Istanbul Travel Guide: Modern Istanbul, Transport and Mobile Data Tips

2026-09-26

Photo: SegLig, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

Istanbul is famous for its history, but the city on two continents is also one of the most dynamic modern metropolises in the region. Here is how to combine new landmarks with the classics and stay connected the whole time.

A historic city that keeps reinventing itself

Istanbul is home to more than 15 million people and stretches across Europe and Asia on both sides of the Bosphorus. Alongside Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, the last decade has brought a new airport that is one of the largest in the world, a rail tunnel under the strait, a cruise port with a waterfront promenade and a business district of glass towers. Direct flights from Tashkent take about four and a half hours, which makes it one of the easiest big cities to reach from Uzbekistan.

April to June and September to November are the most pleasant months, with mild weather and fewer crowds than in high summer. Winters are cool and rainy but good for museums.

Modern Istanbul: places worth your time

• Çamlıca Tower — the city's newest telecommunications tower on the Asian side, with an observation deck that looks over both continents and the Bosphorus.
• Grand Çamlıca Mosque — opened in 2019 on a nearby hill, it is the largest mosque in Turkey and a striking example of contemporary Ottoman-style architecture.
• Galataport — a redeveloped waterfront in Karaköy with cafés, shops and the Istanbul Modern art museum in a new building by the water.
• Levent and Maslak — the modern business skyline, with shopping centres such as Kanyon and Zorlu Center, which also hosts concerts and shows.
• The Bosphorus — a public ferry between Europe and Asia is the best-value sightseeing trip in the city; sunset from the deck is unforgettable.
• The classics — pair the new with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar in the historic peninsula.

Getting around

Buy an Istanbulkart from machines at stations and piers. One card pays for the metro, trams, buses, the Marmaray rail line under the Bosphorus and the ferries, and it can be shared by several people. From Istanbul Airport, the M11 metro line and Havaist buses connect to the city.

Traffic can be heavy, so rail and ferries are often faster than a car. For taxis, the BiTaksi and Uber apps call official yellow taxis and show the route in advance, which helps avoid disputes about the fare.

Mobile data and eSIM tips for Istanbul

Istanbul has good 4G and growing 5G coverage, including in the metro. With a travel eSIM you can check ferry times, order taxis and navigate the maze of old streets without hunting for Wi-Fi or buying a local SIM with a passport registration.

• How much data? A week of maps, messaging and social media typically uses 5–8 GB. If you upload lots of photos and videos, choose 10 GB or more.
• Useful apps: BiTaksi or Uber, Google Maps or Moovit for public transport, Getir or Yemeksepeti for food delivery and a translation app for menus.
• Calls and messaging: WhatsApp and Telegram calls work normally in Turkey, so a data-only eSIM covers most communication.
• Keep your home SIM active for bank codes — the eSIM handles data while your usual number stays reachable.

Practical notes for travellers from Uzbekistan

• Visa: Uzbek passport holders can currently visit Turkey visa-free for short stays. Check the permitted length of stay on the official website of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel, as rules can change.
• Payments: cards are widely accepted. Visa and Mastercard cards from Uzbek banks usually work; Humo and UzCard generally do not. Carry some Turkish lira in cash for small shops and markets.
• Halal food: most food in Istanbul is halal. Uzbek restaurants are easy to find in areas such as Laleli, Aksaray and Zeytinburnu, where many Central Asian visitors stay.
• Prayer: there are mosques on almost every street, and prayer times are announced by the call to prayer across the city. When visiting famous mosques as a tourist, avoid prayer times.