Istanbul

Where continents meet — Byzantine domes, Ottoman palaces and bazaar labyrinths straddling the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia.

TürkiyeBest time: April–June and September–November

Country

Türkiye

Region

Europe / Asia

Best time

April–June and September–November

64°F / 18°C

Light rain 14 mph

Weather & almanac on NaturePulse

Full Istanbul city profile

Things to see & do

Signature attractions and experiences in Istanbul.

historic

Hagia Sophia

Fifteen centuries as cathedral, mosque and wonder of the world.

landmark

Blue Mosque

Six minarets and 20,000 İznik tiles.

historic

Topkapı Palace

The sultans' seaside palace and treasury.

experience

Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar

4,000 shops of carpets, lamps, lokum and saffron.

experience

Bosphorus Cruise

Palaces and fortresses from the strait between two continents.

neighborhood

Galata Tower & Karaköy

Genoese tower views and the city's coolest café quarter.

AI Travel Editor

A closer look

Living guide content for Istanbul — read or listen in 46+ languages.

Language

Signature events

April

Istanbul Tulip Festival

Millions of tulips carpet Emirgan and Gülhane parks.

varies

Ramadan nights at Sultanahmet

Lantern-lit iftars between the great mosques.

Getting there & around

Trams, metro, funiculars and ferries knit the two shores; the İstanbulkart covers them all. IST airport links by metro and Havaist buses.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

large airport

Rail & transit Bus & coach Taxi & ground Rideshare Road & rentals Water travel Places to stay Türkiye visas & entry

City & Place Guide

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About on Wikipedia

Istanbul

Largest city in Turkey

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, a megacity, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city…

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