Rainy day · Istanbul · Turkey
6 things to do in Istanbul when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Starliner, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Start with Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern and Dolmabahçe Palace. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 10–12 hours across 6 areas; 1 is free. January is usually the wettest month, with about 12 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 10–12 hours
- Areas
- Beyazıt, Sultanahmet and Beşiktaş
Istanbul on a rainy day
Market · Beyazıt
1.Grand Bazaar
Enter through the Beyazıt or Nuruosmaniye gates, browse first and compare prices, and haggle politely; the hans on the outer edge are quieter and more authentic.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Sultanahmet
2.Basilica Cistern
Visit first thing in the morning or late in the day; the stone walkway is slippery when damp, so wear shoes with grip.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Kids
- Photo spot
Palace · Beşiktaş
3.Dolmabahçe Palace
Combine it with lunch in Beşiktaş and a ferry back to Eminönü or across to Kadıköy from the nearby Beşiktaş pier.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Beyoğlu
4.Pera Museum
Pair it with a walk down to the Tünel end of Istiklal and a drink in the Asmalımescit lanes.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
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Gallery · Karaköy
5.Istanbul Modern
Leave time for the rooftop terrace, then walk along the Galataport waterfront towards Tophane.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Views
Museum · Hasköy
6.Rahmi M. Koç Museum
Reach it by the Golden Horn ferry, which stops at Hasköy, and combine it with Balat on the same day.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Beyazıt | Grand Bazaar | 2–3 hours |
| Sultanahmet | Basilica Cistern | 45 minutes |
| Beşiktaş | Dolmabahçe Palace | 2 hours |
| Beyoğlu | Pera Museum | 1.5 hours |
| Karaköy | Istanbul Modern | 2 hours |
| Hasköy | Rahmi M. Koç Museum | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 1 free, 2 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Grand Bazaar; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Beyazıt and Sultanahmet): Grand Bazaar → Basilica Cistern, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Beşiktaş and Beyoğlu): Dolmabahçe Palace → Pera Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Karaköy and Hasköy): Istanbul Modern → Rahmi M. Koç Museum, at least 4 hours.
The wettest months
- January: highs of 9°C (48°F), about 12 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Cold, wet and windy, with occasional snow; the quietest month at the monuments and the lowest hotel rates outside New Year.
- December: highs of 11°C (52°F), about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds. Grey and rainy, but cosy meyhane evenings and festive lights on Istiklal and in Nişantaşı for New Year.
- February: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 10 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Still cold and grey, but museums and mosques are uncrowded and ferries are pleasant on clear days.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Sultanahmet — Old City monuments, carpet shops and wooden Ottoman houses on the historic peninsula
- Galata and Karaköy — Cobbled lanes below Galata Tower, third-wave cafés and the Istanbul Modern waterfront
- Beyoğlu and Cihangir — Istiklal Avenue, meyhane taverns and steep residential streets above the Bosphorus
- Beşiktaş and Ortaköy — Bosphorus waterfront, Dolmabahçe Palace and a lively student-and-football district
More of Istanbul
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Istanbul?
Grand Bazaar. One of the oldest covered markets in the world, the Kapalıçarşı began trading in the 1460s and now has around 60 vaulted streets of jewellers, carpet dealers, leather shops, lamp makers and tea sellers.
+Which of these are free in Istanbul?
Grand Bazaar.