The Best Walks To Take In Istanbul

Istanbul is a huge city, which means that exploring the city by foot means discovering something new at every turn. Whether it’s the peace of nature, the sparkling Bosphorus, or some stunning historic structures, check out some of the best walks all around the famous Turkish city.

Bosphorus’ views

No trip to Istanbul is complete without looking out over the Bosphorus as you walk for hours, moving from one neighborhood to the next, gazing at the buildings and people, and reveling in the city’s daily life. The Bosphorus promenade is a long stretch that goes from around the Kuruçeşme neighborhood all the way to Emirgan. On the way, you’ll see many beautiful Ottoman-era mansions, cool boutiques, restaurants, and cafés where you’ll want to make a stop, museums (most notably the Sakıp Sabancı Museum), and of course plenty of amazing views of the Bosphorus.

Away from the city

Istanbul from the other side

If you want to gaze at Istanbul from a whole different angle, then head to the Asian side and stroll down the Moda promenade, where you can sit on one of the big rocks on the beach and look at the European side. Moda is definitely one of Kadıköy’s coolest neighborhoods, so when you’re done walking down the beach promenade, make your way into the neighborhood (especially Moda Caddesi) to check out all the great cafés, restaurants, galleries, and boutiques that the very young Moda has on offer.

Wander through an open air museum

The Balat and Fener neighborhood is a great place to really wander the streets and get lost among the many beautiful historic apartments with their colorful facades and ornate decorations. You’ll come across historic churches and the stunning Fener High School, as well as the cafés, vintage shops, and restaurants opened up by young people that have made the historic neighborhood their new home.

Touring the cool neighborhoods

If you’re interested in seeing some of Istanbul’s coolest neighborhoods and spending a lot of time making stops at cool boutiques, galleries, and cafés, then make your way to the Karaköy neighborhood, make your way up Boğazkesen Street, and make a right into Çukurcuma Street to explore the antique shops of the Çukurcuma neighborhood (as well as the Museum of Innocence). You’ll end up making your way all the way to Cihangir, where you can finish the tour with a delicious meal at Datlı Maya, where the Anatolian dishes are made from fair and organic ingredients.

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