Istanbul sits on two continents, the European side of the city separated from the Asian side by the Bosphorous Strait. This place has been a pivotal territory of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, but through all of the conflict and struggle, so much of the architecture and culture has survived. Istanbul is home to some truly amazing buildings, as seen in the Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Fatih Mosque, and the Süleymaniye Mosque.

Visitors can dive right into the local culture by browsing the stalls of the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops. Meet up with genuine, smiling locals at some classically Turkish spots like tea gardens, coffee houses, or kebab shops and get a taste for local foods and drinks. And when the sun goes down, Istanbul offers a fun nightlife scene, with historic taverns and winehouses featuring live music and hip crowds.

Hangouts

191 members available to meet now

Photo of M
Mustafa Serkan wants to explore the area 10 minutes ago
Photo of H
Hayri Onur wants to explore the area 32 minutes ago
Photo of S
Serhat wants to drink tea or coffee about 1 hour ago

Events

  • Every Saturday at 7:00 PM +03
  • Gokhan Ozdemir's Photo Erdal Eren's Photo Sergio K.'s Photo

    + 13 attending

Join

  • Every Saturday at 7:00 PM +03
  • Brando Matthieü's Photo Nadia Meybodi's Photo C E M Y C E M's Photo

    + 3 attending

Join

  • Sat, Jun 28 at 4:00 PM +03
  • GRANODEARENA's Photo Brando Matthieü's Photo Sz Huei Wang's Photo

    + 4 attending

Join

  • Every Saturday at 7:00 PM +03
  • Jon Turk's Photo Predrag Bradaric's Photo Tarkan Sendal's Photo

    + 7 attending

Join

  • Every Monday at 8:00 PM +03
  • Jülide Kubilay's Photo Amr Gamal's Photo Ahmed A Morsy's Photo

    + 4 attending

Join

Unlock favorites

Discover member-submitted recommendations on the best activities, dining, and nightlife in Istanbul and all over the world.

Verify My Account

Verified members get beta access

Discussions

Start a Conversation
There are no discussions about this area.

Advice Q&A

Ask Locals a Question