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Istanbul

Best neighbourhoods to wander in Istanbul, ranked honestly

Ranked by Reality: whether each one delivers for people who went. The chips show if it lives up to its hype.

Kadıköy — photo by KADIKÖY BOĞA HEYKELİWorth itReality 81 +241Kadıköy★ 4.5Asian side & islands · NeighbourhoodAsian-side hub of food markets, bookshops, bars and the Moda seafront, a ferry ride awayOrtaköy — photo by Meysam TabriziWorth itReality 76 +72Ortaköy★ 4.8Bosphorus (European shore) · NeighbourhoodWaterfront 1850s mosque under the Bosphorus Bridge, with kumpir and waffle stalls behind itKuzguncuk — photo by Gokhan SeckinWorth itReality 70 +203Kuzguncuk★ 4.5Asian side & islands · NeighbourhoodVillage-like Asian-shore valley of painted wooden houses, a community garden and mixed-faith historyBebek — photo by Ahmed Al-AkkiWorth it if…Reality 65 +154Bebek★ 4.7Bosphorus (European shore) · NeighbourhoodAffluent Bosphorus bay village with a waterfront promenade, small mosque and pricey cafésBalat — photo by musa MavasWorth it if…Reality 61 +115Balat★ 4Balat, Fener & the walls · NeighbourhoodHilly historic Golden Horn quarter of colour-washed houses, churches, cafés and antique shops

The numbers

#PlaceVerdictHypeRealityGapGoogle
1KadıköyWorth it5781+24 · Underrated★ 4.5 (30,226)
2OrtaköyWorth it6976+7 · Lives up to the hype★ 4.8 (45,394)
3KuzguncukWorth it5070+20 · Underrated★ 4.5 (2,824)
4BebekWorth it if…5065+15 · Underrated★ 4.7 (4,709)
5BalatWorth it if…5061+11 · Underrated★ 4 (5,007)