Istanbul
Independent hotel guides, travel articles, and travel videos for Istanbul.
Hotel guides
Spectacular Hotel Views is the defintive guide to the world's best hotel views. It has over 600 destination rankings with hotels ranked by view quality, uniqueness, and breadth of availability across the property, has a searchable database of 2,500+ hotels with exceptional views and also allows you to browse by view type.
Their Istanbul ranking provides a useful guide for finding hotels in Istanbul with the best hotel views.
Read the guide at spectacularhotelviews.com/en/rankings/istanbul.
spectacularhotelviews.com/en/rankings/istanbul
Secretplaces is a curated accommodation site focused on small, stylish, and authentic places to stay.
This page presents an Istanbul selection that appears to include boutique hotels, B&Bs, romantic getaways, luxury hotels, holiday homes, and villas, with examples such as Adahan İstanbul and Hotel Ibrahim Pasha.
Read the guide at secretplaces.com/turkey/istanbul/best-boutique-hotels-holiday-homes.
secretplaces.com/turkey/istanbul/best-boutique-hotels-holiday-homes
Travel videos
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World Wild Hearts is a YouTube travel channel by Zac and Ine, creating videos and travel guides from their trips together.
This Istanbul guide video highlights seven things to do while adding helpful context on the city’s history, architecture, art, culinary heritage, and local atmosphere.
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vagabrothers is a YouTube travel channel by brothers Alex and Marko Ayling, focused on cultural and culinary discovery.
This Istanbul travel video presents a concise top ten list of things to do, framed around the city’s distinctive East-meets-West setting.
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Creative Travel Guide is a YouTube travel channel from a British couple sharing travel vlogs, advice, guides, and budget tips.
This guide video is a practical Istanbul planning resource, covering when to go, transport, typical prices, saving money, places to visit, and trip basics.
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Brian and Carrie is a YouTube travel channel by Brian and Carrie, focused on affordable travel and long-term life on the road.
This Istanbul guide video is especially helpful for first-time visitors, walking through ten neighborhoods with places to stay, sites to explore, and practical travel tips.
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Attaché is a YouTube travel channel featuring host Alex Hunter and city-focused episodes about food, culture, and history.
This Istanbul video combines a travel guide format with strong food coverage, transport advice, money notes, and practical context for getting around the city.
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The Endless Adventure is a YouTube travel channel from Eric and Allison, a couple documenting travel and food experiences.
This Istanbul travel vlog gives an approachable first-arrival perspective, including an apartment tour and an initial exploration of the Karaköy area.
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Jason Billam Travel is a YouTube travel channel by a British full-time traveller documenting destinations around the world.
This Istanbul street food video follows a useful citywide eating route, with stops for Turkish snacks and dishes across several locations.
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denniscallan is a YouTube travel channel featuring videos by Dennis Callan about destinations across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and elsewhere.
This Istanbul travel video gives a helpful guided look at the Grand Bazaar, lanes near the Spice Market, and a bus tour segment for visitors interested in the city's market life.
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Joel and Emilia is a YouTube travel channel from Joel Friend and Emilia Beattie, who document their trips together.
Their Istanbul vlog captures a strong first-day introduction to Turkey, pairing famous city spots with Turkish food in an approachable travel format.
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Syifa Adriana is a YouTube travel channel by a UK-based solo travel vlogger focused on culture, history, and everyday life.
This solo travel video offers a thoughtful first-impressions view of Istanbul through its streets, cuisine, history, culture, and accommodation context.
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Joolz Guides is a YouTube travel channel featuring Julian McDonnell's walking tours, history guides, travel films, and documentaries.
This Istanbul guide video is especially useful for food-focused planning, covering where to eat and buy food with local stops, the Asian quarter, and street food.
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Dots on a Map is a YouTube travel channel by Dottie and Lenza, focused on cinematic destination stories.
This documentary-style Istanbul travel video gives a well-rounded feel for the city through everyday scenes, food, cafe culture, ferries, neighborhoods, the Blue Mosque, and Taksim.
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Hey Nadine is a YouTube travel channel by Nadine Sykora, covering destinations, travel advice, and practical trip context.
This Istanbul vlog provides a good snapshot of classic sights and activities, including the Spice Market, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, a hamam, a restaurant, and a Bosphorus cruise.
Travel articles & blogs
Lonely Planet is a major travel publication and destination-guide brand with professionally edited global travel planning content. Their Istanbul destination guide is a practical overview of major sights, city areas, attractions, and visitor tips for planning a first or return trip.
Read the guide at lonelyplanet.com/destinations/turkey/istanbul.
lonelyplanet.com/destinations/turkey/istanbul
Migrationology is Mark Wiens' food travel blog, focused on food-led travel, restaurants, street food, and city food guides. His Istanbul guide is especially helpful for food-led planning, pairing restaurants and local eating with hotels, attractions, and broader city context.
