Ten less touristy things to do in Istanbul

When you think of Istanbul some of the first things that come to your mind are Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque or Galata Tower. These (and many more) are simply amazing sights to see. I wrote about them in another blog post which you can read by clicking here. This blog post, however, is for those of you who have more time or simply like to do something different. These are ten less touristy things to do in Istanbul. 

 

1. Ferry ride from Europe to Asia (an vice versa)

If you’re crossing from Europe to Asia there’s a big chance that you’ll use the ferry. If not, I suggest you to take this ride anyway. I saw some of the most beautiful sunsets from the ferry and heard the most beautiful turkish music (performed live on the ferry).

 

 

To ride a ferry you will need Istanbul Kart.

You can buy it at any port or a bigger bus or metro station. The price is 7 TL. You can then top it up with the amount of money you need at the machines that are available in the same places that sell Istanbul Kart. This card is perfect because you can use it to pay any kind of public transportation in Istanbul.

 

2. Island of Buyukada

One of the Prince’s islands and the biggest (Buyukada means The Big Island) is just a 40 minute ferry ride from Kadikoy or Bostanci port.

One thing that is special about going to the island is that cars are not allowed so the minute you step off the boat you will feel like you’ve been transported to another era.

It’s so peaceful to watch only horse carriages and bicycles passing by. Fish restaurants are great to try as well as pretty coffee shops.

 

 

You can take a horse carriage to have a tour of the island and you can visit the Orthodox church which is up on the hill and I have to say the view is worth the climb. Yes, you’ll have to do a bit of a hike uphill since horse carriages are only taking you to a certain point on the island. After taking a stroll around the island sit at one of the cafes and enjoy a cup of Turkish tea or coffee. If you like sweets I definitely recommend a place called The Candy island and the sweet called Fairytale. 

Visiting the island of Buyukada  is definitely one of my favourite of ten less touristy things to do in Istanbul.

 

3. Salt Galata

This is a beautifully designed art space in a former bank building featuring a gallery, cafe and a library where lots of people come to study. Locals love it! The interior looks amazing and it’s worth a visit. People describe it as one of the best contemporary art galleries in Istanbul.

The entrance to Salt Galata is free.

 

 

If you have time and love to explore new places I recommend visiting Salt Galata even for a short coffee break. Salt Galata makes a great photo spot because of its beautiful exterior.

 

4. Istanbul Modern

Istanbul Modern (Istanbul museum of modern art) is located in Beyoglu area. If you love contemporary art you’ll love this place. 

The permanent exhibition is on the entrance floor and it’s entitled Past and Future. It explores the history of modern Turkish art, from the establishment of the Republic to the present day. 

Located on the banks of the Bosphorus, it has stunning views across the strait to Asia, which can be best enjoyed from the Istanbul Modern Cafe and Restaurant.

The Istanbul Modern Library has an extensive collection of around 9000 books and 29 national and international periodical subscriptions, specializing in Turkish art and related subjects.

Many of the Istanbul Modern art works can be found reproduced in poster form in the Istanbul Modern Store. There is also a wide range of design objects, from jewelry to t-shirts, phone covers, even espresso cups that make unique gifts and souvenirs.

I fell in love with a print of Hagia Sophia which is now hanging in my living room. The artist made a drawing of the famous Hagia Sophia from only one stroke.

The museum entry fee is 25 TL. Keep in mind that the museum is closed on Mondays!

 

5. Take a walk across Galata bridge

It’s a simple walk where you can watch fishermen doing their work and see the Galata tower while you’re walking from Eminonu. Suleymaniye mosque will be behind you so it’s quite a sight to see. Also, if you are here in the late afternoon you can witness some of the most beautiful sunsets.

 

 

6. Have Turkish tea in Uskudar with a view of Kiz Kulesi

This is one of the most relaxing things you can do in Istanbul.

 

 

Sitting on pillows with traditional Turkish patterns on the stairs near the sea and enjoying a cup of turkish tea with the view of Maiden’s Tower – it doesn’t get much better than this! If you stay here until sunset time you’ll be very happy with what you’ll see.

 

 

7. Ride the nostalgic red tram

I assume you saw that cute red nostalgic tram if you looked at some photos from Istanbul. Well, you can find one going through Istiklal Caddesi (which is pretty crowded) and another one going from Moda to Kadikoy in the Asian side (this one is less crowded so this would be my choice).

 

 

8. Visit Spice Bazaar

Located in Eminonu, this is the place for all the spice, tea and turkish delight lovers.

You can try different kind of tea such as lovers tea (I actually quite liked that one). All your senses will be pleased cos all of the gorgeous smells of million spices.

The thing you can’t miss is Rahat Lokum, the famous turkish sweet, you can try various lokums and then decide which ones you want to take home with you. My favourite are walnut lokums and coconut hazelnut lokums. 

 

9. Go to Camlica hill and have a picnic

One of the best views of Istanbul is from Camlica hill. It is located in the Asian side of Istanbul and by certain point you can go by car or bus and then you’ll need to walk a bit up the hill but the view that waits for you there is definitely worth it. You can see the European side of Istanbul and it is spectacular. Great for photos of course!

 

 

10. Visit Goztepe park during tulip festival or roses season

 

This is one of the most beautiful parks in Istanbul especially when there’s a tulip festival or when the roses are in full bloom. It’s amazing what turkish landscape designers can do with all those beautiful flowers. You can relax and enjoy your afternoon here and there’s a big playground for kids.

Goztepe park has wide walking paths with wooden benches on both sides. It is a family-friendly and pet friendly park. There are many kinds of swings and slides for children, even small trampolines. Kids really do enjoy their time here.  

Even if you’re not in Istanbul in time of Tulip festival or roses season, Goztepe park is beautiful in every season. It is one of the most relaxing places you can find in a city as big and crowded as Istanbul.

After visiting the park you can go down to the sea and have a lovely walk in one of the prettiest neighbourhoods in Istanbul – Fenerbahce or Suadiye. 

 

If you feel like going shopping rather than taking a stroll near the sea, you can go to Bagdat Caddesi. It’s right above the park. This is one of the most beautiful streets in Istanbul with many coffee shops, restaurants and of course, shops. Here you can find brands like Zara, Mango, H&M, but also Louis Vuitton, Burberry and some Turkish brands like Vakko, Pasabahce and Derimod.

Finally, for more photos from Istanbul visit my Instagram profile. I hope this post will help those of you who love seeing less touristy places. If you have any questions feel free to contact me. Thank you so much for reading!