Are you thinking about going on a vacation? There are so many beautiful places to visit in Istanbul. The city is an actual mixture of several cultures, where the west meets the east. Istanbul has connected continents, empires, religions and cultures for years. There's everything truly esoteric about the city of Istanbul in Turkey. This article is the ultimate guide for you when you travel to Istanbul for vacations, along with a list of the top 7 free things you can explore on a shoestring.
With its multitude of historically significant buildings and museums (with free admission on certain days), there are plenty of activities in Istanbul that don’t require your wallet. Check out our tips for a few freebie days in the big Turkish city.
1. Explore the hippodrome at Sultanahmet Square
Walk through an open-air museum with towering obelisks
At the heart of Istanbul, right in front of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also famously known as The Blue Mosque), you can enjoy a free tour through some of the city’s most ancient monuments. The Hippodrome of Constantinople shares the same location as Sultanahmet Square. Here, you can view the Serpents' Column on the longitudinal barrier in the hippodrome’s centre. On both ends of the Hippodrome are the 2 great obelisks: The Obelisk of Theodosius and The Obelisk of Constantine Porphyrogenitus.
2. Hagia Sophia
One of the grandest buildings of the ancient world, the Byzantine basilica of Aya Sofya has been free for visitors to enter since its reconsecration as a mosque in summer 2020. Its towering dome was the second-largest in the world when it was built in the 6th century and still inspires awe, with light filtering through its 40 windows to cast an ethereal glow on the building’s rich decoration of frescos, mosaics and multicolored marble.
3. Visiting the Suleymaniye Mosque
The mosques in Istanbul are among the top tourist attractions. The Suleymaniye Mosque is one of the biggest mosques in Istanbul. It is located near the Grand Bazaar on the hills of Istanbul.The unique architecture with particular colors and stunning calligraphy makes it distinctive. Furthermore, the interior of the mosque leaves you wonderstruck. It is also surrounded by houses, shops, and a garden with a terrace offering refreshing sceneries of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.Moreover, the mosque also has a hammam, hospital, kitchen and a library inside. Besides this, the famous sultans are also buried near it. Suleymaniye Mosque is open for all tourists from dawn to dusk.
4. Explore Different Neighborhoods
Istanbul is a sprawling city and it can seem overwhelming at times, but think of it as a compilation of many smaller cities.
Each neighborhood in this metropolis has a distinctly different feel, and attracts people for different reasons. Spend an afternoon getting lost in narrow cobbled streets of Galata, or window-shopping and people watching in Taksim.
Central Neighborhoods in Istanbul to check out:
Taksim: known as the “Time Square” of Istanbul, this shopping area is always crowded with people. This is where you’ll find the best shopping in the city, as well as several restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
Beyoglu: This up-and-coming neighborhood has a bohemian feel and boasts many small shops and cute restaurants. Be sure to wander past the Galata Tower, and if you want views of the city, head to the top for 25 TL.
Kadiköy: We stayed in this neighborhood for its proximity to both Sultanahment and Taksim. We were impressed by the amount of trendy restaurants and soon discovered why this is often referred to as the “hipster” neighborhood.
Galata: This hip neighborhood has a bohemian feel and boasts many small shops and cute restaurants. It’s the area we’d most recommend to stay in on your visit. Be sure to wander past the Galata Tower, and if you want views of the city, head to the top for 100 TL.
Sultanahmet: This is where many of the main tourist attractions are, so as you may expect, it is very touristy. While it’s definitely a place worth a visit in Istanbul, we got tired of the restaurants’ inflated prices, the souvenir shops, carpet sellers and the lack of authenticity.
Ortaköy: Popular with locals and visitors alike, this neighborhood features a picturesque mosque on the Bosphorus and boasts some pretty cute restaurants and bars.
Balat: Get off the beaten path in this colorful neighborhood that makes for some pretty epic Instagram backdrops with brightly painted houses and kids playing in the streets. You’ll see traces of Jewish, Orthodox and Armenian communities living peacefully together in these winding streets.
Bebek: This is a hip area popular with locals and right on the Bosphorus. Head here if you want a taste of trendy local life away from the typical tourism.
5. Private Sakip Sabancı Fine Arts Museum
Private fine arts museum, hosts collections of Ottoman Calligraphic Art, religious and state documents, paintings of the Ottoman era, archaeological and stone works, furniture and decorative arts.
6. View The Bosphorus Bridge
The Bosphorus Bridge is the famous bridge that connects the European side of Turkey to the Asian side. Enjoy the impressive structure that connects 2 continents by hanging on only 3 poles.
You can admire the bridge from below by taking a ship cruise from Europe to the Asian side or you can just take a public bus using the bridge as you enjoy the views.
And if you are visiting Turkey in November, you might get an opportunity of crossing the bridge on foot by participating in a yearly marathon so you can tell your friends how you walked from Asia to Europe.
7. Take in panoramas from Çamlıca Hill
Çamlıca Hill in Istanbul offers staggering panoramic views of Istanbul for miles around in a huge public park featuring historic teahouses, cafes and a restaurant. The hill is a trendy visitor attraction and offers many places to see and things to do, so whether you're in it for history, architecture, natural wonders or photo opportunities, this is a place where you can do it all.
You can even experience the history of the Ottoman Empire at a genuine palace. From ancient palaces to vast mosques, restaurants, to incredible scenery, it's little wonder people flock to this hill.
