Free things to do in Istanbul

50 places in Istanbul with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 50.

Photo: Tadam, CC0 (licence)

SeeHistoric churchHistorical Peninsula
Kariye Mosque
Chora Church
Chora means countryside, and when built as a monastery in the 4th century it stood outside the Constantine walls; a century later, it was incorporated into the Theodosian walls. It was rebuilt in the 11th century then wrecked by an earthquake, so the structure and fabulous mosaics you see now are from the 14th century. When the church was converted to a mosque in 1500 the mosaics were plastered over, and only restored in 1958 when it became a museum. In 2020 it was again proclaimed a mosque but here (unlike Fethiye Mosque) they saw the sense and tourist income of preserving the mosaics. About 15 minutes before prayer times, visitors are sent out and (if they have kept their ticket) can come back around half an hour later through the main entrance. Those who attend prayer are sent out after prayer; they cannot stay to visit and can only access the parts of the chora that lead to the prayer room.
Sat-Thu 09:00-18:00Free for Turkish citizens, 20€ for everyone else · Heritage listed · Wheelchair accessible
SeeAttractionEuropean Bosphorus
Yıldız Palace
Yıldız Sarayı
A vast complex of former imperial Ottoman pavilions and villas in Istanbul, Turkey, built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was used as a residence by the Sultan and his court in the late 19th century.
08:00–19:00 during summer, and till 17:00 during winterFree
SeeMuseumGalata
Museum of Innocence
Masumiyet Müzesi
Opened in 2012, this museum is unique and a must-see when you are in the Beyoğlu area. It was created by Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk alongside a novel of the same name. It tells the love story of the two main characters from the novel, and represents life in Istanbul during the late 1970s to early 1980s, as it exhibits thousands of objects from that era.
Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-21:0040 TL, 30 TL students, free admission on presentation of the novel
SeeAttractionHistorical Peninsula
Fatih Mosque
The original mosque was built between 1463-1470 by the Greek architect Atik Sinan, by order of Sultan Mehmet II the Conqueror, on the site of the former Church of the Holy Apostles, which had served as Byzantine Imperial burial place for a thousand years. The grand complex with eight medreses, a library, hospital, hospice, caravanserai, market, hamam, primary school and public soup kitchen was smashed again and again by earthquakes, and the present building is from 1771 to a different design. The interior is lavish, and outside is the ornate tomb of Mehmet II and his wife Gülbahar Hatun.
Free
SeeMuseumHistorical Peninsula
Fethiye Mosque
Pammakaristos Church
The Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos ("All-Blessed Mother of God") was built between the 11th and 12th centuries. The parekklesion or side-chapel was added maybe 1300, with rich mosaics. The main building became a mosque in 1591, named for Sultan Murad III's conquest (fetih, hence Fethiye) of Georgia and Azerbaijan: the interior was opened up, but the chapel was undisturbed and in modern times became a museum. In 2020 the entire building was proclaimed a mosque, and every scrap of Byzantine artistry was covered up, so now there's nothing worth seeing.
Free
SeeHistoric siteHistorical Peninsula
Little Hagia Sophia
Kücük Ayasofya Camii
Built as the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus around 530 AD, the same time as Hagia Sophia, but their styles differ. Transformed into a mosque in the early 1500s, it's beautifully decorated, with fine marble details, and has a pleasanter atmosphere than the larger busy mosques. The adjoining madrasa houses craft shops.
Sat-Thu 09:30-20:30, Fri 14:30-20:30Free
SeeHistoric siteHistorical Peninsula
Sultanahmet Mosque
Blue Mosque
The defining image of Istanbul, dominating the skyline with its great dome and six minarets. Completed in 1617 for Sultan Ahmed I, it's still a working mosque, so dress appropriately and avoid prayer times. Enter via the courtyard on the SW side. You step (shoeless) into the blue-tiled prayer hall beneath the main dome and its semi-domes. The mihrab is of finely carved marble, well-lit, and the minbar (pulpit) next to it is visible from almost all parts.
