What to book before you travel to Istanbul?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

Trip length

Weekend One week Two weeks

5 activities to book · about €163 per person

Istanbul

Days 1-7

Days 1-7Hagia SophiaJustinian's church of 537, the world's largest for nearly a thousand years, then a mosque, a museum from 1934, and a mosque again since 2020.€25Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 1-7Topkapı PalaceThe sultans' palace for four centuries: four courtyards of kitchens, treasury, the Prophet's relics and the harem, above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.€55Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 1-7Basilica CisternA sixth-century underground reservoir held up by 336 columns salvaged from ancient temples, with carp swimming in the water below the brick vaults.€38Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 1-7A Bosphorus cruiseThe city ferry company sails from Eminönü to Anadolu Kavağı near the Black Sea, or on a shorter round trip to the second bridge.€15Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 1-7Galata TowerA Genoese tower of 1348, long a fire lookout, whose terrace looks all round over the Golden Horn, the old city and Asia.€30Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The Blue Mosque · The Grand Bazaar · Balat and Fener

All activities in Istanbul on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in Istanbul cost?

€163 per person if you do them all, across 5 bookings. The most expensive is "Topkapı Palace" at €55, the cheapest "A Bosphorus cruise" at €15. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in Istanbul without booking anything?

3 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with The Blue Mosque, The Grand Bazaar, Balat and Fener. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

The rest of the trip

📒 The free printable Istanbul guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Istanbul, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book: all our destinations→