What are the best things to see in Istanbul? What should you skip in Europe’s most populated city? It is also the largest city in Turkey with a population of more than 15 million residents. About 19% of the country’s population lives in Istanbul. In 2023 they surpassed London and Dubai to become the most visited city in the world. They now receive over 20 million visitors annually.
Why are so many visitors flocking to this budget destination? It’s filled with old-world charm, intricate architecture, great food, and culture. All at affordable prices. It’s the only metropolitan city that straddles 2 continents. Europe and Asia. But most of us can’t see it all and must choose what we want to see most. Vacation time and other restrictions mean we must make some sacrifices. But what’s worth your time and money to see and what’s better to skip? What are the must see places in Istanbul? What are the top attractions in Istanbul? What are the best things to do in Istanbul ? Yes it’s all means the same thing but you need to know. This list is designed to help you make the difficult choice. We spent a month and a half exploring Turkey in March and April and this is what you need to know. Let’s dive into it.
1. Topkapi Palace Museum Vs Dolmabahçe Palace
See It - Topkapi Palace Museum
Skip It - Dolmabahçe Palace
Why? Let’s compare them to give you a better insight.
Which One is Easier to Get To? Topkapi Palace Museum
Firstly, which Palace should we choose? Topkapi Palace is the most visited museum in Turkey. Location does have a great deal to do with this. Topkapi Palace Museum is in the heart of Istanbul in one of the oldest areas of the city. It is walking distance to different major sites such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. So, it’s easy for tourists to pair with other daily activities. Not to mention that it makes up a defining part of the city’s skyline.
Dolmabahçe Palace is quite far away from many of the city’s sites. It also takes up most of your day if you plan to visit here. Transportation in the city isn’t great. If you are staying in the city center, getting here will be out of your way. You will require a 30-minute walk to catch a ferry that gets you near Dolmabahçe Palace. It’s the only reliable method to get there unless you are near a bus or tram that is closer. Catching an Uber is an impossible task in Istanbul and drivers will demand 3x the fair to take you anywhere. Very few operate by any standard or rules and it is a huge waste of time.
Which Architectural Style is Better? Topkapi Palace Museum
Topkapi Palace Museum is an Ottoman Baroque style building. It was completed in 1465. The architectural style is much more interesting than that of the Dolmabahçe Palace. Its more intricate and representative of classic ottoman shapes with an Arabic feel. This makes sense because Dolmabahçe Palace was completed in 1843. It was designed in the Baroque Revival and Rococo Revival styles. These architectural styles look more Western European. So, if you have visited England, Scotland or France you will see resemblances. The geometric Arabic influences and painted tile rooms were most interesting to me. It is much more distinctive to Turkey and the Ottoman Empire versus Europe.
Which One is More Affordable? Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace costs 1250 TRY (56 CND, 41 USD) and grants you access to the Palace, Selamlık, Harem and the Painting Museum. The painting museum displays over 200 paintings from the ottoman empire. If you run short on time, don’t worry we would have been fine to miss it.
The Topkapi Palace has an all-inclusive ticket. It includes the Palace, 4 courtyards of the palace, the Harem Rooms and the Hagia Irene Church. Its cost is 1500 TRY(467 CND, 50 USD).
Keep in mind that Topkapi Palace is part of the Museum Pass Istanbul. This pass allows access to 13 museums in 5 days. Entry into other sites too like Galata Tower for 2500 TRY (111 CND, 83 CND). So, see if this is worth the savings for you. Beware that this is not an Istanbul skip the line pass. There isn’t one. So, the Dolmabahçe Palace entrance fee at the gate is cheaper. Yet, you may get a greater deal with the Museum pass depending on which site you would like to see.
Which One Has Better Access? Topkapi Palace Museum
Access to Dolmabahçe Palace is limited to the Hallways. In rooms where this isn’t possible, velvet rope halls are used to guide visitors on a walking path. The self-guided tour allows you to peak into rooms from this pathway. So, you don’t feel like you are experiencing being in most of them, because you aren’t in them. You are viewing them from the outside.
While Topkapi Palace Museum has full access to most of the site. No entire room was closed off on our visit. Most rooms you can go in and explore in all their glory. Get up close to the tile work and next to the beds. Rooms with baths and toilets were not fully accessible. But that is a result of their small space and the large crowds. But you still got close.
Where Can You Get Better Pictures? Topkapi Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace does not allow any interior photos. I did manage to snap some as seen below, but only a few. Its exterior is still gorgeous, and pictures can be taken from the outside.
