What You NEED to Book in Advance for Istanbul (And How to Book!)
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If you're planning your first trip to Istanbul, one question comes up again and again: what actually needs to be booked in advance?
The good news is that most of Istanbul's top attractions don't sell out months in advance.
The bad news is that leaving everything until the day of your visit can mean spending a surprising amount of your holiday standing in ticket queues or trying to figure out which ticket you're actually supposed to buy, especially during the busy summer months.
Trust me, I once spent two and a half hours queuing for the Hagia Sophia with my friend Alia. The only reason it was bearable was that we had a lot of catching up to do.
The other challenge is figuring out what you're actually supposed to book. Between official tickets, guided tours, museum passes and various third-party websites, it isn't always obvious which option makes the most sense.
We’ve visited all of Istanbul’s major sights ourselves, often with friends and family in tow, and over the years we’ve learned that booking ahead is usually the easiest way to save time and make the most of your trip, especially if you’re only in the city for a few days.
In this guide, we'll explain exactly what should be booked in advance, how to reserve tickets, and how far ahead you need to plan. We’ll also include a few less well-known places in Istanbul that are worth visiting and still require advance reservations.
What to Book in Advance at a Glance
If you're visiting Istanbul in spring or summer, these are the main places we’d book ahead to avoid long ticket queues:
We’d also book a Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and the Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour before you arrive as these experiences can sell out.
If you're planning a last-minute trip, don’t panic. You can still book guided tours that let you skip the ticket queues.
Short on time? We’ve linked our recommended tickets and tours in each section below.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
The absolutely spectacular Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque.
🗓️ Make reservations for the Hagia Sophia 30 days in advance
Purchase tickets on the DEM Museums site (€50.00 per person including entry to the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum. Standalone tickets for the mosque are not available on this site).
To tour Hagia Sophia with a guide (which we'd highly recommend), consider this budget-friendly skip-the-line tour with an audio guide or live guide or this popular small-group tour with excellent reviews if you'd prefer a more personal experience.
The 1500-year-old Hagia Sophia was originally a cathedral built in 537 AD by Roman Emperor Justinian I. It later became a mosque, then a museum and now operates as a kind of mosque-museum hybrid.
It’s considered the pinnacle of Byzantine architecture - the building’s dome was the largest in the world (until Michelangelo’s dome on top of St Peter’s Basilica, nearly 1000 years later) - and is home to hundreds of stunning and well-preserved mosaics. We’ve visited four times now and the beauty of the mosaics never ceases to amaze us.
Hagia Sophia opens at 9:00 am to visitors and is pretty crowded by midday so we’d recommend arriving early even if you’ve booked your ticket in advance.
On Friday the mosque is closed to visitors between 12:30-14:30 due to Friday prayers.
🧕 Dress code: Visitors should dress modestly - cover your shoulders and legs - and women must wear a headscarf. You can also rent a headscarf (€1) and a body cover (€3) from the ticket booth.
🎟️ Ticket: Your ticket grants you entry to the upper gallery. Only Turkish Muslim citizens can visit the ground floor to pray. The upper gallery is where all the mosaics and frescoes are though!
🏗️ Construction: The Hagia Sophia is currently undergoing a massive restoration and there is scaffolding which blocks the view of the dome and some of the artwork inside. If this bothers you, consider visiting Chora Church instead.
Topkapı Palace
The Harem at Topkapı Palace is simply gorgeous.
I🗓️ Make reservations for the Topkapı Palace 30 days in advance
If you don’t purchase a ticket through an online agency you can only buy tickets in person on the day. Foreign visitors must now buy a combined ticket that includes the palace, Harem and Hagia Irene church. (2750 TL/€54 per person).
Consider this highly-rated small group tour that includes skip-the-line-tickets to both Topkapı Palace and the Harem.
The Istanbul Museum Pass is accepted at Topkapı Palace and includes the Harem.
For almost 400 years Topkapı Palace was the Ottoman Empire’s political nerve centre and the opulent home of the sultans. This gigantic complex once housed 4000 people and is a maze of lavish chambers, pavilions and courtyards.
The palace Harem features the most spectacular rooms decorated with ornate Iznik tiles, gilded walls, stained glass windows and extravagantly painted domes. It’s the most popular section of the palace, so it’s best to visit it first, before it gets too crowded.
Meanwhile the Imperial Treasury houses the Spoonmaker’s Diamond - one of the largest diamonds in the world - and the Chamber of Holy Relics holds scrolls belonging to John the Baptist and the Staff of Moses. Vincent’s parents loved seeing those!
📸 Photography: Photography is prohibited in some rooms of the museum. In others you cannot use a professional camera but phone photography is fine.
⏰ Opening times: Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesday.
Basilica Cistern
The beautiful Basilica Cistern with a slightly eerie art installation!
🗓️ Make reservations for the Basilica Cistern 21 days in advance
It is currently only possible to purchase Basilica Cistern tickets in person on the day, if you don’t want to use an online agency. (1950 TL/€36 per person)
Check out this traveller-favourite fast track entry tour with an audio or live guide.
Constructed 1600 years ago by Emperor Justinian I, the Basilica Cistern is the largest Roman cistern in Istanbul - roughly the size of two football fields!
There's something quite impressive about descending underground and finding yourself surrounded by huge arched ceilings and more than 300 marble columns illuminated in different colours.
There is still water in the cistern (although obviously not as much as before, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to visit!) and you might spot fish swimming beneath your feet.
As well as the famous upside-down Medusa heads, the cistern also occasionally hosts slightly creepy art installations, which we absolutely love.
The Basilica Cistern gets busy, so it's worth arriving early, ideally before the doors open at 9:00 am. If crowds aren't your thing, we'd recommend taking this brilliant night tour of the Basilica Cistern or visiting the Binbirdirek Cistern instead.
📸 Photography tip: It’s dark down there even with the lighting effects so switch your camera to low light settings if possible. Phone cameras generally work really well.
Galata Tower
The Galata Tower has epic views of Istanbul.
🗓️ Make reservations for the Galata Tower 14 days in advance
Purchase tickets on muze.gov.tr (€30 per person)
This skip-the-line all-day entry tour with audio guide is perfect if you want to avoid the ticket queues, especially in summer.
The Istanbul Museum Pass is accepted at Galata Tower.
The Galata Tower's origins date back to Emperor Justinian I, but the tower you see today was built by the Genoese in 1348. (Justinian's original tower was destroyed when the Crusaders sacked Constantinople in 1204.)
There are different museum exhibits inside including our favourite: a section of the huge iron chain that was used to protect the Golden Horn from marauding invaders.
However most people visit for the spectacular 360° views of Istanbul from the 8th floor observation deck: you can see the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and Istanbul’s iconic landmarks, including the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Galata Tower is extremely popular and gets very busy by midday. Get there for when it opens at 8:30 am and you may have the observation deck all to yourself, even in summer.
📸 Photography tip: Morning and golden hour offer the best light, but sunset is also the busiest time to visit. For a different perspective, visit after dark between June and October. The ticket we recommend above is valid until 10:00 pm.
♿ Accessibility: A lift takes you up to the 6th floor, but from there you’ll need to climb two sets of stairs to reach the 8th-floor observation deck. On the way down, there are narrow stairs to the ground floor, although a lift is available if you have mobility issues.
Dolmabahçe Palace
The very ornate Dolmabahçe Palace.
🗓️ Make reservations for the Dolmabahçe Palace 21 days in advance
Purchase E-tickets on millisaraylar.gov.tr (2700 TL/€51 per person, including entrance to the Selamlık, Harem and Painting Museum).
This top-rated tour with audio guide includes fast-track entry to the palace, including the Harem, Selamlık and Garden. It’s a great option if you prefer to explore at your own pace while learning more about the palace's history, impressive architecture and artwork.
Dolmabahçe Palace is the largest palace in Turkey. A fusion of Ottoman and European architectural styles, it was home to six sultans and later served as the presidential residence of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Republic of Türkiye. It is still used today when the Turkish government hosts foreign dignitaries.
It's also one of the most beautiful buildings in Istanbul - 14 tonnes of gold were used to decorate the ceilings alone!
Our favourite parts of the palace are the Crystal Staircase and the Ceremonial Hall (so bling!), although in spring and summer we also love wandering through the gardens and enjoying the Bosphorus views.
The palace is enormous and takes several hours to explore, so we'd recommend arriving before it opens at 9:00 am. It tends to get noticeably busier from around 11.30 am onwards.
📸 Photography: Photography has recently been permitted in the palace in selected areas (yay!). Tripods and flash photography are prohibited.
Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour
A master pide maker on the Taste of Two Continents Food Tour .
🗓️ Make reservations at least 30 days in advance
- Book this food tour on Viator.
If this is your first trip to Istanbul, keep in mind that this city isn’t just about mind-blowing historic attractions. It’s also about the food.
We’ve done this full-day guided food tour of Istanbul (and written about it here) and, honestly, it’s one of the best tours we’ve ever been on.
This small-group tour is capped at just 10 participants and starts with a traditional Turkish breakfast sourced from a local market on Istanbul’s European side before crossing the Bosphorus to Asia by ferry.
From there, you'll eat your way through Kadıköy's market streets, trying everything from popular street food snacks to dishes from some of the city's most famous restaurants.
It's also one of the most popular tours in Istanbul, so we'd recommend booking as early as possible if you'd like to secure a spot.
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
The Istanbul skyline at night is something else.
🗓️ Make reservations at least 14 days in advance
My Turkish teacher Berna recently told me that her favourite summertime activity is taking a nighttime cruise along the Bosphorus. And you know when someone who has lived in Istanbul their whole life says it's their favourite thing to do in summer, you gotta take that recommendation seriously!
I have to agree with Berna - seeing the Istanbul skyline lit up at night from the water is an unforgettable experience. We’ve done lots of different Bosphorus cruises (and written about them here) and in our opinion the dinner cruise is extra special.
This Bosphorus dinner cruise has been booked more than 70,000 times, making it one of the most popular experiences in Istanbul.
You'll see many of the city's most famous landmarks from the water while enjoying a three-course meal on board a yacht. There are traditional (and very lively) Turkish music and dance performances too, which adds to the fun.
Chora Mosque
The Chora Mosque has mosaics and frescoes that rival the Hagia Sophia.
🗓️ Make reservations at least 1-2 weeks in advance
- DEM Museums (who manage Chora Mosque) use Get Your Guide as their official ticket provider. You can book their official skip-the-line-ticket here (€23 per person). It’s slightly cheaper if you buy it in person on the day (€20 per person) but you will have to queue.
A former Byzantine Church, Chora Mosque is famous, second only to the Hagia Sophia, for its incredible Byzantine mosaics and frescoes.
In fact, some people argue that the artwork inside Chora Mosque is even more impressive than Hagia Sophia and having visited both several times, I can understand why.
Almost every wall and ceiling is covered in stunning mosaics and brightly covered frescoes. Because the building is pretty small, it’s much easier to appreciate all the details without craning your neck or relying on a humungous zoom lens.
We also love visiting Chora Mosque because it’s a little further from Istanbul's main tourist sights and attracts nowhere near the crowds of Hagia Sophia. Nevertheless, we'd still recommend reserving your ticket in advance, especially during the summer months.
As we mentioned earlier, Hagia Sophia is currently undergoing renovation work. If you're unsure whether it's worth visiting right now, Chora Mosque is an excellent alternative.
⏰ Opening times: The mosque is closed to visitors on Friday. You also cannot enter the mosque during prayer time on other days.
📸 Photography: Flash photography is not permitted inside.
🧕 Dress code: Visitors should dress modestly - no shorts or bare shoulders - and women must wear a headscarf. You can also rent head and body coverings at the entrance.
Binbirdirek Cistern
🗓️ Make reservations at least 1 week in advance
- Tickets are currently not available online, you have to buy them in person on the day.
- For a completely different experience, book this mesmerising Whirling Dervish ceremony held inside Binbirdirek Cistern.
Featuring 212 marble columns, Binbirdirek Cistern (also known as the Philoxenos Cistern) once held around 40,000 cubic metres of water.
Believed to have been built by the Roman senator Philoxenos between AD 307 and 337, it originally supplied water to the palace of Constantine I before being expanded during Justinian's reign to serve the wider city.
By the Ottoman period, the cistern no longer held water and was instead used by workers spinning silk and yarn. Today, it has taken on another role entirely, hosting everything from weddings and fashion shows to cultural performances.
One of our favourite ways to experience this 1,600-year-old cistern is during a Whirling Dervish ceremony.
