Photolocations scattered in different districts of the city will surprise even an experienced photographer. Stalls of colorful fruits, seagulls, pigeons, unusual souvenirs, oriental markets, red carts with national bagels — simit, cozy cafes — you get on the streets and you constantly want to take pictures. When you go to the city of two continents, do not miss such places, and I will tell you about the most popular Istanbul locations for photo shoots.
Useful information about Istanbul
The currency unit of Turkey is the Turkish lira (₺). The exchange rate in 2022: 1 ₺ = 0.08 $ or 6 ₽.
Rules for visiting mosques:
- Women cover their heads with a shawl and cover their knees, shoulders, and elbows with clothes.
- Men don’t come in wearing shorts.
- Everyone takes their shoes off at the entrance.
Ortaköy Mosque (Ortaköy Camii)
The second name of the temple is the Grand Mejidiye Mosque (Büyük Mecidiye Camii). The temple was built in the 19th century by order of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Locals say that after the construction of the mosque turned out so incredible that the padishahs from the opposite shore came there by boat to perform namaz. The building was damaged in two earthquakes and a fire, but each time it was rebuilt.
The mosque resembles an openwork baroque palace with elements of neoclassicism. White marble minarets, large windows, crystal chandeliers, pink granite columns, multicolored mosaics on the walls and the inside of the dome impress with their beauty. The Sultan himself was engaged in calligraphic painting of the walls. The balconies offer magical panoramas of the Bosphorus.
The best place for photography is a ledge on the waterfront, not far from the mosque. Dozens of tourists line up during the day, so to take Instagram shots without crowds, girls in beautiful dresses come at dawn.
Capture the mosque building, the waters of the Bosphorus and the Martyrs' Bridge. If you’re lucky, dozens of flying pigeons will complete the picture. The mosque and bridge are beautifully illuminated at night.
There are plenty of souvenir stores, cafes and restaurants around. On the seafront, try the traditional fast food — kumpir (huge potatoes with stuffing).
- How to get there: take a bus to Ortaköy Durağı stop, then walk two hundred meters or take a ferry to Ortaköy Port.
- Opening hours: from dawn to dusk. Entrance is free of charge for everyone of any religion. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosque during namaz.
Suleymaniye Mosque (Suleymaniye cami)
Suleymaniye is one of the largest mosques in Istanbul. The famous Sultan Suleiman and his wife Hürrem Sultan are buried in the temple. In the world, the sultan’s wife is known as Roksolana, and her life story is presented in books and movies.
It is often called the «eternal» mosque — this building has withstood earthquakes and wars for over 450 years. There is an observatory, a kitchen for the poor, a hammam, a school, a library, a hospital, a beautiful park, and a viewpoint over the city.
I suggest you come for sunset photos and see sunlit Istanbul and later, nighttime, multi-colored Istanbul. The temple is also magically illuminated. It is especially peaceful and calm at this time.
The best places for photo ops: the main gate and the observation deck overlooking the rooftops.
If you’d like to see the setting inside, come during business hours.
- Opening hours: from 09:00 to 17:30. The temple is closed for tourists during namaz, from 12:30 to 13:45 and from 15:45 to 17:00. After noon on Friday it is better not to come, because it is a holy day for Muslims. The tomb of the Sultan is open until 17:00.
- How to get there: on foot from Vezneciler metro station or Eminönü streetcar stop.
Seven Hills Restaurant
The restaurant’s terrace offers stunning views of the sea, the Princes' Islands, the Ayasofya Müzesi and the Sultanahmet Camii mosques. Famous Turkish photographers arrange shoots there, and travelers dream of catching magical shots for Instagram.
Besides the beautiful panoramas, the restaurant is famous for its cuisine: many kinds of fish and seafood from the Sea of Marmara are prepared here. You can come for a traditional Turkish breakfast (kahvaltisi) or have tea. Breakfast for one person costs 80 ₺ and tea costs 7 ₺.
Tables in the corners on the terrace are considered the best place for a photo shoot with gorgeous views and flying seagulls. You can book in advance on the Seven Hills Restaurant website.
We went to the restaurant on a February evening and were impressed by the lights of the Old Town. On my next trip I dream of having breakfast on the terrace.
