Istanbul is a glittering jewel on the Bosphorus, a gateway between East and West for 2000 years. An unforgettable skyline of graceful minarets, colorful bazaars and monumental Greek, Roman, Christian and Islamic remains that are especially beautiful in the fall, when the summer crowds have faded.
Founded as Byzantium, known as Constantinople, Istanbul straddles two continents, playing a pivotal role in world history. It is one of the most fascinating and complex cities in the world. Explore the city center's major monuments, or take a boat ride on the Bosphorus, where you can see an unmistakable skyline punctuated by hundreds of slender minaret towers reaching into the sky. The easygoing bustle, smells, and sounds of Istanbul are unforgettable.
From the end of September to the end of December, autumn passes in Istanbul. Life becomes moderate, and institutions that were closed during the summer open their doors again. From the end of September, the central areas of the city fill up again, and Istanbul turns into a normal metropolis without the huge number of tourists rushing back and forth. Autumn is the ideal season to visit Istanbul because it is not too hot and not too cold. In addition, it is during this period that a lot of events take place throughout the city.
Here are the activities we recommend you not to miss if you visit Istanbul this fall. Apart from the usual tourist activities such as visiting monuments, fall is the perfect season to wander around the city and get lost in the charming streets of Istanbul. Stroll through the areas that are not mentioned in the usual tourist guides. For example, the back streets of the Bosphorus are not very visited by tourists, despite being the most charming destination of the city. Here, the areas worth visiting are Bebek, Arnavutköy, Yeniköy or Emirgan.
Discover street art in the city. Istanbul is also a growing metropolis in the world of street art, where some neighborhoods are completely covered in graffiti. For example, Kadikoy has a very pleasant central area, which has small cafes, design studios and concept stores. Also on the heights of the Kadikoy district in Yeldeğirmeni, there is an entire area dedicated to murals, where the city's artists have invited international artists to express their creativity on the walls of the neighborhood. Most of the art is messages against the Turkish government. Finally, some artists, such as JR or TwoOne, have left their marks on the walls of Istanbul's buildings.
Enjoy the air, as Istanbul is a city bordered by two seas, mountains and forests. The ecosystem is very diverse, and although the air in the city is not clean, you can always leave and in 30 minutes find yourself in a pristine natural area.
A walk through the Belgrade Forest is an adventurous experience. It was once a forest that stretched from the European side of the Bosphorus to Belgrade. Today, this natural area is threatened by uncontrolled urbanization and large projects proposed by the government (the third airport in Istanbul, a parallel canal to the Bosphorus, the construction of a third bridge across the strait…). The north of Istanbul is a continuous forest area. Running, cycling or walking are options for spending time in this part of the city. Belgrade Forest is located about 15 kilometers northwest of Istanbul, the best way to get to the rest of the forested area is to rent a car. You can also take a taxi from the metro terminal M2: Haciosman, it will cost 25 lira (8 euros). If you prefer to go by public transport, you can take bus 42T from Taksim or bus 153 from Sariyer to Bahkecoy and walk from there.
The Istanbul Marathon is the only marathon that spans two continents, and is a bit challenging in itself because Istanbul is not a flat city, but has several hills. The marathon is usually held in November each year.
Discover the small village of Anadolu Kavagi on the Bosphorus. Anadolu Kavagi is the northernmost village on the Bosphorus and is accessible almost exclusively by boat as it is in a military zone. Here you can climb up the hill to the ruins of the Byzantine castle of Yiorgos, which offers a fantastic 360-degree panorama of the city and the mouth of the Black Sea. The village has many charming fish restaurants along the water. The menu prices can be a bit high as it is a tourist area, but it is worth it. The most practical way to get there is to take the tourist boats from Kabat or Besiktas for 20 lira per person, they are more or less comfortable and stop at 3:30 in the village.
Discover the gastronomy of Istanbul. The autumn climate is ideal for finding some Turkish dishes from seasonal vegetables and fruits that were not available in the summer.
The weather in Istanbul is something that poets and writers write about. Autumn sees Istanbul in a riot of golden hues. The city, in addition to its charming landscapes, offers visitors its cozy coffee shops and beautiful tea shops. Sit down with a cup of Turkish tea, a beautiful piece of baklava and contemplate the golden beauty around you.
The pleasant autumn is best explored by boat. Sightsee on the Bosphorus, discovering the history of the city with hills covered with mosques that will captivate you with their absolute perfection in architectural beauty and aesthetics.
Autumn is the season when new things happen in Istanbul. The same goes for fashion. The markets are filled with new styles in fashion, some lines even debut every autumn.
Istanbul Jazz Festival is held in October. It is the time when music sounds in every public place in the metropolis. The best concert halls, excellent music, masterful performance together create a network of beauty, bright emotions and joy in autumn. There is a clear joy and happiness in the air that you should not miss.
