◎ Experiences · near IST

Things to do near IST

41 experiences reachable from IST — ranked by how worth-the-trip they are. See all →

Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon + Underground Cities (Regional) Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon + Underground Cities (Regional) Istanbul A day trip to Cappadocia (3-hour drive) combining a private hot air balloon flight at sunrise over fairy chimneys with … outdoorExplore → Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia Istanbul A mosque and major cultural and historical site completed in AD 537, Hagia Sophia was the world's largest interior spac… museumExplore → Whirling Dervish Ceremony Whirling Dervish Ceremony Istanbul EMAV hosts an authentic weekly Mevlevi Sema ceremony where dervishes spin rhythmically in circles to live music and hym… showExplore → Gallipoli Battlefield Archaeological Tour Gallipoli Battlefield Archaeological Tour Istanbul An expert-led battlefield tour of the Gallipoli Campaign sites in Turkey, examining the naval assault, beach landings, … tourExplore → Troy Archaeological Site + Museum (Day Trip) Troy Archaeological Site + Museum (Day Trip) Istanbul Troy is an ancient archaeological site consisting of nine layers of cities built and destroyed over 4,000 years, locate… tourExplore → Basilica Cistern Basilica Cistern Istanbul The Basilica Cistern is a vast underground chamber built in the 6th century beneath Istanbul, containing 336 marble col… museumExplore → Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) Istanbul An Ottoman-era imperial mosque constructed between 1609 and 1617, renowned for its classical Ottoman architecture featu… otherExplore → Bosphorus Cruise Bosphorus Cruise Istanbul tourExplore → Chora Church (Kariye Museum) Chora Church (Kariye Museum) Istanbul A 14th-century Byzantine structure renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved mosaics and frescoes depicting biblica… museumExplore → Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) Istanbul A covered bazaar constructed in 1660, housing 85 shops that sell spices, Turkish delight, dried fruits and nuts, jewell… otherExplore → Suleymaniye Mosque Suleymaniye Mosque Istanbul The Süleymaniye Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by architect… otherExplore → Topkapi Palace Topkapi Palace Istanbul Topkapı Palace is a large museum and library in Istanbul that served as the administrative center and main residence of… museumExplore → Aynalı Kavak Palace Concert Series Aynalı Kavak Palace Concert Series Istanbul Aynalıkavak Palace is an Ottoman imperial palace built in 1613 by Sultan Ahmet I on the Golden Horn shore, featuring or… cultureExplore → Edirne Selimiye Mosque + Ottoman Copper Guild (Regional) Edirne Selimiye Mosque + Ottoman Copper Guild (Regional) Istanbul A day trip to Edirne (90 minutes northwest) to experience Sinan's masterpiece Selimiye Mosque and its still-active surr… cultureExplore → Princes' Islands Monasteries & Slowboat Picnic Princes' Islands Monasteries & Slowboat Picnic Istanbul The Princes' Islands are nine small islands in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, with four open to public access. Visit… outdoorExplore → Sadberk Hanım Museum (Asian Side Private Collection) Sadberk Hanım Museum (Asian Side Private Collection) Istanbul An exquisite private collection museum on the Asian side housing Ottoman textiles, jewelry, calligraphy manuscripts, an… cultureExplore → Turquoisefish Private Bosphorus Dawn Sail & Breakfast Turquoisefish Private Bosphorus Dawn Sail & Breakfast Istanbul A small-group (max 8 passengers) pre-dawn sailing expedition launching before sunrise, with stops at hidden coves for s… outdoorExplore → Dolmabahçe Palace Dolmabahçe Palace Istanbul Dolmabahçe Palace is a 19th-century imperial palace located in Istanbul along the Bosporus, built between 1843 and 1853… museumExplore → Galata Bridge Fish Market & Restaurants Galata Bridge Fish Market & Restaurants Istanbul The Galata Bridge Fish Market sits at the base of the Galata Bridge on the Beyoglu side, offering fresh fish and seafoo… otherExplore → Grand Bazaar Grand Bazaar Istanbul