local gems

Local gems in Istanbul

Istanbul has a quieter side that rewards those willing to look beyond the obvious. The Aqueduct of Valens still strides through the city's busy streets, while the Beyazıt Tower once kept watch for fires across the rooftops. Lesser-visited places such as the Balikli Meryem Ana Greek Orthodox Monastery, the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Beyoğlu, and the finely carved Sultan Ahmed III Fountain offer genuine moments of discovery. Add the atmospheric Spice Bazaar, the Bosphorus fortress of Rumeli Hisarı, and the comparatively calm Beylerbeyi Palace, and the city reveals a far more personal face.

144 places · Istanbul, Türkiye · Editorially curated