Istanbul.

Quick facts

Currency

Turkish lira (TRY, ₺).

Language

Turkish.

Time

UTC+3 all year.

Plugs

Type F, and older Type C (European two-pin), 230 V.

Best time to visit

April to May and September to October, when walking is most comfortable. Summers are hot and busy; winters are cold and wet. Tulips flower across the city in April.

About Istanbul

• Istanbul lies on both shores of the Bosphorus, partly in Europe and partly in Asia.
• Founded as the Greek colony of Byzantium, it was refounded as Constantinople in 330 and was the Byzantine and then the Ottoman capital until 1923.
• The Historic Areas of Istanbul have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.
• About 15.75 million people lived in Istanbul at the end of 2025, around a fifth of the country.

Getting around

Taxis

Yellow taxis are the standard ones; turquoise taxis are larger and cost a little more, and black taxis are the luxury tier. Since 20 July 2026 a yellow taxi starts at 71.94 lira, plus 47.92 lira a kilometre, with a 230-lira minimum. Use registered taxis, note the plate and check that the meter is running.

Ride apps

BiTaksi, iTaksi and Uber (which books local taxis) all work in Istanbul, and Yandex Go arrived in June 2026 with licensed taxi drivers.

From the airport

From Istanbul Airport (IST), the M11 metro runs to Gayrettepe for the M2 to Taksim, and Havaist buses (bank cards accepted) run to Taksim, including via Beşiktaş, and to Sultanahmet. From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), the M4 metro reaches Kadıköy in about 52 minutes, and Havabus runs to Taksim (485 lira) and Kadıköy (300 lira).

Public transport

An Istanbulkart works on buses, the metro, trams, funiculars, Marmaray trains and ferries; a full fare has been 46.20 lira since July 2026. For Dolmabahçe Palace, take the T1 tram or the F1 funicular from Taksim to Kabataş, or a ferry to Kabataş or Beşiktaş, and walk along the shore.

Staying safe

The UK government advises against travel only within 10 km of the Syrian border, far from Istanbul. For the city it asks visitors to stay alert to the risk of terrorism and to watch their belongings in busy areas.

• Pickpocketing and street robbery happen in the main tourist areas; keep valuables secure.
• Be wary of strangers who offer drinks or invite you to a bar; buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.
• Counterfeit spirits have caused methanol poisoning; get medical help at once if you feel unwell after drinking.
• Use registered taxis only, note the plate number and check that the meter is running.
• Stay away from demonstrations.

Emergency numbers

Police, ambulance and fire

112

Places to eat nearby

Well-known restaurants near the sights, listed for convenience. Apollonaut has no connection with them and takes no bookings. Price levels (€ to €€€) are a rough guide; check opening times before you go.

• Neolokal Karaköy · Modern Turkish €€€
• Mikla Beyoğlu, Tepebaşı · Modern Anatolian €€€
• Karaköy Lokantası Karaköy · Turkish, mezze €€
• Deraliye Sultanahmet · Ottoman €€€
• Pandeli Eminönü, at the Spice Bazaar · Traditional Turkish €€
• Lokanta Feriye Beşiktaş, Çırağan Caddesi · Mediterranean €€