Closed · opens 9 am tomorrowFree
SeeMuseumNew City
Atatürk Museum
Atatürk Müzesi
A historic 3-storey house, easily distinguishable among the modern apartment buildings thanks to its brightly coloured and gracefully decorated exterior. This is where the future founder of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Atatürk rented in 1919 while staying in Istanbul before setting sail to Samsun on the Black Sea coast to start the Turkish War of Independence. Hosts Atatürk-related paraphernalia and photos.
Mon-Wed Fri Sat 09:00-16:00Free · Free entry · Wi-Fi
SeeAttractionHistorical Peninsula
Rüstem Pasha Mosque
Built in 1564 by Mimar Sinan for Rüstem Pasha, Grand Vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent, this small mosque has an interior covered by beautiful Iznik pottery, then at its zenith.
Daily 06:00-21:30Free · Wheelchair accessible
SeeRailway museumHistorical Peninsula
Istanbul Railway Museum
İstanbul Demiryolu Müzesi
Housed in the Europe-side railway terminus of 1890, this exhibits Ottoman and modern Turkish railway history. The Orient Express came and went from here, with passengers for further east transferring to ferries then the Asia-side terminus of Haydarpaşa, for trains to Crimea, Baghdad and Damascus.
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, last entry 16:40Free · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistoric siteHistorical Peninsula
Molla Zeyrek Mosque
This is a triple structure: the church of the Monastery of Pantokrator built 1118, then a public church circa 1136 plus a chapel that served as a royal mausoleum. It became a mosque and medresse in Ottoman times, but without massive alteration so it's a prime example of middle-Byzantine architecture. It's nowadays again a mosque, photogenic by day or dusk but the area should be avoided at night.
24 hoursFree · Built 1124
SeeHistory museumEuropean Bosphorus
Linden Palace
Ihlamur Kasrı
A 19th-century neo-Baroque manor built as an imperial summer retreat in a valley, named after the linden grove in its grounds.
Free
SeeHistorical Peninsula
Süleymaniye Mosque
On top of a hill overlooking the Golden Horn, this is a magnificent mosque built by Sinan in the 1550s. It was centrepiece of a large külliye, a religious complex which included madrasas, a public kitchen and a hospital.. The small cemetery east has the mausoleums of Suleiman the Magnificent and of his wife Hurrem Sultan or Roxelana.
Sat-Thu 08:30-17:00, Fri 08:30-13:30Free
SeeMuseumGalata
Adam Mickiewicz Museum
A historic house museum dedicated to the life of Adam Mickiewicz, renowned Polish poet. This is where he lived while in Turkey from September 1855 to 26 November 1855, when he died of illness.
Daily 09:00-19:00Free
SeeHistoric siteHistorical Peninsula
Nuruosmaniye Mosque
Built 1748-55, this launched the style we call Ottoman Baroque, with its grand central dome and pencil-thin minarets. It was copied throughout their empire and is replicated in new mosques even today. The name means "light of the Ottomans," and the interior uses light powdery decor, bathed with much more natural light than its gloomier classical predecessors. The complex also has a madrasa and the imaret (public soup kitchen).
Free
SeeHistorical Peninsula
Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque
Sokollu Mehmet Pasha was the grand vizier and de facto ruler of the Ottoman Empire during its 16th century golden age. He commissioned this mosque, one of three in the city to bear his name, but the sloping site was a challenge. He hired the best, Mimar Sinan, who completed it in 979 AH / 1571 AD, with the slope resolved by a fronting courtyard above shops and a medrese. The interior has outstanding İznik blue tiles, and three fragments of the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) of the Kaaba: above the main entrance, minbar and mihrab.
24 hoursFree
SeeMuseumKadıköy
Müze Gazhane
A cultural centre converted from a late 19th century town gas plant. It includes a climate museum, a museum of cartoon and humour, theatre stages, art galleries and exhibition space, and a restaurant/cafe.
Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00Free entry
SeeGolden Horn
Eyüp Mosque Complex
Eyüp Camii
This is the main attraction around this part of the city. The holiest Islamic shrine in the city, the complex includes, right next to the mosque, the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Eyüp Ensari Türbesi), the standard bearer of Prophet Mohammad, died and buried here during the first Muslim siege of Constantinople (674-678 AD). The neighbourhood was named after him. Muslims flock here (in such huge numbers that sometimes you have to queue for a few minutes before entering the tomb) also to see a rather uninteresting plaque made of plastic, which is purported to be Mohammad's footprint. The interior of the tomb, covered with fine tiles/faience, is nonetheless well worth a look, however. It is also interesting to see the devout Muslims leaving the place by walking backwards through its exit hallway, as not to turn their backs to al-Ansari's catafalque, though obviously no one expects everyone to quit the place in the same manner.
Free
SeeMuseumGalata
Orhan Kemal Museum
Tiny house museum on the life of Turkish novelist Orhan Kemal (1914–1970).
Mon-Fri 10:00-19:0010 TL, students 5 TL · Free entry
DoParkNew City
Maçka Park
Maçka Parkı
This park occupies the sides of a valley of this "city of seven hills", with an avenue in the bottom. A 4-person gondola lift line is strung over it, offering a shortcut when walking between Beşiktaş and Taksim Square as well as nice views of the Bosphorus (access to the northern station from Maçka Cd and Eytam Cd, every 5 minutes 08:00-20:00, 1.50 TL pp one-way). There is also a wooden bridge over the bisecting avenue if you prefer to take a stroll through the park.
Free
SeeGalata
S. Antonio di Padova Catholic Church
Sent Antuan
Although not at the size of Hagia Sophia, this is the largest active church in Turkey. It’s directly on Istiklal St, but somewhat hidden from view by its yard portal. Catholic Masses in Italian, Turkish, and English (in different days of the week).
Free
SeeEuropean Bosphorus
Baltalimanı Japanese Garden
Baltalimanı Japon Bahçesi
Built with support of Shimonoseki, one of Istanbul's sister cities, the garden features a tea room, ponds, waterfalls, as well as a cherry lane.
Daily 8:00-19:00 (summer), 8:00-17:00 (winter)Free
SeeHistorical Peninsula
St Stephen Church
Sveti Stefan Kilisesi
A remarkable Bulgarian Orthodox church better known as Demir Kilise, "Iron Church", as it's a cast iron prefab. The Bulgarians split from the Greek Orthodox and established their own wooden church in 1870, which burned down. The ground was too weak for a masonry or concrete structure so they opted for cast iron. The sections were cast in Vienna, shipped here and assembled, to open in 1898. The church was renovated in 2018, but the archpatriarchate building across the street remains a gaunt shell.
Daily 09:00-17:00Free
SeeGolden Horn
Santral İstanbul
Energy Museum
A contemporary art museum in a building converted from an old power plant: 1914-built and coal-fired, this was the oldest in Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire. Part of the plant was kept in almost exact original condition and now serves as the "Energy Museum".
Daily 08:30-17:00Free, guided tours 35 TL
SeeEuropean Bosphorus
Emirgan Park
Emirgan Korusu
Situated on the gentle hill overlooking the neighbourhood of Emirgan and the Bosphorus, Emirgan Park was for long the only place in the city where Istanbulites can admire the beauty of tulips. Having lost that distinction since the first decade of the 2000s as tulips are now everywhere, this is still a beautiful park with artificial ponds, small waterfalls, and impressive views of the Bosphorus. There are also cafes with open-air sections housed in pleasant former imperial hunting manors. Squirrels are there, too, in the middle of this metropolis of more than 15 million people, though you may have to look a bit deeper (or a bit upper on the branches!) to spot them.
