Istanbul Airport (IST): M11 Metro
The main airport on the European side. According to the airport, the M11 line links it with Gayrettepe (change for M2), and the extension towards Halkalı opened in June 2026.
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Elsewhere in the country: Level 3 (leave the country) — some regions: L3 (leave): Bingöl, Batman, Siirt, Şırnak, Hakkari, within 10 km of the Syrian border / L2: Gaziantep, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Tunceli, Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Van, Bitlis / L1: rest of the country
Visits to the listed regions should be cancelled or postponed (see Details for other areas).
since 2025-12-19 · checked 2026-10-01 · Details ↗ This is the Korean government’s advisory — also check your own government’s travel advice.
Istanbul Travel Guide
A city spanning Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus, with Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks packed into its historic peninsula. A great fit for travellers who want Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace, bazaar browsing and strait views from a ferry deck on one trip.
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At a glance
- Currency
- TRY (₺)
- Power & plugs
- 220V · plug type: check before you go
- Driving side
- Right
- Tipping
- Optional (small, for good service)
- Local language
- Türkçe
- How long to stay
- 4 to 5 days
Emergency numbers
When to go
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are the most pleasant for walking. In spring the city ferry company sometimes runs seasonal tours to see the Judas trees in bloom. July and August are hot and the busiest, and winter is chilly with frequent rain. Opening hours can change during Ramadan and the Bayram holidays, so check officially.
Airport to the city
Istanbul Airport (IST): Havaist buses
Shuttle buses listed on the airport's official site, running 11 routes into the city including Taksim and Sultanahmet. Board on the transportation floor (-2).
Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): M4 Metro
Istanbul's second airport, on the Asian side; flights from Korea are mostly connections. The M4 line links the airport with Kadıköy, with a Marmaray change at Ayrılık Çeşmesi.
Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): Havabus
Shuttle buses between the airport and Kadıköy and Taksim. According to the airport, Taksim takes about 1 hour 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Getting around
Istanbulkart (transport card)
The city's official card for metro, tram, bus and ferry. Buy it and load lira at Biletmatik machines near stations.
T1 Tram
Runs via Kabataş, Karaköy, Eminönü, Sultanahmet and Beyazıt (Grand Bazaar), the most useful line for the old city. Watch for pickpockets when it's crowded.
Metro & Marmaray
The M2 metro serves Taksim and the newer city, and the Marmaray rail line crosses under the Bosphorus to link Europe and Asia.
City ferries (Şehir Hatları)
Ferries link Eminönü, Karaköy and Beşiktaş with Kadıköy and Üsküdar on the Asian side, so the ride doubles as a strait cruise. Pay with Istanbulkart.
Taxis
Handy with luggage or late at night, but make sure the meter is on. At rush hour the tram or metro can be faster.
Where to stay
Sultanahmet (old city)
Good for: First-timers, walking to landmarks
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace are all within walking distance. Quiet at night, and restaurants are tourist-oriented.
Karaköy & Galata
Good for: Cafés, atmosphere, transport
Hillside streets below Galata Tower, close to the tram and ferry piers, so it's easy to reach both the old and new city. Expect hills and stairs.
Beyoğlu (Taksim & İstiklal)
Good for: Shopping, nightlife
Shops and restaurants line pedestrian İstiklal Avenue, served by the M2 metro. Crowded and can be noisy late at night.
Kadıköy (Asian side)
Good for: Local vibe, Sabiha Gökçen flights
The Asian side's hub with market lanes and a waterfront promenade. Take the ferry to the old city and the M4 to Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
Beşiktaş & Ortaköy
Good for: Bosphorus views, Dolmabahçe Palace
Palaces, mosques and bridge views along the Bosphorus shore. A bit far from the old city.
Map of stays in Istanbul
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Top sights
Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque)
An active mosque; visitors take a ramp to the upper gallery to see the interior and Byzantine mosaics. Foreign visitors pay an entry fee (check official), women must cover their heads, and scarves and body covers are available at the ticket booth. Officially it is closed to visitors during Friday prayers (12:00-14:00).
