Have you booked a trip to Istanbul but don’t know where to start organising your itinerary? I may have the solution! In this post, I’ll show the best things to see in Istanbul in 3 days for first-time visitors, allowing you to discover all the best this city has to offer.

Istanbul is one of those cities that seems strange at first and then it starts to grow on you! It’s a city that is as confusing as it is beautiful. It’s a big city, there’s no doubt about that. After all, it’s home to more than 15 million people.

Although many people think that Istanbul is the capital of Türkiye, the truth is that the capital is actually Ankara – a much less visited city with “only” 5.6 million inhabitants.

Visiting Istanbul means you also get to visit two continents, as it is the only city in the world that is simultaneously located on two continents: Europe and Asia.

Istanbul is a world of its own, and I realise that planning a trip to Türkiye’s largest city can be a little daunting. There’s so much to see and do that it’s hard to choose what to visit on the days you have available.

So, that’s exactly the purpose of this post: to help you plan an Istanbul travel itinerary. As well as tips on what to do in Istanbul, throughout this post you’ll also find information on:

• How many days in Istanbul
• Best time to travel to Istanbul
• How to get from Istanbul’s airports to city centre
• Accommodation in Istanbul

I’ve always heard good things about Istanbul: that it’s a chaotic city, but a chaos that you like. As soon as you set foot in the city centre, it’s hard to have any doubts about how chaotic this city is. There are so many people living there, so many cars honking, that you realize this is one of the biggest cities in the world.

Personally, this type of city has always fascinated me. There really is something good about this chaos that somehow seems to work 😄. That said, even though I enjoyed my time in Istanbul, there was something that didn’t quite convince me. Perhaps it was the disparities you sometimes spot on the streets. Sometimes you’re in a nice street and others in a street where the houses are in poor conditions for people to live there.

The poor conditions in which part of the population lives are clearly alarming and I don’t think they can leave anyone indifferent.

Having said that, and even though this side of Istanbul got to me a little, this is a huge city that deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime. So the answer, at the end of the day, is yes: visit Istanbul!

Istanbul is a huge city and some of the points of interest are not that close together. There’s so much to do in Istanbul that it’s hard to easily get bored of the city.

For example, some areas of the city are quite cool, with lots of cafés where you just want to stop for a coffee and watch the people go by.

In any case, I realize that most people don’t have endless days to visit Istanbul. So, I suggest spending at least 3 days in Istanbul. For a first visit to the city, 3 days will leave you plenty of time to visit the main points of interest in Istanbul.

Without a doubt, the most popular time for tourists to visit Istanbul is the summer (June to August). These are the months when temperatures are higher and days are longer. However, these are also the months when prices are at its highest.

I therefore recommend visiting the city outside of the most popular months. Without a doubt, March to May and September and October are the best months to visit Istanbul. Of course, the temperatures won’t be as hot and there is a higher chance of rain in these months, but the lower prices and fewer crowds will certainly make up for it 😉.

For example, I visited the city at the beginning of October and the temperatures were still pleasant, although the days were no longer too hot. Regarding the crowds, I feel that people are increasingly travelling in the shoulder season and, for this reason, some of the best tourist attractions in Istanbul are still quite busy in October as well, for instance.

If you’d like to get to know Istanbul in an (even) livelier atmosphere, you can always book a trip for one of the dates of the city’s main events. This could also be one of the best times to visit Istanbul:

• Tulip Festival: April/May
• Istanbul Theatre Festival: October/November
• Akbank Jazz Festival: September/October
• Istanbul International Film Festival: April

Finally, it’s important to point out that although it’s possible (and pleasant) to visit Istanbul between December and February if you choose to do so, you’ll encounter cold days and, quite possibly, snow.

In all honesty, although some of the streets in Istanbul look “dodgy”, I generally felt safe, even at night. However, I must warn you about the various scams in the city and also mention pickpockets, of course.

It’s a very big city, where you often find yourself surrounded by hundreds of people. It’s very easy to be mugged by pickpockets without even noticing. But this is not a recommendation specific to Istanbul, but to all big cities, even the most emblematic cities in Europe.

Of course, I also have to say that I didn’t visit much outside the more touristy parts of Istanbul, which may also have helped this sense of safety. What’s more, you can see a lot of police on the streets, especially on the busiest streets in the city (perhaps because of the bomb attack at the end of 2022), which makes it even safer.

