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The 15 best free activities in Istanbul

Do you want to visit Istanbul and spend as little as possible?

Then follow this Top 15 free tours, museums and activities to do in Istanbul that we have created for you to enjoy without breaking the bank.

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Visit the Blue Mosque for free in Istanbul

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Cross Sultanahmet Square and enter the Blue Mosque: in Istanbul the entrance to mosques is free!

This great mosque is one of the exceptional monuments of Istanbul: this place of worship has six minarets, a very impressive dome and an incredible collection of blue mosaics that make its charm and fame.

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It is open every day of the week but you can only visit it outside of prayer hours by respecting a few rules: take off your shoes and wear your covering clothes.

Admire the city from the Suleymaniye Mosque

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The entrance to this monument is also free. This mosque is not only beautiful and interesting to visit, it also offers a splendid panorama of Istanbul

It is located on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn so you can enjoy an idyllic view of Istanbul and the waters of this estuary!

The complex of the mosque is very vast and we advise you to admire there the tombs of Soliman the Magnificent and his wife Roxelane.

Discover the Zeyrek mosque

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This mosque is the third of our selection. Older than the two previous ones, its architecture is typical of the Byzantine period

Moreover it is located on the fourth hill of the city, close to the Suleymaniye mosque and thus offers a pretty sight on this last and the Golden Horn

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In the past, it was the Pantocrator Monastery in Constantinople. It became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest.

Visit the Hippodrome on Sultanahmet Square for free

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The Hippodrome is ideally located in the Sultanahmet district near the iconic monuments of Istanbul such as the Hagia Sophia Basilica and the Basilica Cistern

You can take a free tour of this racecourse located opposite the Blue Mosque

You can admire the remains of the old Hippodrome of Constantinople: In the middle of the square is the serpentine column and at its ends the obelisks of Theodosius and Constantine Porphyrogenitus.

We recommend this open-air visit as it will allow you to discover a facet of the city’s past.

Walk around the Emirgan Park and admire the tulips

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Emirgan Park is a beautiful flower park where millions of tulips of different varieties bloom and offer an incomparable spectacle

In April, this park even hosts the Istanbul Tulip Festival. This park is located in the Istinye district on the European bank

In addition to the trees and tulips you can also see wooden pavilions that were used by the sultans for hunting

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We really enjoyed walking in this park: the collection of tulips is extraordinary.

Or to the Gülhane park with its beautiful rose beds

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“Gülhane” means “house of roses” in Turkish. Gülhane Park is also a beautiful and well-maintained flower park where you can enjoy a walk in the beautiful tulip and rose beds

You can also try the hiking routes in the park. From the park you will have a view of the Sea of Marmara and the Topkapi Palace.

Take the Galata Bridge to enjoy an extraordinary view

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This bridge will allow you to cross the Golden Horn and you can take it by foot. It is 490 meters long

You will meet fishermen, street artists and trinket sellers

The bridge connects the districts of Karakoÿ to the north and Eminönü to the south. From this bridge you can see both the Asian and European sides of the city and their monuments!

Stroll through the local markets and bazaars of Istanbul for free

Local markets are very popular in Istanbul and are part of the city’s culture

There are several markets but the most famous is the Grand Bazaar which has no less than 4000 stores

Other markets are also famous such as the Egyptian Bazaar or the Besiktas market

You will be able to taste tea while strolling between the merchants of carpets, jewels, fabrics, leather, spices or local culinary specialities

Strolling through a bazaar is a real must-do activity to discover the life of Istanbul.

Enjoy the exceptional view from the Camlica Hill

Istanbul is built on several hills. We recommend that you take a walk on Camlica Hill which offers breathtaking views of the entire city

It is located in Üsküdar district on the Asian side of Istanbul. The hill has two peaks: Big Camlica and Little Camlica

There are also tea gardens. While climbing this hill you can admire the Bosphorus Strait, the Golden Horn and the city.

Visit free art museums in Istanbul

Fortunately, some art museums in Istanbul are free, which is a good opportunity to discover Turkish art. We particularly recommend the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, which has numerous exhibitions and a permanent collection of paintings by 19th century Turkish artists

The Museum of Painting and Sculpture is also part of these museums with free entrance

This museum, also known as the Istanbul Fine Arts Museum, is located within the Dolmabahce Palace.

Enjoying a trendy or romantic evening in Ortakoÿ

If you enjoy a quiet evening, you can take a walk along the waterfront while enjoying the evening

Otherwise, Ortakoÿ is a very lively neighborhood where you will find many clubs and bars, some of which even offer free admission

This neighborhood is also known for its culinary specialty, kumpir, which is a baked potato filled with different ingredients. Anyway, the atmosphere in this district at night is very lively and worth a visit.

Take a walk in the very cultural district of Galata

The Galata district is a popular part of the city full of pretty alleys, ars and cafes

Walking around this neighborhood you will discover the authentic life in Istanbul and you will also be able to admire the Galata Tower, the emblematic monument of the city

This area is the Genoese and artistic district of the city, the atmosphere and ambiance is very pleasant.

Visit Taksim Square, the nerve center of the city

Taksim Square and its surrounding area is part of the lively center of Istanbul. On the square is the Cumhuriyet Aniti, or monument of the Republic

In general, Taksim Square is where everything happens in Istanbul: parades, rallies, celebrations,… In addition, around Taksim Square you will find stores, cafes and restaurants.

Not far away, we also recommend the Taksim Park, a small green area in the city. You can have a cup of tea in the tea gardens located inside the park.

Take a walk on the popular Istiklal Avenue

Istiklal Avenue or “Independence Avenue” starts from Taksim Square and is the busiest avenue in Istanbul

This avenue is very touristic and thousands of stambouliots use it every day.

Walking along this avenue is to take the risk of crossing on its way beautiful bookstores, theaters, cafes and art galleries

The architecture of this avenue is typical of 19th century Turkish architecture.

These activities are free things you can do during your stay in Istanbul: from walks in the sunny parks or along the banks of the Bosphorus to visits to the city’s iconic mosques, it will be pretty easy to discover the city for free

Some districts offer very interesting walks and discoveries. There are also some museums with free entrance which could allow you to discover Turkish artists

Finally, if you are a party animal, we recommend going out to clubs: some offer free entry! Anyway, a tight budget should not prevent you from enjoying your visit to Istanbul!

What to do for free in Istanbul? Have a picnic in Yildiz Park

This large 5 km² park is located in the Besiktas district. It is a very colorful park with different varieties of trees and their

There are also three nice pavilions to visit and a porcelain factory. From the park you will have a nice view of the Bosphorus: it’s an ideal place for a walk or a picnic.

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