Things to do in Istanbul & Bursa

In Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century and a place of worship again today, is famous for its vast floating dome, golden mosaics and giant calligraphy panels, the Blue Mosque with its six minarets is lined with blue İznik-style tiles lit through stained-glass windows, and Topkapı Palace spreads its courtyards, pavilions, Treasury and vast kitchens above the Bosphorus and Golden Horn. Close by, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, Türkiye's first museum, hold the Alexander Sarcophagus from Sidon and the Tiled Pavilion, while Süleymaniye Mosque crowns the Third Hill with its red-and-white striped arches. Haggle along the roughly 61 lantern-lit streets of the 15th-century Grand Bazaar, taste spices, saffron and dried fruit in the 17th-century Spice Bazaar, and climb the 14th-century Galata Tower for a panoramic view of the city. On the waterfront, Dolmabahçe Palace succeeded Topkapı as the Ottoman seat, Istanbul Modern shows art and photography in Tophane, boats from Karaköy or Salacak reach the Maiden's Tower on its rocky islet, and families can tour over a hundred scale models at Miniatürk on the Golden Horn. Ferries cross to the cafés and large murals of Kadıköy on the Asian side and out to the car-free Princes' Islands, explored on foot, by bike or electric bus, and a day trip reaches Bursa, an early Ottoman capital, for the 20-domed Ulu Mosque, the silk shops of Koza Han and the tile-covered Green Mosque.

Good to knowTopkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays and its Harem needs its own ticket or the combined ticket, while Dolmabahçe Palace and Miniatürk are closed on Mondays, so spread the palaces over different days. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Süleymaniye Mosque are active places of worship, so a scarf for mosque visits is handy. Galata Tower opens every day with evening hours until 22:00, and the Blue Mosque is worth a second look after dark when its minarets are lit. Boat crossings to the Maiden's Tower can change in bad weather, and Istanbul Modern, with its cinema programme and family workshops, makes a good rainy-day pick.