As a Portuguese citizen, I only needed a valid passport to enter Türkiye (ideally with 6 months validity from the date of arrival in the country). As I didn’t need a visa, I could stay for a maximum of 90 days every 6 months.

For other nationalities, I strongly recommend checking the conditions of entry into Türkiye on the official website of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Istanbul is a very well-connected city, but the easiest way to get there is indeed by plane. There are two international airports in Istanbul, one located on the European side – Istanbul Airport (IST) and the other on the Asian side – Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW).

Both have several connections with many European cities and, in fact, with the whole world, since Istanbul is usually a recurring stopover on long-haul flights.

Any of Istanbul’s airports is located far from the city centre. Depending on the part of the city you’re staying in and the means of transport you choose, the journey can take between 50 minutes and 1h30.

The most comfortable option in both cases is clearly to take a taxi or book a private transfer. I would remind you, however, that the traffic in Istanbul is quite chaotic, so the estimated time of the journey is often exceeded. I therefore recommend travelling to the airport well in advance to avoid any surprises!

A second (and cheaper!) option is to use the bus services available. It depends a lot on where you want to go, but here’s information on the companies that offer this service:

• SAW Airport: Havabus – a shuttle bus with connections to Taksim Square and Kadıköy. You can also use the local IETT bus lines, but the journey can take even longer.
• IST Airport: IETT local buses also operate routes connecting this airport to the centre, but I recommend using the shuttle bus from Havaist

One last option is to use the metro, but the connection with Istanbul Airport (IST) is very recent and may not yet appear on Google Maps. There is no direct metro option and you will always have to transfer at least one time.

In short, it’s a real hassle to get from any of Istanbul’s airports to the city centre as all the options take a long time.

Many of the most popular places in Istanbul are relatively close together. However, there are still a few exceptions where it makes sense to use the city’s public transport (tram, metro or bus).

To use public transport in Istanbul, you can buy İstanbulkart – a rechargeable card with money to use on the city’s public transports. Journeys are very cheap and top-ups have to be made in cash.

💡 EXTRA TIP: To avoid wasting money (which is what happened to me), make sure you buy the İstanbulkart and not the Istanbul City Card. The latter has unlimited journeys for a certain number of days, but given the price of individual journeys, it’s hardly worth it.

Given the size of Istanbul, it’s easy to get very overwhelmed when choosing accommodation in the city, as there are thousands of options. To ensure a pleasant stay, I recommend that you choose the location of your accommodation well so that you don’t spend unnecessary time travelling around or avoid staying in less recommended areas.

Without a doubt, the most popular area (especially for those looking to stay close to the best places to visit in Istanbul) is Sultanahmet. However, other good options include Beyoğlu or Kadıköy, for example. You can read more about the best places to stay in Istanbul here.

Although I didn’t stay in the heart of Sultanahmet, I stayed in a hotel with a very central location and with the tram close by – Lumina Boutique Hotel.

The hotel was rather small, but it had good facilities and was very clean. The only downside is the poor sound insulation from the street, which can be problematic for those who are light sleepers. As this is not my case, I would recommend the hotel to anyone who is travelling to Istanbul and is looking for an option that is good value for money.

Even so, I’d like to share with you other accommodation options in Istanbul. This is a city where there are options for all tastes and prices.

The Turkish currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). As of November 2023, the exchange rate against the Euro is 1€ = 31.13 TRY. Please note that this currency has been suffering from historic levels of inflation, so any price mentioned throughout this post in lira may no longer be valid. In fact, this is the most likely thing to happen. When preparing for this trip, I came across recent prices online that no longer match the current prices.

As for how to pay, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of places that accept card payments (even in remote locations and for insignificant amounts). Even so, you should always carry some cash, as there may be some places that don’t accept cards.

For card payments, I always used my Revolut card, which has several advantages. One of the biggest advantages of using a Revolut card when travelling is that it doesn’t charge fees for transactions in different currencies.

If you still haven’t learnt about all the advantages of having a Revolut card, you can find out more here.

As soon as I arrived in Türkiye, I opted to buy a SIM card at the airport. There were three different options, but I was recommended Turk Telecom and the service worked quite well.

• Vodafone 20 GB – 999 TRY
• Türk Telecom 30 GB – 999 TRY
• Turkcell 20 GB – 1199 TRY

Alternatively, you can choose to buy an e-SIM just before your trip, thus saving some time when you arrive. For example, this e-SIM option has several plans for different journey durations.

