With its colorful everyday city life and vibrant nightlife, Istanbul has a lot to offer visitors in terms of sights and things to do. And a visit to this enchanted city would be incomplete without seeing the top 11 Istanbul attractions in 2022. Of course, it is impossible to include all of the greatest things to do in Istanbul; nonetheless, here are some of the most intriguing activities that you will not want to miss during your trip to Istanbul. Make a point of checking off these top Istanbul attractions on your to-do list.

1. Take in the City's Shopping Scene

The Ottoman-era historical bazaars and modern shopping malls offer a wide range of traditional and modern products, making the city a popular destination for shoppers. Grand Bazaar is one of the world's greatest covered bazaars and there are more than 4000 shops in it. The Egyptian Spice Bazaar is also a popular historical covered bazaar, where you can purchase different kinds of spices, dried fruits, jewelry, pashmina and more.

Read more on our

Top 10 Souvenirs To Buy In Istanbul Post & Top 5 Shopping Malls of Istanbul

2. Take a Cruise on the Bosphorus

The Bosphorus Cruise is one of the most popular and exciting ways to spend your time in Istanbul. Typical Bosphorus Cruises start just east of the renowned Galata Bridge and proceed to Anadolu Kavagi, the Bosphorus' Black Sea entry, with various tourist stops along the way.

3. Historic Heritage Visit in Sultanahmet

We highly recommend visiting and seeing Sultanahmet neighborhood if you are a true history enthusiast and want to see the city's historic sites. It is the best way to experience the city's historical atmosphere.

Sultanahmet is the center of many of Istanbul's best historical and tourist attractions. Sultanahmet Square, Grand Hagia Sophia Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Basilica's underground Cistern, Istanbul Archaeology Museums, and Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, all of which can be explored on foot.

4. Organize a Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

The BigBus Istanbul tour is a low-cost way to discover and explore the popular areas of Istanbul that are difficult to see on foot in a single day. It drives through the popular sights of Istanbul's interesting and diverse districts and neighborhoods, providing informative pre-recorded commentary in eight languages. The open-top double-decker tourist bus is very cool.

5. A Magical Evening at the Whirling Dervishes Hall

The Whirling Dervishes Show or Ceremony ("Sema" in Turkish) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul. It's because this ceremony is a very unusual event for tourists, and when they hear about it, the majority of them try to catch this one-hour show and witness the whirling dervishes' miracle. This show can be seen at two popular locations. Buy your tickets on their website in advance as they are quickly being sold out.

6. Visit Istanbul's Charming Museums

Istanbul museums offer the best of the city's historical heritage, culture, and modern art to true culture and art enthusiasts. More than 80 museums and many art galleries in Istanbul showcase all aspects of culture, arts, and history, including painting, sculpture, photography, and more. Among the best museums in Istanbul to visit are the Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Hagia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul Modern, Rahmi Koc Transport Museum, and Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.

7. Discover and Enjoy Turkish Cousine

Istanbul's well-established, good, and luxury Istanbul restaurants serve a wide variety of Turkish cuisine. Traditional Turkish cuisine is truly delectable. Travelers can select from a wide variety of Turkish kebabs, mezes (starters), and meat-based dishes. Turkish sweets such as baklava and Turkish delight are also well-known around the world. We recommend taking guided Istanbul food and culinary tours to sample and experience Turkish cuisine along popular tourist routes.

8. A Fun Day at Istanbul's Theme Parks

Istanbul has fantastic theme parks, ranging from massive ones with a wide range of thrilling rides and attractions to aquariums, dolphinariums, themed museums, and more. Amusement and theme parks are not only places to have fun, but they are also excellent places for your children's learning and imagination development. We recommend that you visit Isfanbul, the Aquarium Sea Life Istanbul, and the Istanbul LEGOLAND Discovery Center.

Read more about Istanbul's theme Park Isfanbul

9. Enjoy Istanbul's Vibrant Nightlife

Many of the city's entertainment venues are central to Istanbul's entertainment scene. Istanbul's nightlife has really come alive in recent years, and locals will tell you that it spreads out in all directions throughout the city. Istanbul's numerous bars, pubs, cafes, nightclubs, music venues, and restaurants allow you to easily spend the night hopping from one to the next.

10. Take in The Best Views of the City

There are numerous great places and viewpoints from which to enjoy a panoramic view of Istanbul, ranging from historic sites such as towers, mosques, and palaces to rooftop terraces, groves, and hilltops.

11. Pamper Yourself with a Traditional Hammam Treatment

Last but not least in our Top 11 Istanbul Attractions list is a Turkish Bath (Hamam).

Enjoy one of the traditional Hammam treatments in Istanbul's oldest and most authentic places. Çemberlitaş, Cagaloglu, Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı, Hurrem Sultan Hammam, Gedikpasa hammam and more...

Read our First timer's hammam guide post for more information about how to get the best out of the Turkish Bath.