The Top 10 Best Must-See Places in Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the few cities in the world where a lifetime isn’t enough to see all of it. The city is the centre for different cultures mixed with great history and with contemporary. Completely massive and sometimes chaotic but also still incredibly beautiful. 

In this article, we handpicked the top 10 must-see places in Istanbul for you. So if you have a little time, you won’t miss them. Actually, this is the idea behind our Istanbul Tourist Pass; we carefully chose 100+ attractions for you and wanted you to see these attractions within your time for FREE. So, for more must-see places and things to do, check out our attractions page. We explained every detail to you for each attraction on our website. 

Let’s start with our top 10 must-see places in Istanbul so you won’t miss out. We chose these top 10 attractions in or close to the historical peninsula area, for more than the 10 best, visit our website, you’ll be amazed at how rich Istanbul is. Share your experiences and photos with us on Instagram, we would love to hear from you. Here is our Instagram account: @istanbultouristpass 

1- Hagia Sophia Mosque

Ready to explore 1500 years of history with Hagia Sophia? Hagia Sophia is one of the most visited attractions in Istanbul! It will amaze you with its magnificent architecture, history, and ambience. You will feel the Christian and Islamic history lay there side-by-side while discovering Hagia Sophia!

Once the great cathedral of Constantinople and later an imperial mosque of the Ottoman Empire, this former centre of worship for Christians is now serving as a mosque for Muslims but is open to visitors from every religion. 

With the incredible height of its famous dome and the amazing architecture, see the glittering remains of the original gold mosaics and icons. Without an informative guide, you may miss them all. 

Visiting Hagia Sophia with Istanbul Tourist Pass’s informative guides will make everything easy for you! 

2- Topkapı Palace Museum

Topkapi Palace is one of the historical places included in the UNESCO World Heritage List with its amazing structure and great history. With history, then stories and gossip come the way. Sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines, and scheming eunuchs lived in Topkapi Palace for almost 400 years! The palace's ornate corridors, jewel-filled architecture, and legendary rooms give you a fascinating glimpse into their lives.

Exploring Topkapı Palace is so uncomplicated with the Istanbul Tourist Pass since you will have an informative guide along with you! You will be amazed to hear the hidden stories, architecture, and history of Topkapı Palace with Istanbul Tourist Pass guides! 

Without an informative guide, you will miss a lot and because of it, we have the best guides in town. So check out our Guided Tours Timetable today and plan your trip into history. You may have great photos while visiting its massive palace complex so share them with us with your comments! Here is our Instagram account. 

3- Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar has a living history with over 4000 shops; still open and still amazingly beautiful. The Grand Bazaar is a must-see in Istanbul where you will not only witness its history but also buy amazing souvenirs to take home. Here we have a list of the most popular souvenirs we picked for you. 

The Grand Bazaar was built between the years of 1455 and 1560, is Istanbul’s oldest covered market and has been fully operational ever since. While walking and shopping around Grand Bazaar you may miss a lot unless you are with a knowledgeable guide with you.

4- Galata Tower

Galata Tower is very beautiful and photogenic from the outside. But from inside it is incredible; you may be amazed by its history and architecture. So take a trip “up” to the 14th century with a tower of great functioning in history

Throughout history, some towers were built as colonial buildings, and some were as watch towers; Galata Tower has been all of these in its almost 700 years of life. 

In the tower, you can see both the historical texture of an old city as well as modern people looking for entertainment. From the rooftop, you can sit and contemplate your trip, evaluating Istanbul's offerings before making a decision about what to do next.

Istanbul's Galata Tower offers a panoramic view of the whole city from its top. A symbol of the city, it is awe-inspiring in that it is the only one of its kind in the world. Also, its surroundings are worth sparing time so don’t forget to visit Galata Tower and take photos from the top. We would love to hear about your experience, share us on Instagram: @istanbultouristpass

5- Basilica Cistern