Neighborhood guide
Where to Stay in Istanbul
The 4 areas worth basing yourself in Istanbul, Türkiye — ranked by our editors, with walking distances from the center. First-timers: start with Sultanahmet.
City centerNeighborhoodsClick the map to enable scroll zoom
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We’ll match Istanbul’s neighborhoods to how you travel — and show you why.
Top pick
Sultanahmet
Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi — the historic core.
5 min walk from center
#2
Beyoğlu
Istiklal Avenue, Galata Tower, modern nightlife.
2.3 km from center
#3
Karaköy
Galleries, third-wave coffee, hip galleries.
26 min walk from center
#4
Kadıköy
Asian side, food markets, Moda promenade.
4.3 km from center
Getting around
Tram + ferry + walking; Metro for distance.
Buy an Istanbulkart. The ferry between Eminönü and Üsküdar is a $0.50 mini cruise. Avoid driving.