In a nutshell
- Ortaköy is part of the Beşiktaş district and, beyond the well-known Ortaköy Mosque, has some seriously charming streets — many of them even car-free.
- From the hill in the Eyüp district, you get a stunning view over Istanbul — especially beautiful in the evening light when the mosque is all lit up.
- Want to uncover even more hidden gems in Istanbul with a local who knows the city inside out? We recommend booking a private walking tour of Istanbul.
- Those are our top 3 picks — but there are eight more insider tips waiting below. Keep reading to discover all the hidden gems of Istanbul!
Ortaköy: The Lively Neighborhood on the Bosphorus
The trendy neighborhood of Ortaköy is part of the Beşiktaş district. Most tourists pass through here on a Bosphorus cruise to snap a souvenir photo of the Ortaköy Mosque — a small but all the more beautiful mosque on the shores of the Bosphorus.
If you’re stopping by Ortaköy, take some time to explore the neighborhood itself. Many of the small alleyways are even car-free, which is seriously rare in Istanbul. You’ll find charming little shops and great restaurants where mostly locals eat.
Our absolute favorite restaurant in Ortaköy is Ortaköy Mantı Evi — a small place at Değirmen Sok. No: 3/A. It’s not particularly cozy, but the food is excellent and really affordable. In our article restaurant tips for Istanbul, you’ll find even more great spots to eat.
There’s also a stand at the ferry dock in Ortaköy selling what are supposedly the world’s best kumpir. These are baked potatoes stuffed with vegetables, meat, and dips — and they’re truly enormous. They weren’t really our personal thing, but trying them never hurts.
During the first half of our Istanbul trip we also stayed in Ortaköy, by the way. It’s one of three neighborhoods we recommend in our article about the best areas to stay in Istanbul.
Eyüp: Views Over the Golden Horn
The Eyüp district sits at the very end of the Golden Horn. You can take a cable car up a hill there, where you’ll be rewarded with a stunning panorama over the Golden Horn. At the Pierre Loti Café, you can soak in the view over a tea or coffee at your leisure.
The hill is also home to a vast cemetery that offers some really beautiful photo opportunities. It’s especially atmospheric in the evening when the Eyüp Sultan Mosque is lit up in the background.
Since the area is a popular pilgrimage site, the cable car can get quite crowded during peak season. That said, the walk up isn’t very long or steep, so going on foot is totally doable.
Books Galore: Aslıhan Pasajı in Beyoğlu
The Aslıhan Pasajı is tucked away on a side street off İstiklal Caddesi, the main shopping strip of Beyoğlu. Inside this arcade, you’ll find used books, magazines, and comics spread across multiple floors — as far as the eye can see.
For fans of old books, this place is paradise. We could easily spend hours browsing here. One shop even had a huge selection of cassette tapes. Yes, exactly — those things people used to listen to music on 30 years ago. One of the most genuine hidden gems in Istanbul!
Much of the stock is in Turkish, of course, but most shops also carry shelves with German and English books.
To get there, follow İstiklal Caddesi from Taksim Square and turn right onto Hamalbaşı Caddesi. After a few yards, you’ll find the entrance on the right side of the street.
A Private City Tour of Istanbul
In Istanbul, it’s really worth exploring the city with a local guide who knows this fascinating but also very large city inside and out. There are plenty of tour options available, so we want to highlight one that we think stands out.
Our top pick: a six-hour private tour. Your guide will show you the most important highlights of Istanbul, but will also take you to places well off the beaten path.
What’s great is that you book the tour privately — meaning the guide is all yours. You can ask as many questions as you like and even discuss the itinerary with them in advance.
Book the 6-hour private Istanbul tour
Antiques, Curiosities, and Oddities in Çukurcuma
The Çukurcuma neighborhood is also part of Beyoğlu. The streets around Çukurcuma Caddesi are essentially one big flea market, with countless shops selling antiques and curiosities. We could spend an entire day here without getting bored.
Many of the shops are stuffed floor to ceiling. If you take your time and browse at leisure, you can definitely uncover a treasure or two in Çukurcuma.
It’s also a great place to pick up souvenirs before heading to Istanbul Airport for the flight home.
One more thing: Beyoğlu is our first choice for the best area to stay in Istanbul. You’ll also find many of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Istanbul here.
Browse hotels in the Beyoğlu neighborhood
Pure Soccer: Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray
We’ll admit we might be a little biased here — for Basti, catching a soccer match is simply part of every trip. And by now, it’s become a small highlight for Jenny too.
But a soccer match in Istanbul is truly something special. There are very few places in the world where the atmosphere in the stadiums is better.
When the singing and chanting starts, you’ll get goosebumps — guaranteed. Istanbul has three major clubs: Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray.
If you’re lucky enough to catch a city derby, do whatever it takes to get tickets. But honestly, even a regular match is absolutely worth it.
Eating Baklava
In Istanbul, you can buy incredibly good baklava on nearly every corner. Baklava is a pastry made from layers of phyllo dough soaked in honey or sugar syrup and filled with pistachios, almonds, or chopped walnuts.
Turkish baklava really can’t be compared to what you find elsewhere. In Istanbul, it’s not as heavily soaked in sugar and not nearly as overwhelmingly sweet. We absolutely loved it.
Our tip: You can also eat baklava with a thin layer of Turkish ice cream — you absolutely have to try it!
Enjoying the Sunset Over the City
For a stunning vista over the city at sunset, head to the Sapphire of Istanbul observation deck, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city.
By the time sunset rolls around, the tower isn’t crowded anymore and you’ll have an incredible 360-degree view from 236 meters up. You can buy tickets right in front of the elevator that takes you to the top.
There are also some great restaurants nearby, for example in the Kanyon Shopping Mall — a perfect spot to wind down the evening. We had pizza at Nappo Kanyon and can genuinely recommend it.
Riding the Public Ferry
When you’re in Istanbul, one thing is an absolute must: riding the public ferry. Honestly, it’s one of our favorite things to do in the whole city.
It takes longer than the subway, sure — but along the way you’ll have a great view of the city and the Bosphorus.
On the ferry you can buy freshly squeezed orange juice or pomegranate juice and feed seagulls with old bread. It’s also a real highlight for kids — the birds literally swarm behind the ferry in huge flocks.
Want to learn more about what you’re seeing along the way? Then we’d also suggest booking a boat tour in Istanbul — your guide will bring it all to life.
Turkish Breakfast at BAM'S
The Turks truly take breakfast to a whole new level. You have to experience it for yourself!
We had a wonderful breakfast at BAM’S Cafe Restaurant in the Kadıköy neighborhood. Every wish is granted here — from scrambled eggs and salad to olives, cheese, cold cuts, bread, and even fries.
Kadıköy is worth exploring beyond breakfast too. You’ll find one great street café after another, and the neighborhood is just super hip overall. It’s well worth wandering around and soaking it all in.
LASIK Eye Surgery in Istanbul
OK, we’ll admit this is a slightly unusual one. But if you’ve been thinking about getting laser eye surgery, Istanbul is seriously worth considering.
Jenny had her eyes lasered in Istanbul in 2014 and was extremely happy with the care and the whole experience.
The costs are roughly half of what you’d pay in many Western European countries, the technology is state of the art, and the care is truly excellent. And the best part: you can combine the treatment with a vacation in Istanbul.
Istanbul is also a popular destination for hair transplants, by the way — though we can’t speak from personal experience on that one.
Here you’ll find Jenny’s personal account of laser eye surgery in Istanbul:
