Overview
Take a trip to Istanbul on your Türkiye Vacation
When on Türkiye vacations, Istanbul is the largest city found in the northwestern part of the country. It is a transcontinental city as it straddles the Bosphorus (the Istanbul Strait) which divides the city into a European side and an Asian side.
Istanbul was once the imperial city of Constantinople which was, for almost a thousand years, the last outpost of the Roman Empire. Conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453, the city became the military centre for many campaigns that helped the empire to expand.
By the middle of the 16th century, the population of Istanbul had grown to nearly half a million developing into a major cultural, political and commercial centre remaining under Ottoman control until the First World War. Despite Ankara being named the capital of the newly formed Republic of Turkey in 1923, Istanbul continued to grow becoming an incredibly popular tourist destination while on a Türkiye vacation.
With its long history, many ancient monuments date back to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods and as such, the historic areas of Istanbul became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Such monuments include Hagia Sophia, a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica which has been turned into a museum and the Topkapi Palace which houses important holy relics from the Muslim world. While rich in history, Istanbul also offers exciting nightlife and is very fashionable and progressive making the city a true blend of ancient and modern to be experienced on a Türkiye vacation package.
With its long history, many ancient monuments date back to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods and as such, the historic areas of Istanbul became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Such monuments include Hagia Sophia, a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica which has been turned into a museum and the Topkapi Palace which houses important holy relics from the Muslim world. While rich in history, Istanbul also offers exciting nightlife and is very fashionable and progressive making the city a true blend of ancient and modern to be experienced on a Türkiye vacation package.
At a Glance
Languages
TurkishCurrency
Turkish Lira (TRY)What do the experts say?
Turkey is a vast country and home to many diverse communities. Therefore, there are many local traditions that showcase their distinct origins. Among many, one fascinating event in Turkey that visitors should witness is the ceremony of Whirling Dervishes in Cappadocia.
Few places layer ancient civilizations quite like Turkey. From the ruins of Ephesus, the legendary city of Troy, and the underground cities of Cappadocia, to the Byzantine and Ottoman grandeur of Istanbul - it's a living museum. Walking through the Hagia Sophia or along the ancient walls of Constantinople is like stepping into a history book.
Turkish cuisine is seriously underrated globally. From a simple simit on the street to a full meze spread and a sizzling kebab, every meal is an experience. And of course, Turkish tea and baklava are daily rituals you don’t want to miss.
The Blue Mosque - a must inclusion on all Turke...
View of Istanbul with Galata Tower in the backg...
Inside the grand bazaar
Yeni Cami mosque
Sunset panorama of Istanbul
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
IstanbulMostly Sunny
29°C / 84°F
11mm / 0.4"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to Türkiye
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,175 ReviewsThe most amazing experience with Goway!! Phoebe did an amazing job planing the best trip to Paris, Florence and Venice with a great mix of relaxing and adventure days. Will be recommending to other travellers. Always someone available which is great when you are travelling in different time zones. Overall cannot be more happy with our experience working with Goway Lauren BouwOur rep at GoWay, Kimberly, was fantastic from start to finish. She came up with the exact itinerary we wanted for Melbourne, Uluru, Cairns and Sydney, and assisted us with both international and domestic flights to help us get the best rates. Once we were on the trip, everything flowed seamlessly and every tour and transport was on time.Lisa WildesAs a travel agent, this is not the first time I’ve chosen to work with Goway for organizing my clients’ trip, this time to Chile, and once again, the experience was outstanding from start to finish.
Throughout the entire process, I could count on truly professional service from Susanna. My clients are very experienced travelers and requested a highly customized itinerary, including many unique experiences that are not typically included in standard tour programs. There were also several occasions when, on behalf of my clients, I requested changes to an already prepared itinerary.
Susanna was consistently helpful, patient, understanding, and — just as importantly — incredibly kind and pleasant to work with. It was clear that she genuinely cared about creating the best possible experience for my clients. I’m also certain that much of the work she put in went well beyond standard hours and expectations.
My clients returned absolutely delighted with their vacation, which is always the greatest confirmation of a job well done.
Thank you, Susanna, for your dedication and exceptional support. And thank you, Goway, for another wonderful experience!BeataOur family trip to Machu Picchu was absolutely incredible, thanks to RuthAnne Leonty. Every tour was thoughtfully organized and the guides were top-notch. The private transportation and transfers were flawless, making everything run smoothly with zero stress from start to finish. Not a single hiccup...just an amazing experience!BarbWe booked our 3,week tour of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and overall it was an excellent experience. I typically book my own travel, but travelling with a group and wanting tours in each destination made GoWay a great choice. We had great hotels and good guides in each city. I will say that our standout guide was Romeo Tran in Ho Chi Minh City. We spent a few days in the city, as well as an over night boat ride on the delta, and he was fantastic. We had alot of fun with him, and would highly recommend him in particular. Neil BraunWe booked a Viking cruise (Venice to Athens) through Goway Travel and it was fantastic! Our agent Kimberly was extremely helpful with air travel options, choosing excursions, and suggestions for pre and post cruise activities. Great communications and a really enjoyable experience.StanleyWe booked through Paula Williamson in the Toronto office, a Great Journeys New Zealand trip and it was fantastic! Although I had already scheduled a trip on The Ghan train in Australia, Paula helped me work it all as one huge 45 day trip including Bali Indonesia. My favorite was the New Zealand trip as I’d never been there before and the tour guide Toni was so spectacular and caring. I’m so pleased Goway was involved and I didn’t require any additional assistance once We'd started the first flight March 8.
If we do another overseas trip, Goway will be involved.JohnMichael Keon arranged our recent trip to Malta. I gave him a rough outline of what we were looking for and he responded quickly making great suggestions, offering alternatives as needed and booking everything. The hotel, excursions and transport he arranged were all exactly what we hoped for. We will be asking Michael to book our future European vacations. Mayssa MirshakOsvaldo Gonzalez was an excellent rep to work with when planning my client's Costa Rica vacation. He was efficient and timely with every correspondence. My clients had an amazing time! Rachel HoeingOur first trip with Goway was a total joy. Shalini worked with me to plan a trip for 5 adults to Portugal. She is a gem! Always responded quickly and offered great suggestions for activities, worked with our preferences and created an ideal itinerary for a week in Porto and Lisbon. The tours were excellent with engaging local guides. The food tour in Lisbon was a highlight. Everything was top notch - flight schedule, hotels, activities, even the weather! Patricia
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified