İstanbul, The City Of Miracles Continues To Fascinate / The 20 Best Things To Do In Istanbul That Don’t Cost a Thing / By Jennifer Hattam / lonelyplanet

With its lively streets layered with history, just walking around Istanbul is an attraction in itself – visit the city’s marvelous mosques, markets and parks for no cost at all.

Here are the best free things to see and do in Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest metropolis.

1. Tour Istanbul’s beautiful mosques

Splendid Ottoman-era mosques, all free to visit, top the historic seven hills of Istanbul’s Old City and adorn many streets. The elegant Süleymaniye Mosque is the finest of them all, with a grand complex of buildings around it and an impressive perch overlooking the Golden Horn.

Tucked away in the bustling market streets of Eminönü, the intimate Rüstem Paşa Mosque boasts wonderfully rich tile work. As with all mosques, non-worshippers should avoid going inside at prayer times, which are displayed near the entrance. All visitors must dress modestly, and women must cover their heads.

One of the most sacred sites in the city, Eyüp Sultan Mosque is surrounded by grand tomb complexes and a leafy cemetery stretching up the hillside, affording fine views of the Golden Horn from the top. The mosque complex is said to be the burial place of Ebu Eyüp El Ensari, a close companion of the Prophet, making it an important pilgrimage spot for Muslims.

2. Take a picnic to Gülhane Park

Two favorite local pastimes are picnicking and promenading, and there are some lovely parks and gardens in Istanbul open to the public. With its stately old trees and winding paths, Gülhane Park – once part of the Topkapı Palace gardens – is particularly beautiful.

3. See the 4th-century Aqueduct of Valens

The 4th-century Aqueduct of Valens once carried water into Istanbul, and it’s still an impressive sight, towering over a multi-lane roadway. The Women’s Bazaar that sits in its shadow is a colorful neighborhood square lined with popular kebab restaurants.

4. Meander around the Grand Bazaar

Often referred to as the world’s oldest mall, the Grand Bazaar sprawls over 61 covered and maze-like streets. Explore the crumbling hans (caravanserais) along its fringes, where a few artisans still ply their long-practiced trades.

5. Check out traditional street markets and the famous Spice Bazaar

Traditional weekly street markets retain a loyal following, despite the proliferation of modern malls and grocery stores. The Wednesday Market in Fatih, which tumbles through the streets surrounding the Fatih Mosque, is among the biggest and best. On Saturdays, head to Feriköy for Türkiye’s first organic bazaar.

A stroll through the Kadıköy Produce Market, a lively strip of mostly open-air shops near the ferry port, makes for great photographic opportunities, with its colorful, carefully arranged displays of olives, produce, dried fruit and nuts, fish, cheese, pickles and more.

You’ll find more souvenirs than spices today in the Mısır Çarşısı, known in English as the Spice Bazaar, but the streets around this Ottoman-era marketplace in Eminönü are a great place to get a taste of the vibrant local shopping life. Along the bazaar, outdoor stalls are piled high with dried fruits, nuts and other edible goodies in case you need fuel before plunging into the maze of streets and hans behind it, where shoppers buy everything from clothes to kitchenware.

Note: while these markets are all free to visit, vendors always appreciate it when you do some shopping.

6. See the Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars

Istanbul has a number of still-functioning Christian churches, many with great historical significance. Perhaps the most distinctive is the Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars, assembled from 500 tons of cast-iron pieces shipped in from Vienna along the Danube on dozens of barges. A restoration completed in 2018 has this cross-shaped basilica and its ornate interior gleaming.

7. Marvel at the Hünkâr Kasrı, a pavilion fit for a sultan

This private pavilion used by the sultan during his visits to the Yeni Cami (New Mosque) is resplendent with tiles, carpets, inlaid wood and stained glass. Access to the Hünkâr Kasrı is through a long enclosed ramp behind the mosque.

8. Take in an exhibit at the Pera Museum

Well-curated temporary exhibitions of contemporary art and a fine collection of Orientalist paintings by European and Ottoman artists are the draws at the Pera Museum, which offers free admission every Friday between 6pm and 10pm.

9. Attend an event at a SALT cultural center

Housed in the beautifully restored former headquarters of the Imperial Ottoman Bank, SALT Galata is a cultural center and library that hosts exhibitions and special events, including free talks and film screenings that are sometimes held in English. Its sister institution up the hill, SALT Beyoğlu, has similar programming and is worth a visit, too.

10. Soak up the scene at Beyoğlu’s art galleries

Istanbul’s vibrant contemporary art scene is on display throughout the Beyoğlu district, particularly around İstiklal Caddesi and in the Karaköy, Tophane and Tomtom neighborhoods.

You could easily spend half a day perusing a range of intriguing galleries and other exhibition spaces – including Meşher, Yapı Kredi Kültür Sanat, Akbank Art, Depo and Galerist – whose rotating shows can be visited for free.

11. See another side of the city’s history at the İstanbul Arastırmaları Enstitüsü

Covering everything from urban planning to historical events, the Istanbul Research Institute presents different, often lesser-known aspects of the city’s history through exhibitions that draw on its rich archival collection of photographs and documents.

Enjoy a picnic or a leisurely stroll through Yıldız Park. Getty Images