Many of the attractions in Istanbul are paid for (and some are quite expensive!). Depending on the places you want to visit in Istanbul, it may make sense to buy the Istanbul Museum Pass.

This card costs 2500 TRY (~82€) and can be purchased at the first place you visit in Istanbul where they accept this card. It is valid for 5 days after first use. The Istanbul Museum Pass includes free entry to some of Istanbul’s most emblematic sites, such as the Galata Tower or Topkapı Palace, for example.

Since I was on a road trip through Türkiye, I opted to buy the Museum Pass, which gives you access to several museums in the country (and not just in Istanbul) for 15 days.

In my case, I can confirm that it paid off! However, it definitely depends on what you want to visit. So, I suggest you add up all the entrance fees to see if it’s worth it in your case.

As well as being a city with lots to visit, Istanbul also has some interesting activities. One of the most popular is undoubtedly watching the whirling dervishes show (you’ll find more details in this post).

In addition, another of the most interesting activities is having a Turkish bath. For this, I recommend visiting a hamam in the city. There are hundreds of them.

To help you plan your Istanbul itinerary, I’m sharing a map with the main places of interest in Istanbul.

We start this Istanbul itinerary in what is one of the most amazing places in Istanbul – the Grand Bazaar. It’s a covered market with more than 60 streets and 4,000 shops. It’s a real maze!

In fact, this is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. To visit Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is to be willing to lose yourself while window shopping and admiring the beautiful ceilings as well.

Even if you don’t like shopping, it’s impossible to stay indifferent to this market. There are hundreds and hundreds of shops that sell a bit of everything: from lamps to carpets, silver and gold, and much more.

We headed to one of the most beautiful places in Istanbul – the Blue Mosque. The truth is that there are hundreds of mosques in Istanbul, but the Blue Mosque is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful.

Although its original name is Sultanahmet Mosque, it has become known as the Blue Mosque due to the thousands of blue tiles that cover its interior. The mosque is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever visited and is certainly worth adding to any Istanbul itinerary.

Entry to the Blue Mosque is free and you can only enter outside praying times. At the time I visited (October 2023), the opening hours were as follows: 8.30 am – 12.15 pm; 1.45 pm – 3.30 pm; 4.45 pm – 6 pm and from 2.15 pm on Fridays.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Given the popularity of the Blue Mosque, it’s normal to find long queues to get inside at certain times of the day. So the best way to avoid waiting in these queues is to try to visit the mosque as early as possible.

Right in front of the Blue Mosque, you can enjoy the exterior of the mosque and also soak up the essence of the city at Sultan Ahmet Park. This is a lovely green space popular with tourists.

Crossing Sultan Ahmet Park, we arrive at the imposing Hagia Sophia Mosque. If the Blue Mosque leaves you speechless, wait until you enter Hagia Sophia.

💡 EXTRA TIP: In every mosque in Istanbul, you have to make sure you wear appropriate clothing. As a woman, for example, you should have your shoulders and legs covered, as well as your hair (I suggest always carrying a headscarf). However, most mosques also provide scarves. I would also point out that men are not allowed to enter with their shoulders and legs uncovered.

The interior of Hagia Sophia is, in my opinion, even more beautiful than the Blue Mosque (and than all the mosques I visited in Istanbul, in fact). What’s more, it’s impressive to realize that this mosque was built in 537.

It is undoubtedly a symbol of the city of Istanbul and, as you might expect, being one of the main places to visit in Istanbul, it is also one of the places with the longest queues. If you’d like to avoid queues and find the mosque emptier, I recommend visiting as early as possible. Entry is free.

For the most panoramic views of the Hagia Sophia Mosque or the Blue Mosque, I suggest you visit Seven Hills Restaurant – one of the most popular rooftops in Istanbul. The views are truly incredible! The prices, however, are prohibitive for Istanbul and the restaurant’s value for money. But I decided to mention it anyway because the views are quite nice and it’s a cute place to go for a drink!

Escape the hustle and bustle of Istanbul by heading down to Basilica Cistern. This cistern was built in the 1st century and its function was to supply the city with water.

Its name comes from the fact that it was built on top of an ancient basilica, of which there is nothing left today. The visit is relatively short (although the queues to buy a ticket are often long).