Read the guide at migrationology.com/travel-guides/istanbul-turkey/.
migrationology.com/travel-guides/istanbul-turkey/
ViaTravelers is a travel media and planning site combining destination guides with structured trip-planning and comparison tools. Their Istanbul travel guide gives a useful structured look at landmarks, bazaars, the Bosphorus, and the city's cross-continental setting.
Read the guide at viatravelers.com/destinations/istanbul/.
viatravelers.com/destinations/istanbul/
Love and Road is a travel blog by Nat and Rob, focused on destination guides, budgeting, accommodation, and trip planning. Their first-time Istanbul guide is a practical planning resource covering hotels, attractions, transport, and safety in one broad city introduction.
Read the guide at loveandroad.com/first-trip-to-istanbul/.
loveandroad.com/first-trip-to-istanbul/
The Blonde Abroad is Kiersten Rich's solo female travel and lifestyle blog, with polished destination and planning content. Her Istanbul travel guide brings together where to eat, where to stay, and things to do, making it a helpful polished overview for trip planning.
Read the guide at theblondeabroad.com/ultimate-istanbul-travel-guide/.
theblondeabroad.com/ultimate-istanbul-travel-guide/
Finding the Universe is a travel and photography blog by Laurence and Jessica Norah, focused on itineraries and practical planning. Their two-day Istanbul itinerary is strong for first-time visitors who want practical timing, closure, ticket-price, and dining notes alongside the route.
Read the guide at findingtheuniverse.com/2-day-istanbul-itinerary/.
findingtheuniverse.com/2-day-istanbul-itinerary/
The Planet D is Dave and Deb's adventure-travel blog, combining destination guides, itineraries, travel tips, and accessible adventure content. Their three-day Istanbul itinerary offers a helpful day-by-day structure, with added value from noted input by a Turkey travel expert.
Read the guide at theplanetd.com/3-days-in-istanbul-itinerary/.
theplanetd.com/3-days-in-istanbul-itinerary/
The Poor Traveler is a budget-travel and itinerary site focused on detailed logistics, sample itineraries, and value-oriented planning. Their budget-focused Istanbul guide is useful for value-oriented travelers, combining a sample itinerary, tourist spots, and airport-to-city directions.
Read the guide at thepoortraveler.net/2017/11/istanbul-turkey-itinerary/.
thepoortraveler.net/2017/11/istanbul-turkey-itinerary/
Y Travel Blog is a professional travel blog by Caz and Craig Makepeace, covering destination guidance and practical trip inspiration. Their Istanbul things-to-do guide provides a broad activity list spanning palaces, viewpoints, mosques, islands, and neighborhood tours.
Read the guide at ytravelblog.com/things-to-do-in-istanbul-turkey/.
ytravelblog.com/things-to-do-in-istanbul-turkey/
Ottsworld is Sherry Ott's travel blog and travel services site, focused on active, solo, and structured travel experiences. Her Istanbul neighborhoods guide is a thoughtful fit for travelers deciding where to stay and which city area best matches their preferences.
Read the guide at ottsworld.com/blogs/istanbul-neighborhoods/.
ottsworld.com/blogs/istanbul-neighborhoods/
Goats On The Road is a travel guide site and travel-lifestyle resource focused on destinations, remote work, and sustainable travel. Their month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Istanbul is practical for weighing weather, costs, and seasonal timing.
Read the guide at goatsontheroad.com/best-time-to-visit-istanbul/.
goatsontheroad.com/best-time-to-visit-istanbul/
A Broken Backpack is a practical long-term-travel and travel-resources blog covering independent travel, living abroad, and trip planning. Their Istanbul safety article gives helpful traveler-focused context, drawing on both a difficult earlier visit and a later return experience.
Read the guide at abrokenbackpack.com/is-istanbul-safe/.
abrokenbackpack.com/is-istanbul-safe/
Travel Off Path is an independent travel news publication covering tourism developments, travel rules, destination trends, and aviation updates. Their neighborhood article is a good fit for travelers interested in colorful, trend-focused Istanbul areas for shopping, touring, and photography.
Read the guide at traveloffpath.com/neighborhoods-to-visit-in-istanbul/.
traveloffpath.com/neighborhoods-to-visit-in-istanbul/
Jessie on a Journey is a solo female, adventure, and NYC-focused travel site with practical planning resources. Their solo travel guide to Istanbul is helpful for planning an independent visit, with safety tips, trip-planning advice, and map-based context.
Read the guide at jessieonajourney.com/solo-travel-in-istanbul/.
jessieonajourney.com/solo-travel-in-istanbul/
Girl About The Globe is a social-impact travel blog focused on conscious solo female travel and planning resources. Their three-day Istanbul itinerary gives solo-minded travelers a useful structure while highlighting architecture, the Blue Mosque, and the Europe-to-Asia setting.
Read the guide at girlabouttheglobe.com/3-day-istanbul-itinerary/.
girlabouttheglobe.com/3-day-istanbul-itinerary/