One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, featuring 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops across 30… otherExplore → Pera Palace Hotel Pera Palace Hotel Istanbul Pera Palace Hotel is a historic luxury hotel opened in 1892 in Istanbul's Pera district, now serving as one of the city… otherExplore → Pierre Loti Café Pierre Loti Café Istanbul otherExplore → Anatolian Side Night Market Food Tour (Kuzguncuk + Kanlica) Anatolian Side Night Market Food Tour (Kuzguncuk + Kanlica) Istanbul A guided tour of late-night neighborhood food stalls and family restaurants in these Bosphorus villages where locals ea… foodExplore → Bursa Ottoman Silk Route + Hamamı Tour Bursa Ottoman Silk Route + Hamamı Tour Istanbul A day trip to Bursa (90 minutes) exploring its role as the first Ottoman capital, including the Grand Bazaar's silk mar… cultureExplore → Nayla Pottery Cooperative (Kütahya Day Trip) Nayla Pottery Cooperative (Kütahya Day Trip) Istanbul A 90-minute drive to Kütahya to visit working pottery studios and kilns producing Ottoman-style ceramics using 700-year… foodExplore → Galata Tower Galata Tower Istanbul The Galata Tower is a medieval Genoese tower built in 1348 in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, originally constructed as a … museumExplore → Istanbul Archaeological Museums Istanbul Archaeological Museums Istanbul Istanbul Archaeological Museums is a compound of three separate institutions—the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of Anci… museumExplore → Istanbul Modern Museum Istanbul Modern Museum Istanbul Turkey's first museum of modern and contemporary art, Istanbul Modern showcases contemporary and modern artworks from T… museumExplore → Maiden's Tower Maiden's Tower Istanbul The Maiden's Tower is a historic tower located on a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait in Ist… museumExplore → Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Istanbul The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum houses the world's richest Islamic art collection, featuring over 1,700 carpets, me… museumExplore → Belgrad Forest Wellness Retreat Day Belgrad Forest Wellness Retreat Day Istanbul A guided full-day immersion in Istanbul's only old-growth forest (15 km north) with native guides leading forest bathin… outdoorExplore → Antrepo No. 3 Warehouse Istanbul A complex of four former bonded warehouse buildings at Salipazari Harbor on the Bosporus in Istanbul's Tophane district… hidden-gemExplore → Balat's Terracotta Workshop District Tour Istanbul A walking tour through Balat's warren of active ceramic studios and kilns where artisans create Ottoman Iznik-inspired … cultureExplore → Ceccaldi Restaurant (Sultanahmet) Istanbul A Michelin-recognized restaurant inside a restored Byzantine structure, serving hyper-seasonal Turkish cuisine sourced … foodExplore → Çengelköy Antika & Culinary Studio Istanbul Intimate hands-on Turkish cooking classes in a restored 19th-century mansion overlooking the Bosphorus, teaching tradit… foodExplore → Cevahir Bedesten Hidden Gold Market Istanbul The Cevahir Bedesteni is the oldest section of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, a 15th-century covered market originally built … hidden-gemExplore → Galata Boat Builders Yard Tour Istanbul An active boatyard where master craftsmen build traditional wooden gulet sailing vessels using 500-year-old techniques,… tourExplore → Pera Museum's Hidden Photography Archive Istanbul Pera Museum houses curated collections from the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation, featuring Ottoman and Turkish art spann… cultureExplore → Raffi's Workshop Istanbul A living studio where a master calligrapher crafts custom illuminated manuscripts and teaches the sacred geometry of Ot… cultureExplore → Suleymaniye Hamam (The 1550 Ottoman Bath House) Istanbul Süleymaniye Hamam is a historic Ottoman bath house built in 1550-1557, designed by the renowned architect Sinan. Visito… cultureExplore → Yildiz Palace Ceramic Studio Residency Istanbul Yıldız Palace is a vast Ottoman palace complex overlooking the Bosphorus that served as the seat of government and resi… cultureExplore →