For couples · Istanbul · Turkey
Romantic things to do in Istanbul
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0
_-_611.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Istanbul's romance is in its views across water: sunsets over the Old City skyline, ferry crossings between continents and long dinners above the Bosphorus. Pick evenings, when the domes and minarets are lit and the heat has gone. Couples tend to stay in Galata and Karaköy.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 4
- Area for couples
- Galata and Karaköy
- Best months
- April–June and September–October
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset at Salacak
Sit in a waterside tea garden on the Üsküdar shore as the sun sets behind Topkapı and the Blue Mosque, with Maiden's Tower in the foreground.
2.Evening ferry to Kadıköy
Cross to Asia on the open upper deck after dark, with the illuminated Old City and Galata Tower behind you, then have dinner in Moda.
3.Hammam for two
Historic hammams such as those in Çemberlitaş and Cağaloğlu offer traditional scrub and foam massages; some modern spas have private sessions for couples.
4.Pierre Loti at dusk
Ride the cable car above Eyüp and watch the Golden Horn fade into evening from the hilltop café.
5.Rooftop dinner in Galata
Many restaurants around Galata and Karaköy have roof terraces looking across the Golden Horn to the lit-up mosques of the Old City.
Sights couples love
Viewpoint · Galata
Galata Tower
The queue is longest at sunset; go at opening time instead, or simply admire the tower from the surrounding lanes, which are free.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Iconic
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
Experience · Eminönü
Bosphorus by ferry
Sit on the open upper deck on the left side heading north for the European shore, and buy tea and simit from the onboard vendors.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
Landmark · Üsküdar
Maiden's Tower
Sit in one of the waterside tea gardens at Salacak at sunset and watch the Old City skyline turn gold behind the tower.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- History
Viewpoint · Eyüp
Pierre Loti Hill and Eyüp
Visit Eyüp Sultan Mosque first, ride the cable car up and walk back down through the cemetery in the late afternoon.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
- History
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, first-timers and nightlife
Galata and Karaköy
Karaköy was the old port and banking quarter; its 19th-century buildings now hold design hotels, coffee roasters and restaurants around Kemankeş Caddesi and the lanes off Kılıç Ali Paşa Mescidi Sokak. Galata Tower rises just uphill, and the district sits between the Old City and Beyoğlu, with the Galata Bridge, the T1 tram and the Karaköy ferry pier all within a few minutes' walk.
- Good
- Central between the Old City and Beyoğlu; Excellent cafés and restaurants; Ferries to Kadıköy and Üsküdar
- Watch out
- Steep streets up to Galata; Crowded around the tower at sunset
- Nearby
- Galata Tower, Istanbul Modern, Galata Bridge, Istiklal Avenue
Romantic day trips
- Princes' Islands (Büyükada) (About 1.5–2 hours by public ferry) — A chain of islands in the Sea of Marmara where private cars are not allowed.
- Anadolu Kavağı and Yoros Castle (About 1.5 hours by ferry from Eminönü) — The full-length Bosphorus ferry ends at the fishing village of Anadolu Kavağı near the Black Sea entrance.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Meze and rakı, İskender kebab and Lahmacun and pide. Ask for prices before ordering fish, which is often charged by weight.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Istanbul romantic?
Istanbul's romance is in its views across water: sunsets over the Old City skyline, ferry crossings between continents and long dinners above the Bosphorus. Pick evenings, when the domes and minarets are lit and the heat has gone.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Istanbul?
Sunset at Salacak: Sit in a waterside tea garden on the Üsküdar shore as the sun sets behind Topkapı and the Blue Mosque, with Maiden's Tower in the foreground.
+Where should couples stay in Istanbul?
Galata and Karaköy: Cobbled lanes below Galata Tower, third-wave cafés and the Istanbul Modern waterfront.