The lavish and colourful interiors of Topkapi Palace Museum are a big winner for me in this category.
It was the former imperial residence of the sultan for over 400 years. The interiors are filled with colourful tiles and architecture that is classic ottoman. Get here early to take better photos with fewer people or be here just before closing.
Topkapi Palace is an easy visit. It allows you full access to the site and has better architectural features making it my winner and a must-see.
2. Hagia Sophia Vs Blue Mosque
See It - Hagia Sophia
Skip It - Blue Mosque
Why?
Which One is Easier to Access? Hagia Sophia
Secondly, it’s time to choose a mosque. The Hagia Sophia Masjid or Mosque is open daily from 9am-10pm. It remains open to tourists during prayer times. Areas are just blocked off a few minutes before prayer for non-tourists.
The Blue Mosque closes its doors to tourists during prayer times. So, some operating times between prayers are 1-3 hours long. This results in long lines before the doors reopen. Closing times are posted outside and can limit your time inside the mosque. Our visit was also during construction. We had to come back 2 times to get in. Which puts a damper on the whole experience. Construction has since completed, but access is still difficult with long lines and limited hours for tourists daily.
Keep in mind that they are both close to each other and will be within walking distance if you are staying in the city center.
Which One Has a Better History? Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia is steeped in history. It was originally an Orthodox church when it was built in 537 AD. It was later changed to a Catholic church and then an Orthodox church again. After Constantinople was conquered it became a mosque in 1453, then a museum and a mosque again. It remains a mosque to this day. That’s a mouthful.
I would recommend a tour with someone who can point out the details of when it was a church vs a mosque. Show you removed Christian images, the meanings and translations of Arabic words. Even things about the Mosque not facing Mecca. Will you be able to find the cross?
The Blue Mosque was completed in 1617, over 1000 years after the Hagia Sophia. It has remained a mosque the entire time. It was created on already established land. This required political buildings to be demolished. It was strategically built on high land in the city center instead of in the suburbs to promote growth. It is one of the few mosques that has 6 minarets. It was a controversial build. The Sultan at the time had to fund the project from the treasury reserve. Other builds were made with the spoils of rulers victories. This wasn’t.
Because of the changes in use of the Hagia Sophia space, and its age, it offers many more historical facts. So, this one goes to Hagia Sophia for the best history.
Which One Looks Better? Hagia Sophia
For me the red carpet through the Blue Mosque clashes a lot with the blue and white tile work. It unfortunately makes it less visually pleasing. If there was another carpet that went better with the walls, I could see liking it better. The walls do look nice on their own, but not as impressive as most of the tile work in Turkey. Throughout the build process of the Blue mosque the quality of the paints used and the tiles diminished as less money was available. The materials used later in construction have not held up well. They have discoloured and faded.
The Hagia Sophia in comparison does have tiled area near the tombs. So don’t discount it. These are gorgeous intricate and colorful works. The ceiling here is great too. But most visitors miss it. This area is outside, so ask if you can’t find it.
The main hall of the Hagia Sophia doesn’t get as many fans because of it’s warn appearance. The walls and ceiling look faded with only gold and black colouring. The walls and ceiling show signs of fire and weathering. But, that’s exactly what I like. It makes it feel as if you came across an ancient discovery. A place where many religious groups worshiped, and you can see traces they each left behind. This I find beautiful, and I like that it intentionally remains.
Which Mosque Is Larger? Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is the 48th largest mosque in the world. The space inside makes it feel much less crowded than the Blue Mosque. This openness means that the Hagia Sophia can accept more visitors at a time. It also can remain open during prayer service. When you are inside the space still feels roomy. Everyone can find their own corner without bumping into other tourists.
The Blue Mosque has a capacity of 10,000 while the Hagia Sophia can fit almost double at 18,000. The smaller size and limited accessible hours make a visit to the blue mosque not enjoyable. Rude tourists skip the line and get in front of you then you’re bumping into people inside the tight space once in.
For me, the Hagia Sophia is the clear winner and a must-see for all visitors to Istanbul. The effort required to make it into the Blue mosque is not worth what you get to see. The decor is some of the worst I have seen in Turkey, all because of its clashing colour design and poor quality materials.
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3. Istanbul Archaeological Museums Vs Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam
See It - Istanbul Archaeological Museums
Skip It - Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam
Why?
