All Turkey Istanbul

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Istanbul

43 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Istanbul, Turkey

Updated August 3, 2022

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Unusual Attractions in Istanbul

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History 6
Restaurants 4
Museums And Collections 4
Churches 4
Sacred Spaces 4
Trains 3
Subterranean Sites 3
Monuments 3

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Stories About Istanbul

Podcast: Ottoman Bird Palaces

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Museum of Innocence

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

What in the World Is Sea Snot?

And why is it fouling the coast around Istanbul?
by Jessica Leigh Hester

Podcast: Basilica Cistern

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

Istanbul's Master of Puppets Is on a Mission to Save an Ancient Art

From his tiny studio, Cengiz Özek finds new ways to keep this Ottoman era tradition alive.
by Demetrios Ioannou

The Forgotten Stones That Still Inspire Turks to Help Their Neighbors

A tradition of anonymous charity lives on in the age of COVID-19.
by Jennifer Hattam

Invasive, Photogenic Plants Are Taking a Toll on Istanbul’s Ancient Walls

One researcher is recommending a zero-tolerance policy.
by Jonathan Carey

Being an Ottoman Janissary Meant War, Mutiny, and Baklava

To overthrow the sultan, janissaries first threw over their cooking pots.
by Anne Ewbank

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