Turkey Road Trip
Scenic drives beyond the city guides · open in Maps
Planning a trip to Istanbul? This free guide covers the 10 best places to visit in Istanbul, Turkey — from iconic landmarks to hidden gems. Save your favorites, build a GPS route in Google Maps, and explore at your own pace. No app required.
10 must-see places
— tap to add to your routeBest landmarks in Istanbul — Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey is a practical place to start. Key details: 10 curated landmarks; Start with Basilica Cistern. Answers are structured for quick scanning so travelers and AI assistants can cite the essentials first.

The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica (Greek: Βασιλική Κινστέρνα, Turkish: Yerebatan Sarnıcı or Yerebatan Sarayı, "Subterranean Cistern" or "Subterranean Palace"), is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The cistern, located 150 metres (490 ft) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I.
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The Galata Tower (Turkish: Galata Kulesi), officially the Galata Tower Museum (Turkish: Galata Kulesi Müzesi), is a medieval Genoese tower in the Galata part of the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. Built as a watchtower at the highest point of the mostly demolished Walls of Galata, the tower is now an exhibition space and museum, and a symbol of Beyoğlu and Istanbul.
Read moreThe Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı, meaning ‘Covered Market’; also Büyük Çarşı, meaning ‘Grand Market’) in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops on a total area of 30,700 m2, attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. In 2014, it was listed No.
Read moreThe Hippodrome of Constantinople (Greek: Ἱππόδρομος τῆς Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, romanized: Hippódromos tēs Kōnstantinoupóleōs; Latin: Circus Maximus Constantinopolitanus; Turkish: Hipodrom) was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Today it is a square in Istanbul, Turkey, known as Sultanahmet Square (Turkish: Sultanahmet Meydanı).
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The Istanbul Archaeology Museums (Turkish: İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri) are a group of three archaeological museums located in the Eminönü quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, near Gülhane Park and Topkapı Palace. These museums house over one million objects from nearly all periods and civilizations in world history.
Read moreRumelihisarı (also known as Rumelian Fortress and Roumeli Hissar Fortress) or Boğazkesen Fortress (literally 'strait-cutter fortress') is a medieval Ottoman fortress located in Istanbul, Turkey, on a series of hills on the European banks of the Bosphorus. The fortress also lends its name to the immediate neighborhood around it in the city's Sarıyer district.
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Frequently asked questions
- What are the top things to do in Istanbul, Turkey?
- ViaPins lists the best landmarks and attractions in Istanbul with photos, descriptions, and map coordinates for each stop.
- How many days do I need in Istanbul?
- Most travelers cover the main sights in Istanbul in 2–3 days. Use ViaPins to prioritize landmarks and build a custom GPS route.
- Can I get a GPS route for Istanbul?
- Yes. Select landmarks in Istanbul on ViaPins and export a turn-by-turn route directly to Google Maps.