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
Famous for its six minarets and blue tiles, and still an active place of worship. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and follow on-site notices for visiting times.
Topkapı Palace
The Ottoman imperial palace for about four centuries; the Harem needs a separate ticket. Officially closed on Tuesdays, and tickets are sold at the on-site ticket office (check official prices).
Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan)
A Byzantine underground cistern lined with hundreds of columns. In 2026 its official site announced a temporary closure, so check officially whether it has reopened; the site suggests the nearby Şerefiye Cistern as an alternative.
Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) is a vast covered market, and the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) in Eminönü sells spices and sweets. Check closing days and hours officially.
Galata Tower
A historic city symbol whose top balcony looks over the Golden Horn and the old city. Officially open every day, with evening visits too (check official prices).
Bosphorus ferry tour
Şehir Hatları, the public ferry company, runs Bosphorus tours from Eminönü, Üsküdar and Ortaköy past palaces and bridges. Check schedules and fares officially.
Dolmabahçe Palace
A European-style 19th-century palace of the Ottoman sultans on the Bosphorus shore. Officially closed on Mondays.
What to eat
Simit
A ring of bread crusted with sesame seeds, sold from street carts for breakfast or a snack.
Balık ekmek
A grilled fish sandwich, sold along the waterfront in Eminönü, Karaköy and Kadıköy.
Döner & kebabs
Meat roasted on a vertical spit and sliced into bread or wraps; easy to find in Sultanahmet, Eminönü and beyond.
Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı)
A generous spread of cheese, olives, honey with kaymak (clotted cream), tomatoes and cucumbers, menemen eggs and black tea.
Midye dolma & kumpir
Mussels stuffed with spiced rice are a night-time street snack, and loaded baked potatoes (kumpir) are an Ortaköy waterfront classic.
Baklava & Turkish tea
Thin pastry layered with nuts and syrup, best with black tea in a small tulip glass.
Daily budget (per person)
Budgetabout TRY 2,500-3,500 per day: hostel, street food, public transport
Mid-rangeabout TRY 7,000-10,000 per day: mid-range hotel, restaurants, one or two paid sights
Comfortabout TRY 20,000+ per day: upscale hotel, guided tours, taxis
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Sample itinerary
- Day 1
Metro or airport bus into the city and check in, stroll around Sultanahmet Square, then a fish sandwich on the Eminönü waterfront.
- Day 2
Hagia Sophia in the morning (avoid Friday midday prayers), the Blue Mosque, then Topkapı Palace and the Harem in the afternoon (closed Tuesdays, so pick another day).
- Day 3
Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, a Bosphorus ferry tour from Eminönü, then cross to Karaköy for sunset views from Galata Tower.
- Day 4
Dolmabahçe Palace (closed Mondays), kumpir in Ortaköy, then a ferry to Kadıköy's market on the Asian side before heading to the airport.
Local tips
- Türkiye's currency is the lira (TRY). Prices and exchange rates change quickly, so double-check fares locally and keep a little cash for small shops.
- One Istanbulkart covers the metro, tram and ferries. If you're travelling as a group, keep enough balance loaded.
- Korea's consulate general in Istanbul warns of frequent pickpocketing and bag snatching in crowded places like airports, stations and hotel lobbies. Split your travel money.
- In mosques, take off your shoes, cover shoulders and knees, and women should cover their hair. Don't walk in front of or photograph people who are praying.
- Many Incheon-Istanbul tickets involve a connection, and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is served mostly by connecting flights. Check with the airline whether and when flights operate.
- Check your government's current travel advice for Türkiye before you go. Türkiye is earthquake-prone, so read any earthquake safety notices too.
- Türkiye's entry conditions and passport validity requirements can change. Check with an official Türkiye embassy or government source before you travel.
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