Inside the cistern, there are 336 marble columns and, currently, the colour of the lights inside changes throughout the visit. The tour takes place on a metal walkway built on top of the water. In particular, don’t miss the two columns with a medusa head at their base.

Personally, I didn’t love the visit to the Basilica Cistern, and I think it was partly due to a lack of context throughout the visit. So, I strongly suggest taking a guided tour to get more out of your visit to this iconic space in Istanbul. For example, this tour is highly rated and includes a guided tour as well as the option to skip the line.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit Basilica Cistern costs 450 TRY (~ 15€) and is not included in the Museum Pass. If you don’t want a guided tour of the Basilica Cistern, you can buy tickets directly on the official website. Opening hours are from 9 am to 10 pm every day of the week.

It’s time to head to one of the top places to visit in Istanbul – Topkapi Palace. This palace demonstrates the importance that Constantinople (Istanbul’s former name) had. It was also from here that sultans ruled their empire until the 19th century.

The palace is huge (around 700.000 square metres) and although the audio guide is included in the ticket, it’s easy to get lost in the palace’s several rooms. It’s impossible to see everything in detail in just one visit. So, I recommend spending 2–3 hours exploring the interior, paying special attention to the Harem.

To access the Harem (where the sultans’ wives and maids lived), you need an additional ticket. However, for me, this is the part that really makes the visit to this palace worthwhile. Firstly, this is the part where the audio guide is the most comprehensive and we learn the most about this place. Secondly, the rooms are extraordinarily beautiful, with incredible details.

Given the size of the palace, it might be a good idea to opt for a guided tour of this palace. This way, you can be sure that you won’t feel lost and that you won’t miss the most important sites of this monument in Istanbul. For example, this tour has a rating of 4.7 on Get Your Guide and lasts 3 hours.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The palace is open every day of the week, except for Tuesday. Opening hours depend on the time of year, so I suggest you check the most up-to-date information here. The ticket costs 750 TRY (~25€) or 950 TRY (~31€) depending on whether you choose to visit the Harem or not. The ticket is included in the Museum Pass.

I also suggest you stop by the Sırkecı railway station. This is far from being in the top 10 sights in Istanbul, but it’s worth a visit because this is where the famous Orient Express train from Paris used to end. It’s not one of those must-see places, but I thought it would be interesting to include.

Istanbul has many rooftops with unbelievable views over the city. In fact, many of them have turned into real “studios” for photo shoots. There’s plenty of choice, truth be told.

However, I’d like to recommend one that I’ve visited and enjoyed very much (with the days getting dark around 6 pm when I was in Istanbul, I’ve already arrived at the rooftop at night, so it’s probably even better in daylight). I’m talking about Huqqam Lounge Terrace. I ordered a pineapple juice and a pomegranate one as well and they were delicious 😉.

The terrace also has a small area with some rugs where you can snap some nice photos.

Balat is one of those places that has been gaining popularity more recently due to social media. It’s actually one of Istanbul’s oldest neighbourhoods, which has gained popularity due to the colourful facades (and other photogenic details) of its buildings.

This part of the city is a bit further away from the historic centre (which we visited on the first day of this itinerary), so it might be worth considering using public transport to get to Balat.

Once you arrive in Balat, the charm lies in exploring its streets with no destination in mind. On the busiest streets, there are many “trendy” cafés where you’ll want to pop in for a drink and spend some time people-watching.

However, even though it’s more fun to aimlessly wander around Balat, two places are especially emblematic (and quite photogenic). These are the İncir ağacı kahvesi café, where you’ll find Balat’s famous colourful staircase, but also Kiremit Street, where the most colourful houses in the neighbourhood are located.

Balat is undoubtedly one of the cool places in Istanbul. Unfortunately, however, not everything is as it seems. This was one of the areas in Istanbul where I saw the most poverty, with many houses in a poor state. That said, don’t miss out on Balat, but be aware that this neighbourhood is not just about the colourful houses you usually see on social media.

💡 EXTRA TIP: In addition to Balat’s photogenic sites, you can also pop into St George’s Church (free entry) or admire the red building of the Phanar Greek Orthodox College.

From Balat, I suggest walking to Fatih Mosque, as it’s not too far away. The Fatih Mosque is much less touristy than the Blue Mosque or Hagia Sophia, which allows you to explore it with fewer crowds.

