Photographing Istanbul
Istanbul spans the Bosphorus strait that divides Europe from Asia, the only major city set across two continents. Once capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, it layers monumental mosques, palaces, churches and covered markets across its hills.
Where to shoot
- Hagia Sophia — a monumental sixth-century domed building, successively church and mosque
- Blue Mosque — an Ottoman mosque with six minarets and a tiled interior, facing Hagia Sophia
- Galata Tower — a medieval stone tower with a panorama over the old city and Golden Horn
- Bosphorus — the strait dividing two continents, lined with palaces and best seen by ferry
- Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque across the garden
- The Blue Mosque's İznik-tiled interior
- The Basilica Cistern's columns and Medusa heads
- Topkapı Palace terraces over the water
- The Grand Bazaar's painted vaulted lanes
- Lamps and spice pyramids in the Spice Bazaar
- Anglers along the Galata Bridge
- Ferry crowds and minarets at Eminönü
- The view from Galata Tower over the old city
- The red heritage tram on İstiklal Avenue
- Karaköy's steep, café-lined lanes
- Rooftop skyline at sunset
- Ortaköy Mosque beneath the Bosphorus Bridge
- The skyline from a public ferry deck
- Wooden yalı mansions along the strait
- Kadıköy's market on the Asian side
When to go
April to May and September to October offer mild weather and manageable crowds; April's tulip displays are a highlight, while summer turns hot and humid and winter brings cool, rainy days.
What to eat
Kebabs, meze spreads, fresh fish along the Bosphorus, simit bread rings, and strong Turkish tea and coffee.
Where to stay
Stay in the Sultanahmet district to be near the main monuments, or in Beyoğlu and Galata for a livelier, more modern base.
Climb to a rooftop terrace or the Galata Tower in the hour after sunrise or before sunset, when the warm light spreads across the old city's domes and minarets.
Read more in Istanbul & Cappadocia: a strait, domes & a valley of stone and 3 Days in Istanbul: Where Two Continents Meet.
