Best views in Istanbul

26 lookouts and viewpoints in Istanbul.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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
SeeHistoric siteAsian Bosphorus
Çengelköy
About 15 minutes walking north of Beylerbeyi lies the historical fishing village Çengelköy. Its long history is attested by an 800-year-old sycamore tree on one of the two main terraced squares, and the Byzantine Aya Yorgi church. The restaurants and piers of Çengelköy offer some of the best panoramas along the Bosphorus, including a view on the old city under the first bridge. The neighborhood was popular amongst TV directors during the 1970s and it has become a (possibly the most) popular location to have lunch or dinner on the eastern side of Istanbul. Many historic mansions have been restored and multiple boutique chocolatiers were opened. Most restaurants in Çengelköy don't offer alcoholic beverages. Exceptions include the restaurant at the main pier (Iskele), and Tapasuma, the restaurant of hotel 'Sumahan on the Water', located in a former Ottoman Raki distillery. You can get there by taking bus 15 or 15F from Üsküdar, it is just a few stops further than Beylerbeyi. Going to Çengelköy by car is not advised; traffic can be very intense on the narrow road along this side of the Bosphorus.
SeeAsian Bosphorus
Çamlıca Hill
Çamlıca Tepesi
One of the highest hills of Istanbul, at 288 m asl. Since it dominates a great part of the city, it is the site of Çamlıca Tower, a 2021-built telecommunications tower and the highest structure of Istanbul, with observation decks (daily 10:00-22:00, 450 TL, discount for domestic visitors). The rest of the summit is a public park dotted by cafes with an Ottoman-themed decor. The park is sponsored by the government, so expect lower prices on food and drink than usual. The cafe in a building at the very top of the hill is moderately expensive, but you'll get excellent food and service.
262 m high
SeeMuseumHistorical Peninsula
Panorama 1453 History Museum
This is a circular indoor space enclosed by a 3D depiction of the Ottomans breaching the Walls of Constantinople on 29 May 1453, with sound effects. It's over-priced, unhistorical and tourist-trappy.
Daily 08:00-18:30Adult 650 TL
EatRestaurantGalata
360 Istanbul
Great reviews for this rooftop restaurant with panoramic views.
Sun-Thu 12:00-02:00, Fri Sat 12:00-04:00Outdoor seating
SeeViewpoint
Harmony hotel terrace
Terrace on the tap floor of "Harmony" hotel with a beatiful view on the Marmara sea. You can also order some drinks from the terrace menu and enjoy beatiful sunsets or sunrises above the sea surface.
SeeViewpoint
Istanbul Sapphire
Levent
SeeViewpoint
Cesme
Bezciler Sokağı
SeeViewpoint
Petek
BÜ Güney Kampüsü
Wheelchair accessible
SeeViewpoint
Eyüp Tepesi
SeeObservatory
İstanbul Üniversitesi Gözlemevi
Vezneciler
DoSummit
Büyük Çamlıca Tepesi
268 m high
SeeViewpoint
Agora hotel terrace
SeeViewpoint
Best view point
SeeViewpoint
Bosphorus View
SeeViewpoint
Cami Manzarası
SeeViewpoint
Camlica Hill
SeeViewpoint
City Viewpoint
SeeViewpoint
Dolphins
SeeViewpoint
Eyüp B Fotoğraf Noktası
SeeViewpoint
Nice wiew
SeeViewpoint
Overlook over the East
SeeViewpoint
Sarayburnu Manzarası
kennedy Cd
SeeViewpoint
Taht Istanbul
SeeViewpoint
View of the Bosphorus
SeeViewpoint
good view on the Bosphorus

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