Istanbul is a huge city, consisting of no less than 39 districts. Each of these districts contain several towns – among which famous ones like Sultanahmet and Taksim. Luckily, finding your way around town as a tourist is not that difficult as long as you keep the big picture in mind. I therefore divided the city into the following six (not too big) areas, housing most of the tourist attractions:
- Historical Peninsula (purple), south of the Golden Horn
- Contemporary Istanbul (red), north of the Golden Horn
- the area along the Golden Horn (blue)
- the shores of the Bosphorus (green)
- the Asian shore (pink)
- the Princes’ Islands (not on the map)
Historical Peninsula
Boroughs: Beyazıt, Eminönü, Fatih, Kumkapı, Mercan, Sirkeci, Sultanahmet, Tahtakale, Eminönü
Sightseeing spots: Archaeology Museums, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Harem, Hippodrome, Museum of Hagia Eirene, Topkapı Palace, Süleymaniye Mosque, Spice Bazaar
Contemporary Istanbul
Boroughs: Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Cihangir, Galata, Karaköy, Nişantaşı, Ortaköy, Şişli, Taksim, Tophane, Tünel, Yıldız
Sightseeing spots: Dolmabahçe Palace, Flower Passage, Galata Tower, Istanbul Modern, Istiklal Caddesi, Nevizade, Taksim Square, Tünel, Shopping Centers
Along the Golden Horn
Boroughs: Balat, Eyüp, Fener, Sütlüce
Sightseeing spots: Rahmi Koç Museum, Miniatürk, Pierre Lotti, Orthodox Patriarchate
Shores of the Bosphorus
Boroughs: Arnavutköy, Bebek, Hisar, Istinye, Kuruçeşme
Sightseeing spots: Fortress of Europe, Historical Houses, Istinye Shopping Center, Open-air Night Clubs,
The Asian Shore: Kadıköy, Moda
Boroughs: Fenerbahçe, Kadıköy, Moda, Üsküdar
Sightseeing spots: Bahariye Caddesi, Bağdat Caddesi, Fenerbahçe Marina, Fortress of Anatolia
The Princes’ Islands
Islands: Burgazada, Büyükada, Heybeliada, Kınalıada
Sightseeing / Activities: Monastery of St George, wooden mansions, horse-drawn carriage rides, bicycle tours, beaches
Beyond the City Center
Boroughs: Bakırköy, Beykoz, Sarıyer
Sightseeing spots: Anadolu Feneri, Kilyos, Istanbul New Airport, Şile, Ağva, Polonezköy, Riva, Bakırköy, Florya, Beykoz Park