The places I send friends to, pinned by neighbourhood. Tap a pin or a name for the details, and open anything in Google Maps for directions.
Neighbourhoods
Pick a neighbourhood, spend the day there
Istanbul is two continents and a lot of hills. Take it one area at a time, and let the ferries and the tram do the rest.
Istanbul
Istanbul, the way I’d show a friend
Tell me how long you have and what you like. You get a day-by-day plan built from the places I send my friends to, with hidden gems mixed in.
Day trips
Leave the city for a day
Plotted by direction from Eminönü and by travel time. Tap one to read more, then add it to your plan.
Where to stay
Pick a base near a ferry pier
Most areas below are a short ferry, tram or metro ride from the old city. Choose by the kind of evenings you want and how much you mind hills.
Must-try food
What to actually order
My own shortlist, by kind of dish. Not a directory of restaurants — pair it with the Explore tab and the Eat category for where to find them.
Run Istanbul
Don’t just run in Istanbul. Run Istanbul.
A running menu for the city: Bosphorus shore runs, hill sessions over the old city, mosque-to-mosque and continent-to-continent routes that end at a glass of tea, a long breakfast or a hamam. Say how far, what kind of run and where, then pick one.
Practical tips
What I wish someone had told me
Rules and prices change, so double-check anything important (visas, museum tickets, ferry timetables, and especially prices) on official sites before you go.
Opening times change. Check Google Maps before you go, especially for small bars and cafés. · Guide version 5 Oct 2026