- Opening hours: from 07:30 to 23:00.
- How to get there: from Sultanahmet stop walk to Seven Hills Hotel, then take the elevator to the top floor.
«Roof with seagulls» — Kubbe or Taht Istanbul.
A popular paid viewing room for oriental-style photos against the backdrop of the famous sights of the Sultanahmet region. Carpets, soft cushions, kitties, lots of seagulls, tea in national cups, fruit — everything for atmospheric photos.
In addition to the rooftop, there is a lounge area with flying chairs and a view of the city. You can rent a Turkish national costume for free for taking photos. There is a changing room and a small souvenir store.
- Cost: 100 ₺ per person, free for children under 10 years old.
- How to get there: walk through the market from Eminenu Square. To avoid getting lost, it is better to use a navigator or ask locals. You can book on the Taht Istanbul page.
Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe)
During the Ottoman period, the chic Dolmabahce palace complex was built on the seashore, which rivaled the exquisite residences of European rulers.
Six generations of Turkish sultans have lived here. The last master of Dolmabahçe was the first president of Turkey, Atatürk. Here he spent the last minutes of his life. The clock faces in the building show the time of the great Ataturk’s death — 09:05.
Now the complex is the Istanbul residence of the Prime Minister and is open to the public. The palace has 285 rooms and 44 reception halls, 6 Turkish baths. In the interior 14 tons of gold and 40 tons of silver for monograms, a 5-ton chandelier made of Bohemian glass, presented by the English Queen Victoria, a collection of paintings by Aivazovsky, 12 gates, 130 silk carpets — this luxury can be seen by everyone.
You can’t take pictures inside the building, but in the garden, against the background of the gate and the palace, you can get good shots. The most beautiful gate is the Treasury Gate. Another marvelous small eastern gate of the Bosphorus is located in the garden and overlooks the sea. You will have to wait in line to have your photos taken against the openwork gates.
The palace receives no more than 3,000 visitors a day, so I advise you to come early.
- The entrance fee is 5 ₺ to enter the garden, 60 ₺ to visit the main part of the palace (Selamlik), 40 ₺ to visit the Harem, and 90 ₺ for a comprehensive ticket.
- Opening hours are 09:00 to 16:00, except Monday and Thursday.
- How to get there: take streetcar T1 or funicular F1 to Kabataş stop, then walk about a kilometer.
- Official Website: dolmabahcepalace.
Colored houses of the Balat district
Balat is an old Jewish neighborhood. Here laundry is drying on ropes, children play soccer on the roads, and locals drink Turkish coffee without hurry. The main attractions of the neighborhood: The Patriarchate of Constantinople (Rum Ortodoks Patrikhanesi) and the Greek Orthodox Lyceum (Özel Fener Rum Lisesi). However, most people come to the area for the seven colorful colored houses on Kiremit Caddesi and the staircase slope on Merdivenli Yokuş Sokağı.
We stayed in apartments in the Balat neighborhood, walked around all the streets and explored every corner of the historic quarter. I advise you to hide your phone and walk around, drink coffee in one of the authentic cafes, look at the life of the locals, try natural handmade candies. And after getting acquainted with the unfamiliar side of Istanbul, take photos at popular locations.
If you want to go to a photo shoot in a dress and heels, take a change of comfortable shoes — cobblestone roads are no match for stilettos.
You can get there by bus to the Fener stop, then walk.
A beautiful street in Sultanahmet district
I recommend another street with colorful multicolored houses for photo shoots. It is called Yerebatan Caddesi and is not far from the famous Basilica Cistern. There are also souvenir stores, a fur salon and a café with delicious apple tea.
In this kasi and atmospheric neighborhood you can stay at the expensive 5* Vogue Supreme or The And Hotel Sultanahmet — they have restaurants on their rooftops with magical views of the mosque and the city.
- How to get there: on foot from Sultanahmet Square.
Stairs of Istanbul
Istanbul is called «the city of seven hills»: walking around the city, you are constantly going up and down. That is why there are dozens of staircases in the narrow streets, and some of them are unusual, ancient, and colorful. I will tell you about the most interesting ones.
Kamondo merdiven staircase.
