Istanbul Faves 💜🇹🇷
Must see ✨
There are loads and loads of places to visit, but these are the things I always love checking out.
The Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) mosque in Istanbul is amazing.
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Hagia Sofia
No:1 Ayasofya MeydanıThe Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) mosque in Istanbul is amazing.
One of the palaces where Ataturk has lived. It has a beautiful sea front garden where you can enjoy the amazing view over the Bosphorus.
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Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahçe CaddesiOne of the palaces where Ataturk has lived. It has a beautiful sea front garden where you can enjoy the amazing view over the Bosphorus.
Ofcourse the most famous shopping street, where everything is open until 12. It's super busy but you need to see this and walk from-to Taksim Square.
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Istiklal Caddesi
İstiklal CaddesiOfcourse the most famous shopping street, where everything is open until 12. It's super busy but you need to see this and walk from-to Taksim Square.
From here you can do a Bosphorus Tour. Just take one of the boats from the docks.
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Eminönü İskele
From here you can do a Bosphorus Tour. Just take one of the boats from the docks.
Ofcourse a must see, you can't miss the galata tower and enjoy the view.
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Galatatornet
Ofcourse a must see, you can't miss the galata tower and enjoy the view.
Sultan Ahmet Cami
Sultan Ahmet CamiOne of the biggest and most beautiful mosques in Istanbul
Old fortress to check out. You have a nice view on the Bosphorus from here.
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Rumeli Hisarı
Old fortress to check out. You have a nice view on the Bosphorus from here.
İstanbul Üniversitesi Botanik Bahçesi
41 Fetva Ykş.Really nice Botanical garden of Istanbul University.
Gülhane Parkı
Gülhane ParkıLovely park to chill after walking around in this area.
You need to get to the other side of the city but this is one of the most amazing views over Istanbul. It’s best to reach by Taxi. You can just ask for “Camlica tepesi” and they will bring you there. On top there is a restaurant funded by the government, so it’s super cheap and the food is okay. A lot of locals come here, you won’t spot that many tourists.
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Çamlıca Tepesi yolu
Çamlıca Tepesi yoluYou need to get to the other side of the city but this is one of the most amazing views over Istanbul. It’s best to reach by Taxi. You can just ask for “Camlica tepesi” and they will bring you there. On top there is a restaurant funded by the government, so it’s super cheap and the food is okay. A lot of locals come here, you won’t spot that many tourists.
Best area's 📍
As you can see on the map, Istanbul is HUGE. Some area's are filled with tourists others are a bit more local. I would recommend to check out these area's on both the Europian and Asian side.
Karaköy is a very hip and chill place to go for dinner, a drink, local shopping or just a walk.
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Karaköy
Karaköy is a very hip and chill place to go for dinner, a drink, local shopping or just a walk.
Kadikoy is one of the upcoming really chill places on the Asian side of Istanbul. I love walking around here. I have my favorite coffee places. Just going there by ferry is already one of the best things to do.
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Moda
Kadikoy is one of the upcoming really chill places on the Asian side of Istanbul. I love walking around here. I have my favorite coffee places. Just going there by ferry is already one of the best things to do.
This is one of the most popular areas in Beyoglu. Cool hip coffee places and more chill bars for a drink in the evening. It's a bit more steep/hilly walking around here. The neighborhood is quite green so it's lovely to walk around here and enjoy a drink and snack.
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Cihangir
This is one of the most popular areas in Beyoglu. Cool hip coffee places and more chill bars for a drink in the evening. It's a bit more steep/hilly walking around here. The neighborhood is quite green so it's lovely to walk around here and enjoy a drink and snack.
A very colourfull cozy area with many cute little shops, vintage stores, coffee places. Cafe Naftalin is a very cute place, they have nice herbal teas you can try.
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Balat
A very colourfull cozy area with many cute little shops, vintage stores, coffee places. Cafe Naftalin is a very cute place, they have nice herbal teas you can try.
This is the area to try the famous dish "Kumpir" which is a big potato filled with cheese and everything you want.
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Ortaköy
This is the area to try the famous dish "Kumpir" which is a big potato filled with cheese and everything you want.
Good for shopping, there is a luxury brand shopping street called "Nisantasi".
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Beşiktaş
Good for shopping, there is a luxury brand shopping street called "Nisantasi".
Coffee & Pastries ☕️
Karabatak
A very nice coffee place on a corner. Just sitting there watching people walk by, play with the cats and dogs around is great. The inside of the store looks amazing.
Karaali Kaptan Sk. No:7
7 Karaali Kaptan SokakKarabatak
A very nice coffee place on a corner. Just sitting there watching people walk by, play with the cats and dogs around is great. The inside of the store looks amazing.
In the colorful streets of Balat, you will find this place. The interior and terrace are lovely. I can just sit there, drink my herbal tea and watch the people passing or read a book. They have really nice teas!
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Cafe Naftalin
No:27/A Yıldırım Cd.In the colorful streets of Balat, you will find this place. The interior and terrace are lovely. I can just sit there, drink my herbal tea and watch the people passing or read a book. They have really nice teas!
Amazing coffee place and bakery. They make nice bread, cakes, cookies etc. It smells amazing and you just want to eat everything.
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Cuppa
22 Yeni Yuva Sk.Amazing coffee place and bakery. They make nice bread, cakes, cookies etc. It smells amazing and you just want to eat everything.
