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Istanbul

The most underrated things to do in Istanbul

Ranked by the Hype Gap: how much better the experience is than its fame suggests.

Theodosian Walls — photo by Xu HanWorth itReality 76 +631Theodosian Walls★ 4.4Balat, Fener & the walls · HistoryGap +63 · Hype 13, Reality 76Bosphorus cruise — photo by Diamante PazzoWorth itReality 76 +612Bosphorus cruise★ 4.5Bosphorus (European shore) · ToursGap +61 · Hype 15, Reality 76Çukurcuma — photo by Helin SermetWorth it if…Reality 60 +603Çukurcuma★ 3.4Beyoğlu, Galata & Karaköy · ShoppingGap +60 · Hype 0, Reality 60Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum — photo by Can AydınWorth itReality 80 +484Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum★ 4.6Sultanahmet · MuseumGap +48 · Hype 32, Reality 80Little Hagia Sophia — photo by Küçük Ayasofya Camii ve Kültür MerkeziWorth itReality 81 +475Little Hagia Sophia★ 4.7Sultanahmet · Sacred siteGap +47 · Hype 34, Reality 81Rüstem Paşa Mosque — photo by Çiğdem IşliWorth itReality 81 +426Rüstem Paşa Mosque★ 4.7Bazaars & Eminönü · Sacred siteGap +42 · Hype 39, Reality 81Dürümzade — photo by DürümzadeWorth it if…Reality 65 +417Dürümzade★ 4.5Beyoğlu, Galata & Karaköy · FoodGap +41 · Hype 24, Reality 65Museum of Innocence — photo by Eyüp CanbayWorth it if…Reality 65 +398Museum of Innocence★ 4.6Beyoğlu, Galata & Karaköy · MuseumGap +39 · Hype 26, Reality 65Pera Museum — photo by Al JasimWorth itReality 75 +389Pera Museum★ 4.6Beyoğlu, Galata & Karaköy · MuseumGap +38 · Hype 37, Reality 75Chora (Kariye) — photo by Berrak AygünWorth itReality 79 +3610Chora (Kariye)★ 4.5Balat, Fener & the walls · Sacred siteGap +36 · Hype 43, Reality 79Galata Mevlevi House — photo by 34 IstanbulWorth it if…Reality 60 +3311Galata Mevlevi House★ 4.5Beyoğlu, Galata & Karaköy · CultureGap +33 · Hype 27, Reality 60Cağaloğlu Hamam — photo by Cagaloglu HamamiWorth it if…Reality 63 +3112Cağaloğlu Hamam★ 4.7Sultanahmet · CultureGap +31 · Hype 32, Reality 63Archaeology Museums — photo by Tahir ÇınarWorth itReality 81 +2713Archaeology Museums★ 4.6Sultanahmet · MuseumGap +27 · Hype 54, Reality 81Istanbul Modern — photo by Can AydınWorth it if…Reality 64 +2414Istanbul Modern★ 4.4Beyoğlu, Galata & Karaköy · MuseumGap +24 · Hype 40, Reality 64Kadıköy — photo by KADIKÖY BOĞA HEYKELİWorth itReality 81 +2415Kadıköy★ 4.5Asian side & islands · NeighbourhoodGap +24 · Hype 57, Reality 81Kuzguncuk — photo by Gokhan SeckinWorth itReality 70 +2016Kuzguncuk★ 4.5Asian side & islands · NeighbourhoodGap +20 · Hype 50, Reality 70Bebek — photo by Ahmed Al-AkkiWorth it if…Reality 65 +1517Bebek★ 4.7Bosphorus (European shore) · NeighbourhoodGap +15 · Hype 50, Reality 65Süleymaniye Mosque — photo by ahmet güvenWorth itReality 90 +1218Süleymaniye Mosque★ 4.9Bazaars & Eminönü · Sacred siteGap +12 · Hype 78, Reality 90Balat — photo by musa MavasWorth it if…Reality 61 +1119Balat★ 4Balat, Fener & the walls · NeighbourhoodGap +11 · Hype 50, Reality 61Karaköy Güllüoğlu — photo by Karaköy Güllüoğlu - Nadir GüllüWorth it if…Reality 65 +1120Karaköy Güllüoğlu★ 4.4Beyoğlu, Galata & Karaköy · FoodGap +11 · Hype 54, Reality 65

The numbers

#PlaceVerdictHypeRealityGapGoogle
1Theodosian WallsWorth it1376+63 · Underrated★ 4.4 (2,103)
2Bosphorus cruiseWorth it1576+61 · Underrated★ 4.5 (765)
3ÇukurcumaWorth it if…060+60 · Underrated★ 3.4 (93)
4Turkish & Islamic Arts MuseumWorth it3280+48 · Underrated★ 4.6 (5,252)
5Little Hagia SophiaWorth it3481+47 · Underrated★ 4.7 (5,364)
6Rüstem Paşa MosqueWorth it3981+42 · Underrated★ 4.7 (7,456)
7DürümzadeWorth it if…2465+41 · Underrated★ 4.5 (3,770)
8Museum of InnocenceWorth it if…2665+39 · Underrated★ 4.6 (3,703)
9Pera MuseumWorth it3775+38 · Underrated★ 4.6 (7,490)
10Chora (Kariye)Worth it4379+36 · Underrated★ 4.5 (12,359)
11Galata Mevlevi HouseWorth it if…2760+33 · Underrated★ 4.5 (4,474)
12Cağaloğlu HamamWorth it if…3263+31 · Underrated★ 4.7 (4,842)
13Archaeology MuseumsWorth it5481+27 · Underrated★ 4.6 (21,723)
14Istanbul ModernWorth it if…4064+24 · Underrated★ 4.4 (11,586)
15KadıköyWorth it5781+24 · Underrated★ 4.5 (30,226)
16KuzguncukWorth it5070+20 · Underrated★ 4.5 (2,824)
17BebekWorth it if…5065+15 · Underrated★ 4.7 (4,709)
18Süleymaniye MosqueWorth it7890+12 · Underrated★ 4.9 (67,578)
19BalatWorth it if…5061+11 · Underrated★ 4 (5,007)
20Karaköy GüllüoğluWorth it if…5465+11 · Underrated★ 4.4 (29,085)