Things to do in Istanbul

Awesome ferry ride. Was not expecting this level of awesomeness from just a simple boat ride. for those who wish to experience both Europe and Asia side, this ride is for you. But bring a jacket though as it gets very windy. Overall, POWEEEEER!

We enjoyed beautiful views of the Bosphorus Strait from a wonderful location until sunset. You can get a great view of Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Hisarı, and the Maiden's Tower from the sea as you pass under the bridges. Chef Ahmet served warm tea and distributed blankets. The fruit and cookie platter, along with the additional french fries and toast, were also delicious. With drink service included, this tour offers great value and is highly recommended. Please do order drinks and additional food! Thank you for the lovely magnet gift! This is my third time in Turkey, and this cruise is the best for relaxing and enjoying the music. Thank you for the excellent service, Chef Ahmet!

OMG, Istanbul never fails to amaze! 🤯🇹🇷 The Basilica Cistern is an extraordinary underground reservoir hidden right beneath the bustling streets. Stepping inside feels completely otherworldly. 😍💧 The dim lighting, water reflections, and endless rows of towering columns create such a captivating and mysterious vibe. 🏛️✨ The absolute highlight was finding the famous Medusa heads! 🐍👀 Seeing them positioned sideways and upside down adds so much mystery—Greek mythology meeting ancient engineering. It’s breathtaking how well this marvel has survived. 🎟️ Pro Tip: Definitely buy your tickets online in advance! It saves you from massive queues. Skip-the-line options usually include an audio guide, which is perfect for exploring at your own pace. 🎧 Don’t just stick to the palaces and mosques above ground—you have to venture underground too! 😂💧 Kesinlikle görülmeye değer! (Definitely worth seeing!) ❤️✨

A truly fascinating place to visit. It features beautiful architecture and stunning interior decor from the Ottoman Empire era. You would be missing out if you didn't visit! Book via Klook for a great price and easy entry.

Visiting Hagia Sophia was the main purpose of this trip. It was a shame that both the exterior and interior were under renovation. Nevertheless, it was truly wonderful to experience the profound historical significance of this cultural heritage site, with its frescoes and even graffiti from when it was used as a mosque after being an Orthodox church, all preserved as they were. Although there's a mobile Japanese audio guide, I had to infer a lot because many parts of the AI voice's Japanese were incomprehensible. The speaking speed was also slow, so I set it to 1.5x speed, which made it sound normal. Still, I believe you can't talk about sightseeing in Istanbul without seeing Hagia Sophia. I'm glad I went.

Buying the Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern combo ticket this time was very convenient. Purchasing in advance on Klook saved time waiting in line for tickets on-site. Both attractions are well worth visiting; the lighting and overall atmosphere of the Basilica Cistern are especially unique, and walking through it in person is even more breathtaking than the photos. The Hagia Sophia is also magnificent and great for first-time visitors to Istanbul. Advance ticket purchase is recommended!

We first met at a pub and then headed to Topkapi Palace together, which was a fun and unique way to start the tour! 😆 It was raining, so walking around and exploring the palace was a little difficult, but somehow that made the experience even more memorable and fun. ☔️🇹🇷 We joined the 3 PM tour, but it felt a little rushed toward the end. If you want to explore Topkapi Palace more comfortably and have enough time to see everything, I’d definitely recommend choosing an earlier tour!

Since it was peak season and I was traveling with my mother, I booked a fast-track ticket for convenience. I usually explore museums and palaces thoroughly with audio guides even when traveling alone, so I booked the fast-track option (including an audio guide). However, I later found out it didn't include the Harem section. To add the Harem, it would cost an additional 1040 lira, which is about 35,000 won, purchased at the internal ticket office. In hindsight, it would have been better to buy a ticket that included a guided tour from the start. The palace is so vast and has so much to see that it took us three hours just to look around on our own, and we visited on a Sunday, so there were long lines at each section. I thought it would have been more efficient if a guide had pointed out the key locations and must-see items. Also, the audio guide included with this ticket is not the official palace commentary but a much more concise version. While the official version might be better for those with a strong academic interest exploring alone, on a day like ours, when we were simply enjoying the beautiful and rare artifacts, we didn't really listen to the commentary anyway. So, it wasn't an issue. The tickets are exchanged inside the meeting point (Bistro), and at the designated time, a host personally escorts you into the palace. It was nice to arrive a little early, have a drink, and wait comfortably. The host spoke English clearly and distinctly, which made me think it would have been even better to have an English guided tour. In conclusion, even a simple guided tour is better than none, and I recommend a tour that includes the Harem section if you're going anyway. However, I have no regrets about exploring freely, and I was truly happy because Topkapi Palace was so magnificent. With its panoramic views, architecture, and the artifacts and jewels inside, it's a must-visit attraction that I highly recommend, despite the expensive admission fee!

Convenience: It was easy to book, and using it was convenient too, as I just had to show the voucher code for immediate entry. Included Activities: It was great to experience a variety of activities, but I wish more passes were available for popular tourist areas like Cappadocia and Antalya. I used three passes: Basilica Cistern, Cappadocia Cave Dinner Show, and Pamukkale. If you choose the fast-track option for Basilica Cistern, you get in really quickly; the regular line was too long. Also, download the audio guide beforehand and listen to it at your accommodation. Even if you download it, once you're on-site, the data connection might drop midway, and it's too chaotic with so many tourists to concentrate anyway, haha. And the complimentary cruise was really good! However, for the unlimited drinks package, the seats are in the center, so you can't sit by the edge; those seats are reserved for people who booked with a meal. But I was satisfied because going downstairs to the first floor after the boat departed and standing outside was cooler, offered better views, and made for great photos.