This is one of the cutest coffee places in Istanbul. I just have to visit this place EVERY time I go. Their home made cakes and cookies are sooo delicious. They have these tiny cookies with tahin in it. Definitely a must try.
Fahriye Cafe
This is one of the cutest coffee places in Istanbul. I just have to visit this place EVERY time I go. Their home made cakes and cookies are sooo delicious. They have these tiny cookies with tahin in it. Definitely a must try.
Foood 🍽
On the streets around Karakoy en Eminonu, there are local fish guys selling wraps/bread with freshly caught fish. You need to try that. It’s sooooo good.
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Karaköy Pier
No:13 Rıhtım Cd.On the streets around Karakoy en Eminonu, there are local fish guys selling wraps/bread with freshly caught fish. You need to try that. It’s sooooo good.
The gozleme here is great, it's hard to find a place like this in Istanbul so you must try!
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Yiğit Sofram Gözleme ve Kahvaltı
31 A Yeni Yuva Sk.The gozleme here is great, it's hard to find a place like this in Istanbul so you must try!
The view of this restaurant is really good! The food is delicious as well. They have a dish called Alinazik, it's with chicken and eggplant. One of my faves.
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Hamdi Restaurant Eminönü
No:11 Kalçin Sk.The view of this restaurant is really good! The food is delicious as well. They have a dish called Alinazik, it's with chicken and eggplant. One of my faves.
The breakfast at this place is amazing. It's not too much, but still a Turkish style full table breakfast. Their food is mostly made home made, like their bread, jams or hazelnutspread (WHICH I LOVE).
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Cafe Privato Restaurant
No:3 Tımarcı Sk.The breakfast at this place is amazing. It's not too much, but still a Turkish style full table breakfast. Their food is mostly made home made, like their bread, jams or hazelnutspread (WHICH I LOVE).
I would say this comes closest to my moms food in Istanbul. It's super cheap to eat here and the food is just great. For 30 TL you can pick 5 dishes and they are all home and freshly made. Tip: the chicken pie, filled zucchini and beans are my faves.
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Helvetia
No:8 General Yazgan Sk.I would say this comes closest to my moms food in Istanbul. It's super cheap to eat here and the food is just great. For 30 TL you can pick 5 dishes and they are all home and freshly made. Tip: the chicken pie, filled zucchini and beans are my faves.
it’s not the easiest place to reach but the vibe in this place is so nice. The food is pretty good, you can get everything from breakfast to dinner. They have a dessert called ask-i-memnu, it’s really good (but heavy). The location is amazing next to the water, you can almost touch the water.
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Aşşk Kahve
No:64 Muallim Naci Caddesi it’s not the easiest place to reach but the vibe in this place is so nice. The food is pretty good, you can get everything from breakfast to dinner. They have a dessert called ask-i-memnu, it’s really good (but heavy). The location is amazing next to the water, you can almost touch the water.
On this boulevard you can find local fisherman selling grilled fish in a durum. They are literally standing on the street with a small grill. It's one of the best streetfood dishes you can get in Istanbul. Your fish won't get fresher than this. You basically get a durum with fish and onion, the classic Turkish way to eat your "Balik ekmek".
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Rıhtım Caddesi
Rıhtım CaddesiOn this boulevard you can find local fisherman selling grilled fish in a durum. They are literally standing on the street with a small grill. It's one of the best streetfood dishes you can get in Istanbul. Your fish won't get fresher than this. You basically get a durum with fish and onion, the classic Turkish way to eat your "Balik ekmek".
YUMMA
17/B Fırıldak Sk.Nice breakfast spot in Moda!
They make the best Turkish “Kuru pasta (Turkish traditional cookies) I have tried in Istanbul. My favourite is the one with “Tahin” in it. If you like sesame, you need to try it. Also their baked goods like traditional limit (round sesame bread) are great. It’s one of those very old little traditional bakeries. This is more of a “to go” place, they have only 2-3 chairs.
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cihangir tarihi simit fırini
Türkgücü CaddesiThey make the best Turkish “Kuru pasta (Turkish traditional cookies) I have tried in Istanbul. My favourite is the one with “Tahin” in it. If you like sesame, you need to try it. Also their baked goods like traditional limit (round sesame bread) are great. It’s one of those very old little traditional bakeries. This is more of a “to go” place, they have only 2-3 chairs.
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Get an Istanbul card
From any metro and tramstation you can get a ready to use Istanbul OV card. You can just put credit on it (cash only) and use it as long and as much as you want. It will stay valid forever :)
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Tram & metro are easy to travel with
I would suggest avoiding taxi's and just walk and use public transport as much as possible. It's pretty easy. There is a tram line T1 that goes from Bağcılar - Kabatas and back ofcourse. You can reach topkapi, the mosques and Dolmabahce sarayi with this tram.
There is a "Tunel" metro, that takes you from Karakoy to Istiklal street. There are no stops it's just goes from A-B and it's an easy way to get to Istiklal street.
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Appreciate the Cats
Just take one day to walk around and keep an eye out on the street cats. There are so many and the locals actually take care of them. If you are a catlover you will definitely enjoy looking at them en taking pictures.
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Take a ferry from Europian to Asian side
Traveling to the other sides of Istanbul is best doable with a Ferry. Make sure to sit outside to enjoy the view. Usually there is someone walking around offering tea. Just sitting there and drinking your tea is amazing.
You can go from:
Karakoy - Uskudar
Karakoy & Eminonu - Kadikoy
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Public transport app "Citymapp"
Super user-friendly app that shows all possible public transport options.