The mosque dates back to the 15th century and is another beautiful mosque to add to the list of mosques to visit in Istanbul 🥰.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Everyone has to take their shoes off before entering mosques, so I recommend that even if you aren’t wearing any socks, always bring some socks with you. In some mosques you have to leave your shoes by the door, in others (e.g. Hagia Sophia) there are even storage compartments for your shoes.

Time to move on to another mosque (I told you there are plenty of mosques in Istanbul!) – Süleymaniye Mosque. This is also one of the largest mosques in Istanbul.

Its size is clearly a surprising factor, but that isn’t the only thing that makes this mosque so special. The interior is just as beautiful, as its inner courtyard. Like all the mosques mentioned in this itinerary, the visit is free.

In addition to the Grand Bazaar, there is another market in Istanbul that is worth visiting. I’m talking, of course, about the Spices Market, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar. Here, as the name suggests, you’ll find spices, but also sweets and other non-food products.

Although it’s much smaller than the Grand Bazaar, its interior is also very beautiful, so it shouldn’t be left out of your Istanbul itinerary.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you’re interested and have the time, you can also pop into the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, which is relatively close to this bazaar.

Also, take the opportunity to spend some time at Eminönü Square – one of the busiest squares in Istanbul. This is an excellent place to try simit (a kind of pretzel), as several vendors sell this Turkish delicacy in tiny red stalls.

You can also visit the Yeni Cami mosque in this square. This one wasn’t even on my original itinerary, but I thought it was beautiful and decided to have a look. What a pleasant surprise 😍.

What’s more, I managed to visit it at the time of the call to prayer. If you manage to catch this moment in one of the mosques on this itinerary, I promise you won’t forget it!

A few metres from Eminönü Square, you’ll also find Galata Bridge – one of Istanbul’s unique sites. As well as being a beautiful place to watch the sunset with the Galata Tower in the background, it’s also a place where you can watch dozens of fishermen line fishing.

Even if you don’t walk the entire bridge, I suggest you walk a few metres along its upper deck to enjoy these fishermen. Also not to be missed is the lower deck of the Galata Bridge, where there are several restaurants.

Speaking of restaurants, it’s near the Galata Bridge (near Eminönü Square) that I recommend you try one of the most iconic dishes in Turkish gastronomy – balık ekmek. This dish consists of a fresh fish sandwich accompanied by salad. And next to the Galata Bridge, there are even some restaurants where the kitchen is located on a boat on the sea.

As I’ve already mentioned, Istanbul is the only city in the world located simultaneously on two continents: Asia and Europe. Although most of the things to do in Istanbul are located on the European side, I highly recommend a visit (even if not for a long time) to the Asian side.

From Eminönü Square, the easiest way to get to the Asian side of Istanbul is by taking one of the many ferries available. Several ferry routes connect both sides of the city, so it’s a matter of seeing which one suits you best (in case you decide to change the order of this itinerary!).

You can check journey times and prices on this website. However, information about the ferries is also available on Google Maps, so it’s quite intuitive to see which ferry you should hop on and what time the next one is available. Journeys are very cheap and İstanbulkart also works on the ferries.

The ferry journey is a point of interest in itself. And, in my opinion, it’s especially beautiful at sunset 😉. The distance is relatively short, but it’s well worth it.

💡 EXTRA TIP: This ferry ride is an excellent alternative for those who are travelling low-cost and would like to get an idea of what it’s like to take a short cruise along the Bosphorus Strait or even the Golden Horn (the estuary that separates the old and new part of Istanbul and flows into the Bosphorus Strait).

To fit the Asian side into this specific itinerary, it’s unfortunately not possible to visit much of this part of the city. I ended up just visiting the Kadıköy area, closer to where the ferry stops. As well as a nice, quiet walk along the water, I took the opportunity to visit the Marmara Balik market and explore some of the surrounding streets.

I certainly didn’t give this part of the city enough time, but I decided to include it in this itinerary because I think it’s worth it anyway. I look forward to returning with more time to explore this less-visited part of Istanbul.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you have more time to explore the Asian side, I recommend a visit to Istanbul’s largest mosque – Çamlıca Mosque. Although I haven’t visited it myself, I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. What’s more, the mosque’s location on a hill allows for incredible views of Istanbul.

