Attractions

The Besiktas football stadium seating bowl with the Bosphorus visible behind it

Besiktas Stadium: Football on the Bosphorus Shoreline

The six minarets and cascading domes of the Blue Mosque against a clear sky

The Blue Mosque: Free, Working, and Impossible to Skip

Ferries crossing the Bosphorus strait with the Istanbul skyline in the background

The Bosphorus: The Strait That Splits a City Between Continents

The domed marble interior of the historic Cagaloglu Hamam bathhouse

Cagaloglu Hamam: A Bathhouse Older Than the United States

Camlica Tower rising above the Asian side hills of Istanbul at sunset

Camlica Tower: The Skyline's Tallest Argument

The Galata Tower rising above the rooftops of Karakoy at sunset

Galata Tower: Istanbul's 360° Skyline Moment

The waterfront promenade and modern buildings of Galataport Istanbul at dusk

Galataport Istanbul: The Waterfront's Newest Reinvention

A vaulted, painted ceiling above a busy shopping alley inside the Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar: Get Lost in 4,000 Shops on Purpose

The vast departures hall of Istanbul Airport (IST)

Istanbul Airport (IST): Your Actual Front Door

A glass tunnel with sharks swimming overhead inside Istanbul Aquarium

Istanbul Aquarium: The Rainy-Day Backup Plan

A cable car ascending toward Pierre Loti Hill above the Golden Horn

Istanbul Cable Car: A Four-Minute Lift to Pierre Loti Hill

Maiden's Tower standing alone on a small island in the Bosphorus at sunset

Maiden's Tower: The Little Island With a Big Legend

The exterior of Sabiha Gokcen International Airport terminal

Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW): The Asian-Side Gateway

Colorful spice mounds displayed at a stall inside the Spice Bazaar

Spice Bazaar: Istanbul's Oldest Food Market

The vast central dome and courtyard of Suleymaniye Mosque at golden hour

Suleymaniye Mosque: The Architect's Masterpiece

The Republic Monument in Taksim Square with Istiklal Street stretching into the distance

Taksim Square: The Modern City's Actual Center

A rollercoaster loop against the Istanbul skyline at Vialand theme park

Vialand (Isfanbul): Istanbul's Actual Theme Park