harem Museum Ticket & Audio Guide
European and Asian Side Guided Foodie Walking Tour
Bursa and Uludag Tour with Lunch & Cable Car
Private Turkish Bath, Massage, and Spa in Old City
Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop with Drinks & Snacks
🏨 Stay / Sultanahmet puts you closest to the main sights; Beyoğlu and Karaköy are better for nightlife and the food scene:
Budget: Hotel Almina
Mid-range: Hotel Ibrahim Pasha
Splurge: Çırağan Palace Kempinski
🚗 Car Rental / Not recommended within the city as traffic is chaotic. Useful if you’re planning a road trip to Cappadocia, the Aegean, or the Black Sea coast after Istanbul. Compare rates on DiscoverCars.
📱 Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Turkey, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!). I always use Sim Local, and you can get 5% discount with code TRAVELWITHPAU. Get it here.
🛡️ Get Insured / Things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for over 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Istanbul Bucket List: 30 Things to Do
1. Start with a Walking Tour
I usually start all my big city trips with a walking tour so I can plan my remaining time more efficiently. Istanbul especially rewards this approach: the history spans 2,700 years across two continents and three empires (Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman) and trying to make sense of it without a guide is genuinely overwhelming. A walking tour on day one contextualises everything you’ll see for the rest of your trip. The Istanbul Highlights Walking Tour covers the Sultanahmet district, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace with a knowledgeable local guide. Worth every penny.