Free
SeeGalata
Crimean Memorial Church
Kırım Kilisesi, Christ Church
A neo-gothic Anglican cathedral which would not be out of place in northwestern Europe, the Crimean Memorial Church was built for the Protestant community of the city by Britain in the late 19th century. It was named in honour of the soldiers died in the Crimean War of 1856, fought against Russia by the allied Ottoman and British Empires. The congregation of the church today mostly consists of Anglican East Asians and Sri Lankans resident in Istanbul.
Free but 10 TL donation is requested for maintenance of the church
SeeAsian Bosphorus
Anadolu Kavağı
Kavak
A village with an impressive citadel overlooking the Bosphorus and its mouth into the Black Sea. By land it's accessible only by a hairpinning road through the forest, with few buses. It's best reached by ferry from Eminönü (twice daily) or Sariyer (frequent). In the village, a road is signposted up to the hilltop Yoros citadel (a little more than 1 km, 20 min on foot, free admission). There's a pleasant area with cafés by the ferry pier; the place gets crowded at weekends during summer. Nasty big dogs stalk the citadel area at night. See Istanbul.
SeeArt galleryGalata
Schneidertempel
Terziler Sinagogu Sanat Merkezi
This former synagogue of Ashkenazi Jews (many of German or French origin) now hosts an art gallery downstairs. Upstairs, there is an exhibition about the arrival and the lives of Ashkenazi Jews in Istanbul, with many original exhibits, including a letter from Albert Einstein. All explanations are in both Turkish and English.
Free admission
SeeLibraryGalata
French Institute
Institut français d'Istanbul / Fransız Kültür Merkezi
They have good art exhibits for free and sometimes have French films in the cinema.
Free entry
SeeKadıköy
Kazım Karabekir Paşa Museum
Mansion of General Karabekir (1882-1948), who fought in the War of Independence.
Tue, Thu & Sat 10:00-12:30, 13:30-16:00Free
SeeEastern Suburbs
Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden
Extensive botanic gardens. Not always peaceful as they're set within the loops of a motorway interchange.
Tue-Sun 09:30-18:00Free
SeeHistorical Peninsula
Beyazit II Mosque
Imposing mosque built 1500/05. The other parts of the religious complex have found secular use.
Free
SeeMuseum
Galatasaray Museum
Galatasaray Museum is a cultural center in Istanbul, Turkey, founded in 1868 to inform the society of the traditions and history of Galatasaray.
Free entry
SeeEastern Suburbs
Can Geyran Seashells Centre
A display of some 300 seashells.
Tue Wed & Sun 11:00-17:00Free
SeeMuseum
Dogançay Müzesi
The Doğançay Museum (Turkish: Doğançay Müzesi), Turkey’s first modern art museum, is dedicated to the artistic legacy of Burhan Doğançay.
Closed · opens 10 am tomorrowFree entry
SeeHistory museum
Türk Eczacılık Tarihi İhtisas Müzesi
Türkiye’nin ilk Eczacılık Tarihi Müzesi olan müzemiz 1960 yılında Prof. Dr. Turhan Baytop tarafından kurulmuştur. Müzenin çekirdeğini T. Baytop’un kişisel koleksiyonu oluşturmuş, daha sonra eczacıların ve hekimlerin bağışladığı eşyalar ile müze zenginleşm
Free entry
SeeArt gallery
SALT Beyoğlu
İstiklal Cd. No:136
Closed · opens 11 am tomorrowFree entry
SeeMuseum
Marmara Üniversitesi Cumhuriyet Müzesi ve Sanat Galerisi
Şehit Mehmet Paşa Yokuşu
Closed · opens 10 am tomorrowFree entry
SeeHistory museum
İstanbul Üniversitesi Rıdvan Çelikel Arkeoloji Müzesi
Ordu Caddesi
Free entry
SeeGarden
Moda Bostanı
Closed · opens 10:30 am tomorrowFree entry

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Istanbul (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).