Sitting beneath the soaring columns while the music and chanting echoed around the vast underground chamber was something else! It's a lovely, intimate setting and one of the most unusual and memorable things we’ve done in Istanbul.
Istanbul Reservations FAQs
Do I really need to book advance tickets for Istanbul?
Yes, if you don’t want to waste an age in the ticket queue. While tickets for Istanbul’s major attractions rarely sell out, in the late spring and summer the queues to buy them are extremely long.
For popular attractions like Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace you can expect to wait for two hours or more in a queue during peak season.
The Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour is extremely popular and often sells out during the summer so even if you’re happy to leave the rest of the sights up to chance, we’d recommend booking that experience in advance.
Does buying a ticket in advance mean that I can walk straight in?
No. At most of Istanbul's major attractions there are two queues: one for buying tickets and another for security.
Booking in advance means you can skip the ticket queue and head straight to the security check instead. In our experience, the security queue moves much faster and usually just involves walking through a metal detector while your bag is scanned.
What sights would you most recommend a guided tour for?
If it’s your first time in Istanbul, we’d definitely recommend taking a guided tour of Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace. Both have fascinating histories, and you’ll get far more out of your visit with someone who can bring the stories behind them to life.
Can someone just organise everything for me?
If this all still feels like too much, you could consider this customised 1, 2 or 3-day guided tour of Istanbul.
You choose what you want to see based on your interests, and let someone else take care of the logistics. The tour includes fast-track entry to all the sites, which means you won’t have to deal with ticket queues on the day. Click here for more details.
Ready to Explore Istanbul?
Istanbul can feel a bit overwhelming on a first visit, but a bit of planning goes a long way.
If you book the main attractions in advance and leave some space in your itinerary for unplanned exploring (and café hopping - very important!), you’ll get far more out of your time here and spend a lot less of it standing in queues.
Have a great trip!
Useful Resources For Your Trip
🛬 Need an airport transfer?
🌟 Don't forget:
- Stay connected with an Airalo eSIM.
- Get travel medical insurance with SafetyWing.
- Save money with a Wise International Debit Card!
Before you go, make sure to check out some of our other Istanbul and Turkey/Türkiye guides:
🗓️ The Best 1 Day in Istanbul Itinerary
🏠 Best Areas to Stay in Istanbul: Coolest Neighbourhoods & Top Hotels
🛌 Where to Stay in Cappadocia: Best Areas, Hotels & Top Tips
🛫 How to Get from Istanbul Airport to the City Centre
✈️ How to Get from Sultanahmet to Istanbul Airport
🗓 The Ultimate Turkey Itinerary 10 Days
🏖️ Where to Stay in Izmir: Best Izmir Districts, Top Hotels + Useful Tips
🕌 Things to Do in Mardin: Turkey’s City of Golden Stone
🇹🇷 The Best Places to Visit in Turkey
🌷 Visit the Istanbul Tulip Festival
🎪 18 Best Festivals in Istanbul
🚂 Sirkeci Station: Discover Istanbul's Orient Express Station
🍴 A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Mardin Restaurants
🍯 Where to Find the Best Baklava in Istanbul
🏔 Cappadocia in Winter: 7 Reasons to Visit + 16 Amazing Things to Do
🏞️ Zelve Open Air Museum Cappadocia: A Complete Guide
🎄 Christmas in Istanbul: All You Need to Know for a Magical Stay
⛄ 9 Awesome Reasons to Spend Winter in Istanbul
🍳 Best Breakfast in Istanbul - 16 Incredible Places to Try
✅ 12 Things You Need To Do in Istanbul
✈️ How to Get From SAW Airport to Istanbul City Center
🔎 Explore Balat Istanbul: An Insider's Guide to One of Istanbul's Most Unique Neighbourhoods
🍟 Best Vegan Fast Food in Istanbul
🥑 Where to Find the Best Vegan Turkish Breakfast in Istanbul
🖼️ 14 Top Things To Do in Gaziantep
🍔 Off the Eaten Track: The Best Street Food in Istanbul
🥦 Vegan Istanbul: The Best Under-the-Radar Restaurants
Find more travel tips and useful information on Turkey here.
Looking for more travel inspiration? Click here to discover more of our favourite places around the world.e world.
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