The third day in the city begins at one of the must-visit places in Istanbul – the Galata Tower. You’ve already had the chance to admire this tower from afar in previous days, but now it’s time to climb to its top.

This is one of Istanbul’s iconic sites, so expect to queue to buy your ticket. If you’ve bought the Museum Pass, you can skip the ticket queue and go directly to the tower. As well as saving some money, the Museum Pass has this extra advantage 😉.

The tower is only 60 metres high, but it’s built on a high point in the city, which means you get unbelievable views of the city.

Access to the top of the tower is by lift and, once at the top, there is a terrace where you can walk around and enjoy 360º views of the city. This is undoubtedly one of the best viewpoints in Istanbul.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Galata Tower is open every day, but its opening hours depend on the time of year. You can find more information here. The ticket costs 650 TRY (~21€), but is included in the Museum Pass.

Another place not to be missed and that you can add to your list of things to do in Istanbul is the Karaköy neighbourhood. Formerly an industrial district, it is now a more alternative neighbourhood with some street art and cafés where you can spend a couple of hours.

The most famous street in Karaköy (and also one of the most photogenic) is Hoca Tahsin, where you can see many umbrellas hanging in the air. But Karaköy deserves a longer visit. Wander around its streets, window-shopping in alternative shops (good luck in resisting all the cute stuff that these shops sell).

But there’s much more to discover in Karaköy. These are, for example, some of the best things to do in Karaköy:

• Karaköy Modern Art Museum
• Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque
• Yeraltı Mosque 
• Kamondo Stairs
• French Passageway
• Arab Mosque

A list of things to see in Istanbul is not complete without a visit to the city’s busiest street – Istiklal Street. Along this long street, you’ll find several shops and restaurants. However, my highlights are St Anthony’s Church and the Çiçek Pasajı galleries.

Also not to be missed are the beautiful trams that pass along this street quite often. It also makes for great photos 😎.

At one end of İstiklal Street, you’ll find Taksim Square, which is one of the most important squares in the city as it is here that public events are usually held in Istanbul.

From Taksim Square, you can walk or take the bus (as the bus never arrived, I ended up walking because the route was always downhill) to one of the most beautiful palaces in Istanbul – the Dolmabahçe Palace. This is the largest palace in Türkiye and was used as the seat of the Ottoman Empire for some years.

I personally didn’t visit the palace’s interior, but from outside it looks quite stunning, even more so than Topkapı Palace, in all honesty. Entrance is not included in the Museum Pass, however.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Since visiting the palace still requires some time, I think it’s important to balance the time between visiting the palace and the Karaköy neighbourhood. I think it’s possible to visit both on the same day, but for a longer visit to the palace, I suggest spending less time in Karaköy.

Also on the banks of the Bosphorus, you’ll find the Ortaköy Mosque, one of the most beautiful mosques in Istanbul to photograph due to its setting by the water.

Next to this mosque, we can also see the Bosphorus Bridge, which connects the European continent to Asia.

One of the most unique things to do in Istanbul is to watch a whirling dervishes show. Dervishes are Muslims who take a vow of poverty and austerity. They emerged in the 12th century and are known for their whirling dance.

The ceremony (called Sema) involves reading parts of the Koran in singing and a dance in which the dervishes spin around. It’s a beautiful performance, in my opinion.

Although the tradition was born in Konya, Istanbul is one of the most popular places to see this show.

There are several places where you can watch the whirling dervishes. In fact, this is a show that has become quite touristy and is easily found in cafés and restaurants. Although this is a way of getting a taste of the ceremony, I recommend a more authentic experience. For example, I booked this 1-hour show and enjoyed it.

💡 EXTRA TIP: To find out more about the most authentic dervish shows, I suggest you read this post.

Turkish cuisine is incredible: very tasty and full of good things to try. I’ve had the opportunity to try a few restaurants in the city, which I’d like to share with you:

• BirBen Restaurant (€): Very simple restaurant, but with relatively affordable prices and fast service.
• Resto Han (€€): Very pleasant space and tasty traditional Turkish food. The only downside is that it has live music. It was my favourite restaurant in the city.
• Yanık Köşk Restaurant (€): We ordered pide and lahmacun and they were both good. The price is affordable and the restaurant has a small terrace on the top floor.

Disclaimer: this post may contain some affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you buy something through my links. This doesn’t represent any additional cost to you and you’ll be supporting my work here on the blog😊