Which One is More Educational? The Istanbul Archaeological Museums
Thirdly, which Museum is best? The Istanbul Archaeological Museum is a set of three museums. The Archaeology Museum, The Tiled Kiosk Museum, and the Museum of Ancient Orient. They were all surprisingly good. They have the Kadesh Treaty, which is the first known Peace Treaty ever. It is between the Egyptians & Hittites. This was my highlight. I was sad that we got shuffled out near the end as the place was closing. I would have loved to spend more time here and I will give myself 3-5 hours next time. The Museum is well-curated. Yet the displays on their own are not very educational and an audio guide is recommended. Most displays have no information without the audio guide. The audio guide is a great investment if there are any available. The pamphlet however was not helpful and not worth taking.
I was so excited to visit the Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam. Especially to see the tools, devices, and works created by Islamic scientists. The museum is divided into 12 sections. They focus on specific areas of science such as astronomy, war technology and medicine. The museum is not done well. The descriptions are on printed paper and are curling up. It looks like a home-made museum and nothing professional. The descriptions are very minimal, and you leave wanting to know more about what these tools are. What did they do or how were they used? It has such a high potential to be educational, but it misses the mark. Overall, this museum was not informative & poorly designed. It’s included in the museum pass if you have it, but your time is best spent elsewhere.
Which One is Larger? The Istanbul Archaeological Museums
The Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam is small. We completed the entire thing in less than 1 hour. With not much to read or learn, you are done in 45 minutes if you read everything slowly.
In comparison we spent 2 hours exploring the Istanbul archaeological museum. We still missed about half of the museum. This place is huge and needs a lot of time to explore it. Especially if you are like us and like to read all the plaques to learn about everything you see.
Which Museum is More Photogenic? The Istanbul Archaeological Museums
The Science Museum had a few interesting tools and devices I had never seen before. I made a little game where we had to guess what each item was used for to make our visit more exciting. Because this museum leaves you wanting so much more, it was the only entertaining thing we could do. The strange thing was that the motion lights kept leaving us in the dark if we took too long to read. It was obviously put in for energy savings in a technological museum but it was the worst design ever. The amount of us who first thought there were constant power outages was actually sad. But then we saw other tourists join us in doing a little dance to try and get the lights back on. It was a sight to see. This was an odd experience. This means you will be taking very few pictures here if you are even able to keep the lights on at all.
The Istanbul Archaeological Museum is filled with tombs, sculptures, and tile work. You will want to snap those beautiful photos, so you do not forget about the artistic workmanship. The exterior front of all the buildings, the gardens and the inside are all photogenic. They will leave you with great memories.
In comparing the two, the Istanbul Archaeological Museum is the clear winner. I would not recommend anyone to pay to visit the Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam. I would only consider a quick visit if you have the museum pass already. If not, don’t waste your time. Sitting on a bench in a public square is more entertaining.
4. Galata Tower Museum Vs Galata Mevlevi Lodge
See It - Galata Tower Museum
Skip It - Galata Mevlevi Lodge
Why?
Which Museum Is More Educational? Galata Mevlevi Lodge
Fourthly, We must choose a tower or lodge museum. Galata Mevlevi Lodge or Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum is a house museum. It is centred around the creation, culture and heritage of certain Sufi groups who whirl. Often referred to as the Whirling Dervishes. The whirling is a form of physical activity and meditation. This house is attached to a circular theatre where shows of the whirling happen. Free demonstrations take place on Sunday if you are in the area. Access to view the theatre is included with your price of admission.
This museum has a significant amount of educational material. So you need to be in the mood to read if you are planning a visit here. I enjoyed learning about the Whirling Dervishes. But that does not make this place special enough to visit if you are short on time and have to make a sacrifice. This should be your sacrifice.
A visit to Galata Tower is known for its panoramic views of Istanbul, not education. Information is provided about the towers’ use over time. Its place within the city as a watchtower, fire detection tower and jail. But reading is probably not what you will be doing here. The tower is only 11 floors including its basement. But its location on top of the hill gives you these iconic views. 9 of the 11 floors are above the ground. The first 7 floors are reached by elevator and visitors must walk the final 2 levels. The stairs down are reserved for guests exiting. So everyone spirals down exploring each floor at their own pace before exiting. Stopping at each level is recommended to avoid getting dizzy and to learn more about the tower.
Which One Takes Longer to Visit? Galata Mevlevi Lodge
With the amount of reading involved, you need 2-3 hours to explore the tiny Galata Mevlevi Lodge. Yet, Galata Tower only requires about 1.5 hours of your time. We decided to be there for over 2 hours. We waited to see the view just before sunset. This meant we could see the city in the daylight as well as the city lights at night.