The staircase is located in the Galata district on Bankalar Caddesi. In the 19th century, a count’s family from Venice lived in Istanbul. It was the head of the family, the banker Salomon Camondo, who built a «curly» staircase in place of the steep and slippery one. The new staircase became safe: even if someone stumbles on the steps, the bevels will prevent further falls. For more than 155 years, locals have been rejoicing and tourists have been taking pictures.
- How to get there: on foot from Galata Kulesi Tower or Karaköy Port.
Rainbow Staircase (Gökkuşağı merdiven)
The colorful stairs are located in the Beyoğlu district. The flight of stairs is visible from the waterfront, along the T1 streetcar line.
Turkish pensioner Hüzyin Setinel spent four days of work and about $1,000 on paint to decorate a neighborhood staircase. Locals say the government tried to paint the stairs gray, but the pensioner’s supporters staged a protest by painting other staircases in rainbow colors as well. So don’t be surprised that the two rainbow-colored staircases are not far from each other. The first one is peeling and hasn’t been repainted in a while. If you find it, pass it by. The next one, bright and renewed, is your destination. This place is the epitome of positivity and joy, and not every travel blogger has photos from here.
- How to get there: on foot from the Tophane streetcar stop.
Colorful umbrellas in the Karakei area
In the Karakoy district is the Levanten Karakoy café, next to which colorful umbrellas float in the sky — the same ones copied in many cities. It is better to go for a photo shoot in the morning before the cafe opens, so that nothing and no one interferes with the frame.
Besides umbrellas, the quarter has plenty of graffiti on the walls, a cozy coffee shop in the Karabatak grapevine and the pastry shop of the world’s first baklava factory, Güllüoğlu.
- How to get there: on foot from Galata Bridge.
Red streetcar in Taksim Square
The famous İstiklâl Caddesi (İstiklâl Caddesi) is still used by a retro streetcar. The street is pedestrianized, but an exception is made for vintage vehicles.
The route has not changed in a hundred years. Residents call it the Nostalgic Tram, and it is marked as Line T2 on maps. The route is 1.6 kilometers long: from Taksim Meydanı Square to the Tünel cable car station. The streetcar moves slowly, with three stops along the way. Pedestrians and local children often jump on the steps.
At New Year’s Eve, the streetcar is decorated with garlands, Christmas decorations and bows.
I didn’t ride the streetcar because it’s crowded with tourists. But it’s impossible to pass by without taking pictures.
- The fare is 4 ₺. Photos are free of charge.
- How to get there: by bus or metro to Taksim Square.
Galata Bridge (Galata Köprüsü)
On the Galata Bridge you can feel all the city’s flavor, the aroma of freshly caught fish, taste Balık İkmek sandwich and drink Turkish tea while watching the departing ferries. At any time of the day or evening on the bridge you can get good photos. A view of the Galata Tower or mosques, the night city will adorn every frame.
Besides the magnificent panorama, scenic shots are obtained with local fishermen and children.
Every time I come to the city, I come to the bridge because it is the real bustling crowded Istanbul. Each time I get unique and lively pictures.
- How to get there: by public transportation to Eminenyu stop.
Cistern (Şerefiye Sarnıcı)
The city has several active cisterns — ancient underground reservoirs. In the past they were used for water supply, now some of them have been restored and are museums.
The most famous is the Basilica Cistern (Basilica Sarnıcı). In front of the entrance there is always a line of tourists, so for photo shoots I recommend another free Cistern Feodosiya (Şerefiye Sarnıcı). Here are beautiful columns, unusual lighting and a minimum of tourists.
- Admission is free. There are frequent artist exhibitions and concerts.
- Opening hours are 09:00 to 18:00, Sunday until 15:00.
- How to get there: on foot from Sultanahmet streetcar stop.
- Official website: Serefiye Sarnici.
Many beautiful photo locations look especially magical after sunset. Therefore, I recommend staying in the city center to avoid public transport during the evening rush hour.
I didn’t book a photo shoot, but in Istanbul you can book a photo walk around the picturesque places with a professional photographer. This is a good option if you have only one day or evening in Istanbul and want to see the most beautiful places.
Other places for photo walks are here: romantic places in Istanbul.
