Türkiye

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Istanbul

Two continents, one city

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Istanbul Plan a trip around Türkiye

Best time to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Currency: TRY
Time zone: UTC+3
Country: Türkiye

Photo: Hunanuk, CC0

Byzantine domes, Ottoman palaces and ferries crossing between Europe and Asia.

Largest cities

Istanbul
Ankara
Izmir
Bursa
Antalya

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Türkiye
Capital: Ankara
Province population: 15.7M
Population of Türkiye: 85.7M
Country area: 783,562 km²
Official language: Turkish
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY) · 1 USD ≈ 49.22 TRY
Time zone: UTC+3
Calling code: +90
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 40 m
Plugs: C / F · 230V
Emergency numbers: 112
Best time to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	9°	9°	12°	16°	21°	26°	28°	28°	25°	20°	15°	11°
Low	4°	4°	5°	8°	13°	17°	20°	21°	17°	14°	9°	6°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$46
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$112
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$285

Plan a trip to Istanbul

Top things to do

≈ $28
Hagia Sophia
Nearly 1,500 years of history under one dome. Foreign visitors buy a ticket for the upper gallery.
- Half day
- Sultanahmet
- Indoors
≈ $28
Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern
Visit the mosque outside prayer times, then walk down into the lit Byzantine cistern next door.
- Half day
- Sultanahmet
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $35
Topkapı Palace
The Ottoman sultans' palace, with courtyards over the Bosphorus. The Harem needs its own ticket or the combined one.
- Half day
- Sultanahmet
- Indoors
- Closed: Tuesday
Free
Grand Bazaar
Thousands of shops under painted vaults. Closed on Sundays; bargaining is expected.
- Half day
- Fatih
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Closed: Sunday
Free
Süleymaniye Mosque and Spice Bazaar
Sinan's masterpiece on the hill, then down through the old streets to the Spice Bazaar.
- Half day
- Eminönü
≈ $10
Bosphorus cruise
The public ferry company's Bosphorus tour costs far less than private boats and passes the same palaces.
- Half day
- Eminönü
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Galata and İstiklal Avenue
Cross Galata Bridge, climb to the tower (ticket optional) and walk İstiklal to Taksim.
- Half day
- Beyoğlu
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $35
Dolmabahçe Palace
The 19th-century palace on the water, visited by guided route. Closed on Mondays.
- Half day
- Beşiktaş
- Indoors
- Closed: Monday
≈ $2
Ferry to Kadıköy
A 20-minute ferry to Asia, then the food market streets and the Moda seafront.
- Half day
- Kadıköy (Asian side)
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Balat and Fener
Colourful houses, old churches and cafés along the Golden Horn.
- Half day
- Fatih
≈ $10
Day trip: Princes' Islands
Public ferry to Büyükada, a car-free island of wooden mansions, cycling and beaches.
- Full day
- Princes' Islands
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Rules depend on your passport: many nationalities enter visa-free, others need an e-Visa. Apply only on the official portal, evisa.gov.tr. Your passport should be valid for at least 150 days from arrival.

Official website

From the airport

From Istanbul Airport, the M11 metro and Havaist buses reach the city; a taxi takes 45–75 minutes depending on traffic.

Getting around

Buy an Istanbulkart and use it on the tram, metro, buses and ferries. The T1 tram links Sultanahmet, Eminönü and Kabataş.

Local tips

Mosques close to visitors during prayer times; women cover their hair, and everyone covers shoulders and knees.
Many museums close on one weekday: check before you go.
Tap water is treated, but most visitors drink bottled water.
Tipping around 10% is usual in restaurants.

Areas worth knowing

Fatih
Beyoğlu
Eminönü
Princes' Islands
Kadıköy (Asian side)
Beşiktaş
Sultanahmet

Official travel advice

The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on September 21, 2026. The advice includes warnings against travel to some areas. Read it before booking.

Read the advice on GOV.UK