As a licensed tour guide with nearly two decades of experience in Istanbul, I aim to provide clear and reliable information for travelers who want to study the Istanbul tourist map before planning their trip. Below, you will find free downloadable PDF maps that highlight the main tourist attractions in the city.
This article brings together the most accurate and commonly used Istanbul maps—originally published by Turkish Airlines, Istanbul Municipality, and Google. I have made minor adjustments and annotations to help visitors understand key details more easily, especially the locations of major monuments and the transportation options around them.
Istanbul Tourist Map PDF 2025
The colorful Istanbul tourist map above was published by Turkish Airlines a few years ago. On this map, we see the Historical Peninsula in the south and its most important historical monuments, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque (aka Sultanahmet Mosque).
However, when you expand the circle, you can see the Grand Bazaar and Suleymaniye Mosque located in the middle of the Historical Peninsula. In the following lines, I will also talk about the hidden gems of the Old City outside the tourist center.
The area to the north of the Golden Horn (beyond the Galata Bridge) is the relatively new part of the city and is known as “Beyoglu”. There are iconic historical monuments and streets here, such as Galata Tower, Istiklal Street and Taksim Square.
When you follow the shores of the Bosphorus, you can also see Dolmabahce Palace, located in the Besiktas district, and Ortakoy (at the foot of the Bosphorus Bridge), famous for its wonderful sea view.
Map of the Old City (Sultanahmet)
Istanbul old city map includes historical places in Sultanahmet and its surroundings. There are places here that are on everyone’s must-see list, and as can be seen on the map, it is possible to reach all of them with Tram T1 (line marked in green).
On this map, we can see some Byzantine structures that we missed in the introduction of the article. For example, the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque is actually a 6th-century Byzantine church named after Saints Sergius and Bacchus.
In addition, the Kariye Mosque (former Chora Church), located in the westernmost part of the Historic Peninsula, is a magnificent art showcase with the most beautiful mosaics from the Byzantine period.
Or, everyone knows the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, but very few people know Mahmutpasa Street, which lies between them and is surrounded by local markets. You can also see it marked on the map.
Map of Beyoglu (Taksim, Galata, Karakoy)
On the Beyoglu map, you can see districts such as Karakoy, Galata and Taksim, which are the rising stars of the city. Since the Istanbul Cruise Port (Galataport) is located here, rapid gentrification continues in these districts.
You can go to the north of the Golden Horn by taking the tram or walking over the Galata Bridge. Thus, you will leave Eminonu (where Spice Bazaar is) behind and you will now be in the relatively new part of the city.
As an Istanbulite, Karakoy is one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. You can find everything about Istanbul’s famous street food in Karakoy, the traditional port district of Istanbul.
You can directly reach Istiklal Street, the most popular walking path of the city, from Karakoy with the Funicular F2 line. However, as a local, I would rather climb the slopes leading to the Galata Tower and explore the unique streets.
Around the Galata Tower, there are Nardis, the city’s most popular Jazz bar, 19th century buildings with the most beautiful AirBNB apartments, and souvenir shops offering creative designs.
While walking on Istiklal Street, you will see the Neo-Classical and Baroque apartment buildings that decorated Istanbul during the Westernization of the last period of the Ottoman Empire. Finally, you can reach Taksim Square, the heart of the city.
Frequently Asked Questions About Istanbul
This section answers the most common questions visitors have when using an Istanbul tourist map for trip planning. Whether you’re preparing your first visit or refining a detailed itinerary, these quick explanations will help you understand the city’s layout, transportation options, and the best ways to navigate its major attractions.
1. Where can I find the most accurate Istanbul tourist map?
The most reliable maps are produced by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Turkish Airlines, and Google Maps. In this article, I have gathered the versions that are clearest for first-time visitors and added small notes to highlight important landmarks and transportation lines.
2. Is the Istanbul tourist attractions map enough for planning a full-day itinerary?
Yes — the map shows the locations of major sights such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Galata Tower, Istiklal Street, and Taksim. If you combine the map with Istanbul’s rail system (Metro, Tram, Marmaray), you can easily plan a full-day route without getting lost.
3. Do I need an offline map for Istanbul?
Google Maps works well in Istanbul, but downloading an offline version is always a good idea, especially inside the Historic Peninsula where mobile signal can fluctuate around old stone buildings. The PDF maps provided here are also ideal backups for offline use.
4. Which tram line goes to the main tourist attractions?
The Tram T1 line is the backbone of Istanbul’s sightseeing route. It connects Kabataş (near Dolmabahce Palace), Karaköy, Eminönü, Sultanahmet, and the Grand Bazaar area. This makes it the easiest way to reach nearly all major historical monuments without needing a taxi.
5. Does the Istanbul Airport connect directly to Sultanahmet or Taksim?
There is no direct tram or metro line to Sultanahmet, but the Havaist airport shuttle provides fast access to Taksim and Kadıköy (Asian Side). From Taksim, you can transfer to the Funicular + T1 Tram to reach Sultanahmet within minutes.
6. Is Istanbul walkable for tourists?
The Historic Peninsula (Sultanahmet–Sirkeci–Eminönü area) is extremely walkable. Most major attractions are within a few minutes of one another. However, areas like Galata, Karaköy, and Taksim have uphill sections, so checking elevation on the map helps when planning your route.
7. Which map should I use for the best navigation of Beyoğlu (Taksim–Galata) area?
Use the dedicated Beyoğlu District Map provided in this article (link above). It shows the narrow streets, uphill paths, and tram stations more clearly than general Istanbul maps.
8. Is public transportation easy to understand for first-time visitors?
Yes — Istanbul’s rail system is modern and easy to navigate. The maps here show how Metro, Tram, Metrobus, and Marmaray lines are distributed across the city. Once you understand how T1 and M2 lines work, most tourist routes become straightforward.
Conclusion
In this article, as a private tour guide living in Istanbul, I wanted to give you brief information about the city where I was born and raised. Of course, the places to visit in Istanbul are not limited to these and there are many more hidden treasures.
I would be happy if you benefited from this article while planning a trip to Istanbul. If you have any questions about what I have explained, you can write it in the comments section below. I usually respond to comments within 48 hours.
To easily find the places mentioned in this post, you can also review the other article I wrote called public transportation maps in Istanbul. In this second article, you can find the map above as a full resolution PDF file with detailed explanations.
Maps of Tourist Places in Istanbul by Serhat Engul
Good day Serhat,
My name is Lawrence.
My wife, myself, and one other couple ( all mid 60’s) are coming to Istanbul in early September (I can confirm dates later).
Of course we want to SEE IT ALL, but only have a couple of days. We all enjoy history.
When you do your tours, are they mainly walking, or do you have a car/driver available?
If we are wanting to get into mosques, museums, etc, do you have any preferential status to get to the front of lines?
Our friends will be arriving on a cruise ship. We will be at an Air BnB.
What would be your ‘must see’ list. What are things that would be important to YOU, but not necessarily on the main tourist route?
And finally, what are your rates for 1/2, full day tours?
I look forward to your reply.
YThank you.
Dear Lawrence Setter,
Thank you for your interest in my tours. I prefer detailed correspondence via email.
I will answer your questions in detail via the email address you have noted in the system.
Kind regards,
Serhat Engul