Title: Visit Istanbul: 2026 Travel Guide for Istanbul, Türkiye | Expedia.com

[Istanbul Hotels](https://expedia.com/Destinations-In-Istanbul.d654078240806088704.Hotel-Destinations)[Vacation Rentals in Istanbul](https://expedia.com/Destinations-In-Istanbul.d654078240806088704.Vacation-Rental-Destinations)[Istanbul Flights](https://expedia.com/Destinations-In-Istanbul.d654078240806088704.Flight-Destinations)[Things to do in Istanbul](https://expedia.com/Things-To-Do-In-Istanbul.d654078240806088704.Travel-Guide-Activities)[Car Rentals in Istanbul](https://expedia.com/Destinations-In-Istanbul.d654078240806088704.Car-Rental-Destinations)[Istanbul Vacations](https://expedia.com/Istanbul.d654078240806088704.Destination-Travel-Guides)

# Istanbul

## Türkiye

![The Blue Mosque with crescent moon (new moon) -Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/654078240806088704/d6854797-13b2-421b-ab19-53c9b43e0731.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![The Blue Mosque with crescent moon (new moon) -Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/654078240806088704/d6854797-13b2-421b-ab19-53c9b43e0731.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![The Sultanahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles that are used to decorate the interior) is one of the grandest and most famous mosques in Istanbul.

The mosque was criticized early on for having 6 minarets – the same number of the Great Mosque in Mecca. Sultan Ahmet overcame this problem by ordering a 7th minaret to be built at the Great Mosque.

One local anecdote claims that the original design called for several gold minarets. The architect realized that there wasn't enough gold in the empire to construct gold minarets, so he built six minarets instead. When questioned about his decision, the architect claimed that he mistakenly heard the instruction to be six ("altı" in Turkish) minarets rather than gold ("altın" in Turkish) minarets.

#StunningStructures #Trovember](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/1639/2ba40ddf-29c8-43f2-931c-6364b4204538.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![These fabulous gates are in the grounds of the palace and that's the Bosporus you see beyond! #river #palaces](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/1639/e5a5398a-ac01-4b64-ac29-b97d3238147a.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Istanbul](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/1639/1c3229fb-8906-439a-98f6-e5f69f7244df.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

### Popular cities in Istanbul

[Istanbul

Known for Dining, Historical and Shopping

](https://expedia.com/Istanbul.dx178267)

Turkey’s largest city is both European and Asian and has been part of many empires. As a result, Istanbul is modern and traditional, familiar and exotic.

## Reasons to visit

- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Galata Tower

[Explore City](https://expedia.com/Istanbul.dx178267)[Find Hotels](https://expedia.com/Istanbul-Hotels.d178267.Travel-Guide-Hotels)

## Cities in Istanbul

![Istanbul](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/178267/528fc850-021d-4d9e-a408-5ae238cb5810.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium)

### Istanbul (and vicinity)

Turkey’s largest city is both European and Asian and has been part of many empires. As a result, Istanbul is modern and traditional, familiar and exotic.

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- [Istanbul Hotels ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Hotels.d178267.Travel-Guide-Hotels)
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- [Hotels near Emin Sinan ](https://www.expedia.com/Emin-Sinan-Istanbul-Hotels.0-n553248635976133467-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels)
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- [Best Western Hotels in Sultanahmet ](https://www.expedia.com/Sultanahmet-Istanbul-Hotels-Best-Western.0-n6063107-0--bBestWestern.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels)

