Istanbul

Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul) is a very large city of fantastic history, culture and beauty. Called Byzantium in ancient times, the city's name was changed to Constantinople in 324 CE when it was rebuilt by the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine. The name "Istanbul", perhaps surprisingly, comes from Greek and could be translated as a corruption of "to the city". While the term had been in widespread use for centuries, it only became the official name of the city upon the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in the 1920s.

See: 1388
Do: 1255
Eat: 7464
Drink: 4824
Buy: 1313

Banner: Tsy1980, CC BY-SA 4.0

3,954 places match

SeeArt museumGalata

İstanbul Modern

A nice, organized museum with contemporary installations. It may be seen as overpriced given its small size. It also has a simple cafe.

Tue-Thu Sat Sun 10:00-18:00, Fri to 20:00350 TL, concessions for students and domestic visitors

Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0

SeeHistory museumHistorical Peninsula

Topkapı Palace

The imperial enclave of the Ottoman emperors for four centuries. Lavishly decorated, with exhibitions of fine craftmanship and four courts of increasing grandeur. The second court has the Harem and the State Treasury, housing a weaponry display. On the right, towards the Bosphorus, there is the kitchen exhibition, also with a collection of coffee cups throughout the centuries. The third court has the Imperial Treasury on the right (also with a great view over the Bosphorus) and a collection of Islamic and Christian relics on the left. The views from the Fourth Court over the Bosphorus are spectacular. Reckon on spending several hours here and bring water as the museum kiosk is overpriced. The museum kiosk is in the kitchen section, on the right-hand side of the second court. Toilets can also be found there, towards the beginning of the second court. These have a shorter line than those in the second court, towards the third court.

Wed-Mon 09:00-17:00Adult 2750 TL (combi for Palace, Harem and Hagia Irene) · Limited wheelchair access · Built 1545

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

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

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.

DrinkCaféHistorical Peninsula

Vefa Bozacısı

Established in 1876, this cafe specializes in boza, a ferment of bulgur wheat with a sweetish tart taste. A favourite of the Ottomans, it's still popular in the Balkans and Central Asia. It's less than 1% alcohol, but it was the closest you got to being off your head in Neolithic times.

Daily 08:00-00:00

EatRestaurantHistorical Peninsula

Palatium Cafe & Restaurant

Decent trad food and ice cold beer. Lounge in the comfy bean-bag chairs, and backgammon and Nargileh are available. The restaurant looks down into the foundations of a Roman-era palace.

Daily 12:30-00:30

EatRegional restaurantGalata

Leb-i Derya

A nice cafe-restaurant with a splendid view of the Bosphorus and the Topkapi Palace in Tunel, Beyoglu.

Open now · closes 2 amStarters 18-45 TL, mains 30-70 TL

DrinkCaféHistorical Peninsula

Anadolu Nargile

Shisha / hookah cafe in the courtyard of the former Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medrese, so plenty of Ottoman ambience.

Daily 07:00-02:00

DrinkCaféGolden Horn

Pierre Loti

Piyerloti

An open air café on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn in Eyüp. It’s rumored that the French writer the place is named after used to love visiting this café during his residence in Istanbul. The cable car up here offers some nice views. It’s also possible to walk uphill or to take a taxi.

Drinks 4-10TL

DrinkTea roomHistorical Peninsula

Sarayburnu Aile Çay Bahçesi

Open-air cafe on the coast with great views, though the park is grubby. Tea, coffee and many flavours of hubble-bubble.

Daily 08:30-03:00

EatTurkish restaurantHistorical Peninsula

Doy Doy Restaurant

Cafe spread over three floors and a roof terrace with views over the sea and Blue Mosque. Good range of Turkish meals and mezes, with veggie choices.

Daily 9:00-23:00

DrinkCaféNew City

Levent

A neighborhood which is just across the Sapphire of Istanbul and hosts nice bars.

EatSile

Horozlu Ev

Cafe in the Winter Gardens 4 km south of town, great reviews for their breakfast.

Fri-Sun 09:00-19:00

EatRestaurantHistorical Peninsula

Cafe Amedros

Good Ottoman cuisine with veggie and GF choices.

Daily 09:00-00:00

SeeEuropean Bosphorus

Akaretler Street

Akaretler Caddesi

Akaretler Caddesi, or officially Süleyman Seba Caddesi features upscale garment boutiques, restaurants, and sidewalk cafés housed in renovated late Ottoman-era rowhouses built for the state elite, given their proximity to Dolmabahçe Palace, imperial headquarters then.

DoCinemaHistorical Peninsula

Balat

A neighborhood with colorful houses and stairs all along.

EatSile

Mercan Köşk

Municipality-run cafe for inexpensive meals.

Daily 08:00-21:00

EatSile

Vanilya

Ice cream, desserts and coffee.

Daily 10:00-00:00

EatPrinces' Islands Not mapped

Helios Cafe

Pleasant place for cakes and croissants.

Thu-Tue 10:30-19:00, Wed 12:00-19:00

DrinkCafé

Assk Cafe

Bu mekan evcil hayvan dostudur.Bu mekanda vale hizmeti bulunmaktadır. Çocuklar için uygun bir mekandır.

Open now · closes 1 amWi-Fi · Outdoor seating

DrinkCafé

Nevmekan Kuzguncuk

this place also have small bookshelfs allow people to borrow books. borrowing limited to times in weekdays 09-17.

Closed · opens 9 amOutdoor seating · Wi-Fi

DrinkCafé

the beauty store

The Beauty Store Ev Kullanımına Uygun Güzellik Cihazları Satan Bir Kozmetik Mağazasıdır. Mağazada Yüz Gençleştirme Cihazları , Yüz Sıkılaştırma Cihazları , Yüz Germe Cihazları , Kavitasyon Cihazları , Kalıcı Makyaj Cihazları , Bölgesel İncelme Zayıflama C

Closed · opens 9 amTakeaway · Wi-Fi

DrinkCafé

Organic Me - Vegan Cafe & Shop

Organic Me (Ormamic Me) is a cozy cafe with a varied vegan, gluten free and healthy menu. You can try coffee with alternative milk, vegan desserts, toast and smoothies

Closed · opens 11 amOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Wi-Fi

DrinkCafé