With this in mind visiting Galata Tower at this time means there will be many more people. You will need to arrive earlier as the lines are long. 1-2 hours before sunset will be best. plan for an hour’s wait. Galata Mevlevi Lodge however is not a popular site and never has a line to get in. So feel free to go when its open and give yourself 3 hours to explore based on the seasons operating hours. We always recommend Sunday to see the free demonstration.
Which One is More Expensive? Galata Tower
Galata Mevlevi Lodge is only 100 TRY ($5 CND, $3 USD) so it’s a steal for what you get. Galata Tower costs much more at 650 TRY(29 CND, 22 USD). But considering the tower is a famous viewpoint with 360 views of Istanbul and a museum, it’s a 2 for the price of 1 deal. Many viewpoints all over the world cost a lot more than this. So, both are a good deal.
With all taken into consideration I could not visit Istanbul without a visit to Galata Tower. It would feel incomplete and if I had to choose one, Galata Tower is my winner.
5. Grand Bazaar Vs Egyptian Spice Bazaar
See It - Grand Bazaar
Skip It - Egyptian Spice Bazaar
Which Bazaar has a Better Selection? The Grand Bazaar
Now finally which Bazaar is best ?The Grand Bazaar is large. I mean its so large that vendors know you will not be able to find them again. They are probably right to push a sale as a result. I would not recommend separating from your group here. Finding each other again will be difficult. We could not find the same door we entered from. So, we hit the first area that looked to be to the outdoors. It’s a maze of goods. Due to the size of the Grand Bazaar has a much larger selection to choose from in every price range. Most vendors have many locations. So if you need another colour, give them a few minutes and they will be back with it.
The Egyptian Spice Market isn’t actually a market dedicated to spices as I had thought. Its like a mini version of the Grand Bazaar. It does offer a variety of goods, including spices. But its selection is more geared towards tourists. Items include jewellery, sweets, lamps, souvenirs and teas. As you can assume, all these items cost more here than if they were bought outside of the market.
Which Bazaar has Better Prices? Neither
This is a trick question. Neither have fair prices and you will find the same goods at stalls outside for a better price. If you head away from both bazaars, even better. All prices in the city center are marked up for tourists and no local is making purchases here. When shopping for a replacement suitcase, the closer we got to a bazaar, the more expensive prices got. So they know if your near the bazaar, your about to shop and are looking to make a purchase. Since our visit prices have increased even more and deals in a bazaar is no longer a thing. Bazaars are more of a tourist attraction. So, buyer beware.
Which Bazaar is More Photogenic? The Grand Bazaar
The Spice Bazaar will get you that typical shot that you see everywhere. The Grand Bazaar is so large you are bound to find a good place to take some photos. Some of the places that are not flooding our Instagram feeds. Keep in mind that this has become a big issue in the bazaars over the years. The stores have no photo signs posted outside. For the ones that allow it, they are demanding payment for photos. Which may not be worth it if you’re not a professional photographer.
Which Bazaar Has More Pushy Vendors? The Grand Bazaar (which is not a good thing)
Due to the size of the Grand Bazaar, the vendors have a lot more competition amongst one another. If they are in a more obscure stall in the back of the bazaar, you are going to see they are more willing to negotiate. They are so happy to see people when they are hard to find that they will try to drag you into their store to look around. Anything to try and secure a sale.
The vendors at the Egyptian Spice Market do try to call you into their stores. But they won’t grab you by the arm to shuffle you inside. They tend to try and lour you with shiny objects or taste tests but will not be touching or grabbing you. They will often take no reply politely and leave you be.
I would skip both bazaars if I was worried about time. If you have no intention of purchasing high-priced tourist items both should be skipped. It was kind of interested in seeing the bazaars, but this is not a place to go if you are looking to save. We were suitcase shopping and the more people we asked, the higher the price got. It is crazy to see how large the Grand Bazaar is. But I would recommend just wandering without buying anything in the Grand Bazaar. It’s better than the Egyptian Spice Market if this is your first time seeing a Bazaar.
If I had to choose one to even browse, the winner is the Grand Bazaar. It’s the largest and oldest covered bazaar in the world. Which is neat to see. But if shopping was my goal, none of these would be a must-see. They don’t provide authentic or cheap experiences.
In short you are now armed with the information to make the most out of your paid time off. What will you choose? Where will you visit? Istanbul is an amazing city that everyone should visit at least once. There is still so much to see here and throughout the rest of Turkey. What will you do?
Have you already been to Turkey? Do you agree or disagree with my See It or Skip It sites? Let me know in the comments.
See all the places we stayed while in Turkey at Where Have We Stayed?
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