Destination
Istanbul
The only city on two continents.
Istanbul does not do 'quick visits'. Every street corner has been argued over by Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans, and the result is a city where you pray in a 1,500-year-old cathedral-turned-mosque, lunch on a ferry between Europe and Asia, and shop in a bazaar that has been open since 1461. It is close to Europe and the Gulf, welcoming to every faith, and refreshingly cool in summer.
- Getting there
- Non-stop from 300+ cities; Dubai ≈ 4h 30m
- Currency
- Turkish Lira (TRY)
- Best months
- April – June, September – November
- Time zone
- TRT (UTC+3)
- Visa
- Visa-free for many nationalities; instant e-Visa for most others
- Languages
- Turkish; English & Arabic in tourist areas
Destination
Not to miss
Hagia Sophia & the Blue Mosque
Two icons facing each other across a square — go early, before the crowds.
Bosphorus cruise
Palaces, wooden mansions and two bridges from the water; sunset is the moment.
Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar
4,000 shops, Turkish delight, carpets and tea — bargaining expected.
Topkapı Palace
Four centuries of Ottoman sultans, the Harem and the holy relics.
Balat & Fener
Colourful houses, third-wave cafés and the city's best photo walk.
Princes' Islands
A car-free island escape with bicycles, pine forests and sea-food lunches.
Tours
Istanbul experiences
Travel Guide
Istanbul travel guides
Getting around· 4 min read
Driving in Türkiye and Istanbul as a Visitor: Foreign Licences, IDP, Car Rental, Tolls, Rules and Fines
Türkiye is a superb road-trip country and Istanbul is a terrible city to drive in. Here is how the licence rules work for visitors, what a rental really costs, and the day trips where a car makes sense.
Visa & entry· 4 min read
Türkiye & Istanbul Visa Requirements by Nationality: Visa-Free Countries, e-Visa Countries and Consular Visas
Türkiye is one of the easiest countries in the world to enter: most travellers need nothing, most of the rest get an e-Visa online in minutes. Here is the country-by-country list and the details that catch people out.
Itineraries· 4 min read
Istanbul for Tourists: Safety, Laws, Scams to Avoid and Local Etiquette — the Honest Guide
Istanbul is a safe, warm and overwhelmingly honest city — with a handful of well-worn tourist scams and a few laws that differ from home. Here is what our Istanbul team tells every guest on day one.