- [Flights to Istanbul ](https://www.expedia.com/Cheap-Flights-To-Istanbul.d178267.Travel-Guide-Flights)
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- [Visit Istanbul ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul.dx178267)
- [Istanbul Vacations ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul.d178267.Destination-Travel-Guides)
- [Grand Bazaar ](https://www.expedia.com/Grand-Bazaar-Istanbul-City-Center.d6063105.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Visit Beyazit ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Beyazit.dx553248633981744641)
- [Visit Emin Sinan ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Emin-Sinan.dx553248635976133467)
- [Beyazit Square ](https://www.expedia.com/Beyazit-Square-Istanbul-City-Center.d6158176.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Beyazit Mosque ](https://www.expedia.com/Beyazit-Mosque-Istanbul-City-Center.d501286.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Gedikpaşa Armenian Protestant Church ](https://www.expedia.com/Gedikpasa-Armenian-Protestant-Church-Istanbul-City-Center.d553248635975803139.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Museum of Turkish Calligraphic Art ](https://www.expedia.com/Museum-Of-Turkish-Calligraphic-Art-Istanbul-City-Center.d6246080.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Visit Laleli ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Laleli.dx6223648)
- [Visit Kumkapi ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Kumkapi.dx179877)
- [Beyazit Tower ](https://www.expedia.com/Beyazit-Tower-Istanbul-City-Center.d6067983.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Visit Sultanahmet ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Sultanahmet.dx6063107)
- [Büyük Yeni Han ](https://www.expedia.com/Buyuk-Yeni-Han-Istanbul-City-Center.d553248621532503151.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Esma Sultan Fountain ](https://www.expedia.com/Esma-Sultan-Fountain-Istanbul-City-Center.d6153977.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Visit Cagaloglu ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Cagaloglu.dx6154627)
- [Büyük Valide Han ](https://www.expedia.com/Buyuk-Valide-Han-Istanbul-City-Center.d553248621533063427.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Visit Old City ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Old-City.dx6272783)
- [Visit Sirkeci ](https://www.expedia.com/Istanbul-Sirkeci.dx6063108)
- [Atik Ibrahim Pasa Mosque ](https://www.expedia.com/Atik-Ibrahim-Pasa-Mosque-Istanbul-City-Center.d553248621532503104.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Tombs of Süleyman and Roxelana ](https://www.expedia.com/Tombs-Of-Suleyman-And-Roxelana-Istanbul-City-Center.d553248621533063426.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Süleymaniye Mosque ](https://www.expedia.com/Suleymaniye-Mosque-Istanbul-City-Center.d501290.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Armenian Patriarchate ](https://www.expedia.com/Armenian-Patriarchate-Istanbul-City-Center.d553248621532502823.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Kumkapi Fish Market ](https://www.expedia.com/Kumkapi-Fish-Market-Istanbul-City-Center.d6220293.Vacation-Attraction)
- [Suleiman the Magnificent's Mausoleum ](https://www.expedia.com/Suleiman-The-Magnificents-Mausoleum-Istanbul-City-Center.d6245993.Vacation-Attraction)

- [Car rentals near Beyazit Square ](https://www.expedia.com/Car-Rentals-In-Beyazit-Square.d6158176.Car-Rental-Guide)
- [Car rentals near Grand Bazaar ](https://www.expedia.com/Car-Rentals-In-Grand-Bazaar.d6063105.Car-Rental-Guide)
- [Fullsize Car Rentals near Grand Bazaar ](https://www.expedia.com/Fullsize-Car-Rentals-In-Grand-Bazaar.d6063105-tFullsize.Car-Rental-Guide-Class)
- [Car rentals near Nuru Osmaniye Mosque ](https://www.expedia.com/Car-Rentals-In-Nuru-Osmaniye-Mosque.d553248621562603593.Car-Rental-Guide)
- [Car rentals near Column of Constantine ](https://www.expedia.com/Car-Rentals-In-Column-Of-Constantine.d6067987.Car-Rental-Guide)
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- [Car rentals near Istanbul ](https://www.expedia.com/Car-Rentals-In-Istanbul.d178267.Car-Rental-Guide)
- [Luxury Car Rentals near Suleiman the Magnificent's Mausoleum ](https://www.expedia.com/Luxury-Car-Rentals-In-Suleiman-The-Magnificents-Mausoleum.d6245993-tLuxury.Car-Rental-Guide-Class)
- [Car rentals near Süleymaniye Mosque ](https://www.expedia.com/Car-Rentals-In-Suleymaniye-Mosque.d501290.Car-Rental-Guide)

- [Things to do in Istanbul ](https://www.expedia.com/Things-To-Do-In-Istanbul.d178267.Travel-Guide-Activities)

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