FREE: Free Things to do in Istanbul, Turkey
Thanks for checking out my Free Things to Do in Istanbul guide! Below you'll find a list of 8 free attractions across the city to use as a guide for your next budget-friendly trip to Istanbul, Türkiye. :)
1. Istiklal Street
Istiklal Street is the longest pedestrian street in Istanbul. It's free to walk down and stretches from Taksim Square to Galata Tower. The street is lined with shops, food vendors, and live performances.
2. Sultanahmet Square & Mosques
Sultanahmet Square is a large square in the Fatih district of Istanbul. Formerly the social center of Constantinople, the square today overlooks two historic mosques and is home to beautiful green spaces.
Vendors line the square selling souvenirs, fresh corn, and Turkish pastries. You can also enter each of the mosques, the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, for free. Be sure to time your visit around prayer time as the mosques will close to visitors during these times.
3. Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is known to be one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. The Bazaar is home to over 4,000 shops and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each day.
The Grand Bazaar is free to enter and you can explore the maze of shops selling souvenirs, Turkish desserts, scarves, gold, and more. Lots of places will even let you sample their desserts for free.
If you do decide to buy something here, keep in mind that you will likely pay more as a foreigner. Try to haggle the price down - as they change the prices depending on where you're from (and how much money they think you'd be willing to spend).
4. Taksim Square
Taksim Square is another bustling square in the heart of downtown Istanbul. It's a popular area for nightlife, restaurants, and street food, with many food vendors and street performers lining the square throughout the day and late into the night.
There's a beautiful mosque that overlooks the square, Taksim Mosque, which is also free to enter. There are many birds in and around the square that you can feed and take pictures with.
5. Walk Along the Bosphorus
The Boshporus is the body of water that divides Europe and Asia, and splits the city of Istanbul in half. Walking along the Bosphorus is a must-do activity in Istanbul.
There are many walking and biking paths along the Bosphorus that allow you to take in the beautiful views of the bright blue water and colorful bridges. One of my favorites places to walk along the Bosphorus is in the Sariyer neighborhood.
6. Gulhane Park
Gulhane Park is a beautiful park close to Sultanahmet Square. All of Istanbul's parks are beautifully-maintained with a variety of plants, trees, and nature to take in.
It is known to be both the oldest and one of the largest public parks in Istanbul. It's great to visit during the city's Tulip Festival around April and early May - as there will be colorful tulips popping up across the park.
7. Pierre Loti Hill
Pierre Loti is a bit out of the way of the main tourist attractions in Istanbul, but it's worth the trip. Once you make it up to the Tepesi, or Hill, you will take in a beautiful view of the Golden Horn - the major waterway and primary inlet to the Bosphorus.
You can climb the hill and take in the view for free, and it's a beautiful spot for photos.
8. Camlica Mosque & Hill
Camlica Camii, or Camlica Mosque, is the largest mosque in Turkey and it's located on the Asian side of Istanbul. The mosque is free to enter and it's never as busy as the historic mosques in Sultanahmet Square.
Camlica Mosque was recently built and beautifully-designed with impressive architechture and stained-glass windows. Outside of the mosque sits a beautiful courtyard and hill that overlooks a beautiful view of the city. I recommend going slightly before sunset time to watch the city light up amidst the sky's changing colors.
Check out my blog & TikTok for more!
Check out my other Istanbul guides on Thatch!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you click the links. These affiliate links and partnerships help support my business :)
My Travel Links & Recommendations
The home for unique & authentic travel
