Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia, officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, is a mosque and a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. It was formerly a church and a museum.
Wikipedia ↗🇹🇷 Türkiye · Asia & Middle East
Travel to Istanbul
Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Basilica Cistern. Things to do, costs, the best time to visit and nearby day trips, with approximate prices and open data sources.
€60per day · budget€103per day · standard4 daysrecommendedMay · Jun · Julbest months
Things to do in Istanbul
- Hagia Sophia
- Topkapı Palace
- Basilica Cistern
- Blue Mosque
- Cistern of Philoxenos
- Great Palace Mosaic Museum
Topkapı Palace
The Topkapı Palace or the Seraglio, is a large museum and library in the east of the Fatih district of Istanbul in Turkey. From the 1460s to the completion of Dolmabahçe Palace in 1853, it served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, and was the main residence of its sultans.
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Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The cistern, located 150 metres…
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Blue Mosque
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. It was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I. It attracts a large number of tourists and is one of the most…
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Cistern of Philoxenos
The Cistern of Philoxenos, or Binbirdirek Cistern, is a man-made subterranean reservoir in Istanbul, situated between the Forum of Constantine and the Hippodrome of Constantinople in the Sultanahmet district. It has been restored and is now visited as a tourist…
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Great Palace Mosaic Museum
The Great Palace Mosaic Museum, is located close to Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey, at Arasta Bazaar. The museum houses mosaics from the Byzantine period, unearthed at the site of the Great Palace of Constantinople.
Wikipedia ↗How much does a trip to Istanbul cost?
Approximate prices per person, in euros. We estimate them from World Bank price levels and our own research; use them for planning and always double-check before booking.
| Hostel bed | €21 |
|---|---|
| Private room, shared bathroom | €33 |
| Private room with bathroom | €44 |
| Standard hotel | €69 |
| Budget | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | €13 | €28 |
| Local transport | €3 | €6 |
| Total per day | €60 | €103 |
| Main sights (estimate) | €18 |
|---|---|
| Optional tours and excursions (estimate) | €25 |
💶 4 days in Istanbul: ≈ €283 on a budget or ≈ €455 at a standard level, entrance fees included and flights excluded. Work out your whole trip →
🚇 Public transport and walking. Estimate based on the country's price level (World Bank).
Best time to visit Istanbul
The most pleasant months are May, June, July, August, September, October. Monthly averages 2016–2025 (Open-Meteo, ERA5 reanalysis).
Jan9°4°💧13
Feb10°4°💧11
Mar13°6°💧11
Apr17°8°💧8
May21°13°💧10
Jun27°18°💧8
Jul29°21°💧5
Aug29°21°💧3
Sep25°18°💧7
Oct20°13°💧8
Nov16°10°💧9
Dec12°6°💧13
Frequently asked questions
How much does a trip to Istanbul cost?
On a budget, about €60 per person per day (private room with bathroom, food and local transport); at a standard level, about €103. For 4 days, including the main entrance fees, budget ≈ €283 to €455, not counting flights.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul?
Based on average weather over the last 10 years, the most pleasant months are May, June, July, August, September, October.
How many days do you need in Istanbul?
We recommend 4 days to see the essentials without rushing.
What are the best things to do in Istanbul?
The must-sees: Hagia Sophia; Topkapı Palace; Basilica Cistern; Blue Mosque; Cistern of Philoxenos; Great Palace Mosaic Museum.
Where to stay in Istanbul?
Compare on Booking, Hostelworld or Airbnb: look for well-connected neighbourhoods outside the centre. A private room with bathroom costs around €44 per night and a hostel bed €21.
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🚀 Plan my tourPhotos: Wikimedia Commons (each photo with its licence and author on Commons). Place descriptions: Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA. Prices are approximate; we are not a travel agency.