Istanbul is a vast city straddling two continents, with all the cultural mashups that that entails. It’s confusing, noisy, and overwhelming, but also beautiful, lively, welcoming and fun. Here are the best things to see, do, eat, and drink at Turkey ’s cultural crossroads.
History and religion: the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, the Basilica cistern, the Iron Church
When it comes to religion, language, culture, food, history — pretty much anything — Istanbul
was, is, and remains one of the most diverse cities on the planet. You will see many, many religious buildings in the city
, so here are the most famous and a couple of oddities you might not know about. 
The Hagia Sophia should be the first stop on any Istanbul itinerary — Shutterstock
The Hagia Sophia was built as a Christian cathedral before being converted into a mosque in the 1400s. After a period as a museum, it’s a mosque again, and so free to visit (outside prayer times
). Get there early, as it starts to get crowded from around 9 am, or watch the sunrise or sunset over this magnificent building. The Blue Mosque is nearby (just across Sultanahmet Park, see below) so you can visit both together. Built in the early 1600s, it contains the tomb of its founder, Sultan Ahmed. 
Pay a visit to the Basilica Cistern and you’ll think you’ve walked into the Chamber of Secrets — Getty Images An added curiosity, also in the area, is the Basilica Cistern. Although visiting a cistern might not sound like an attractive proposal, bear with us here. Dating from Byzantine times, it’s almost cathedral-like in its size and intricacy, with mighty sculpted columns and marble floors. It really has to be seen to be believed. The cistern is not free, but an entrance fee of 190 lira (around €9.30) won’t break the bank for this genuine oddity. A 19th-century structure, make sure to see St. Stephen’s Bulgarian Orthodox church while you’re in Istanbul
as well. On the banks of the Golden Horn, this hefty building is made all the more impressive when you learn it was built from cast iron, giving it the local nickname demir kilise (‘Iron Church’, creatively). After extensive renovation work in 2018, it’s now more spectacular than ever.
Browse the markets
Even if you’re not spending any money, Istanbul’s markets are a people-watcher’s delight as locals and tourists browse, haggle and josh over wares from spices to cloth, souvenirs to jewelry. 
The Spica Bazaar is one of the largest bazaars (and the most fragrant) in the city — Getty Images The most famous of them all is the Grand Bazaar, a vast network of passages and souks selling leather goods, gold, rugs, crockery and gifts, all of which, frankly, are at prices locals would never pay. Still, it’s worth it just to tick it off your Essential Istanbul
list. The nearby Arasta Bazaar is calmer, a single lane of shops and stalls, again selling gifts, souvenirs, clothes and sweets, while the Spica Bazaar (sometimes known as the Egyptian Bazaar) sells just that: spices, as well as tea, coffee and sweet treats. 
Take a break from city-stomping at a bar on İstiklal Avenue — Getty Images For a bit of a break from all the noise and bustle (well, in a way), park yourself at a café table on İstiklal Avenue — a 1.4-kilometer-long street also known as the Grand Avenue of Pera. A sort of Istanbul
version of La Rambla, it’s rammed with shops, bars, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, galleries, bookshops and more, while red historic trams rattle and clang back and forth.
Parks: Yıldız, Sultanahmet, Gulhane, Emirgan
You get some wonderful views from Yıldız Park — Getty Images
One of the largest parks in the city, Yıldız Park in the Beşiktaş area of the city is a mixture of hills and winding pathways giving way to spectacular views over the Bosphorus. It’s a popular spot with locals and tourists alike in a lovely part of Istanbul
. Sultanahmet Park lies between the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, so you’re bound to stumble upon it anyway. It’s smartly maintained with a fountain at its center, which lights up at night for an added splash of color. 
Come to Istanbul in April to catch the Tulip Festival — Getty Images Gülhane Park is another slightly manicured park, this time under the shade of hundreds of trees, colored with thousands of beautiful tulips and soundtracked by a burbling creek. It shares the same spit of land as the Topkapı Palace, meaning you’ll get a gentle breeze off the Bosphorus on even the hottest days. One of the most popular parks for families is Emirgan, another hillside area with a mixture of trees, plants and flowers, ponds and play areas. If you’re in Istanbul
in April, it’s also the location of a stunning tulip festival.
Art and culture
There’s so much to see and get involved in when it comes to the artier side of the city. As a very multicultural place, there are different forms of art everywhere — from classical, gallery-based exhibitions, to street art and free workshops. 
Soak up some culture without spending a penny — Getty Images Start with the Istanbul Modern
, one of the country’s biggest and most important art spaces. Works from local and international artists can be seen in permanent and temporary exhibitions, and entrance is free every Thursday. For other Turkish artists, try the Museum of Painting and Sculpture, focused on 19th- and 20th-century works (free to visit every day except Sunday and Monday). For an all-in-one art experience in which you can meet local artists and creatives, head to Salt Galata
. Based in a former bank, it’s now a striking work and exhibition space including a library and gallery (both free), as well as a museum charting the building when it was still a bank during the Ottoman Empire (also free). Add to that a café, a restaurant and a bookshop, and you could spend all day there.
Interesting districts
Istanbul
is huge, and much has been established: it’s on two continents, for a start. The best way to get your head around it is to explore each suburb as a town in and of itself, whether it’s Beşiktaş, Galata, Fatih, or wherever. 
Don’t leave Istanbul without exploring Balat — Shutterstock
As an example, an excellent place to begin might be Balat. You could spend a day or two just here, to be honest. It’s a little bit hidden away, past the shores of Eminönü along the Golden Horn, but head out there. It’s worth it. It’s known for its steep, narrow streets and colorful wooden houses, many of which are over 200 years old. Many families have been here for generations; historically, Balat was home to a number of the city’s minorities such as the Jewish and Greek Orthodox communities. This also means it’s home to a diverse range of shops and cafés, with thrift stores and second-hand book and record shops living shoulder-to-shoulder with tea houses, bakeries, and restaurants whose specialties range from seafood to barbecue, Malaysian to vegan. Sit in the sun with a snack and one of the local cats, and after the chaos of the city, you can finally relax . Did you like this article? For more travel inspiration, visit Kiwi.com Stories .
