13 Indoor Activities In Istanbul – What To Do When It Rains?

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Where To Stay In Istanbul

There are so many great places to stay in Istanbul and they fit every budget group. Generally speaking most tourist like to stay central so they can get everywhere easily. Here are a couple of hotels that you should check out.

• Mest Hotel Istanbul Sirkeci (Central, luxury and best views)
• Aprilis Deluxe Hotel (Central, mid range with a spa and wellness center)
• The Omiya Hotel (Little away from the center and budget)

Indoor Activities In Istanbul

The indoor activities in Istanbul are really useful when the weather is bad. This could be rain, extreme heat or even snow. With the way global warming is going, these occurrences are more and more frequent. You can’t even plan ahead and think that you’ll avoid them. You could try but there’s always that chance. Which is why I always have a list ready.

Just because you have to stay inside doesn’t necessary mean that you are missing out. Which is why I’ve grouped all the different indoor activities in Istanbul such that you can see whether you want to head to a historical landmark, you want to shop, take in the culture or just enjoy some local cuisine.

Visit Historical Landmarks

One of the most important things to consider when searching for indoor activities in Istanbul is all the historical landmarks. You’ll probably have many of these on your list and ear marking them for the days when the weather is not good is a smart way to plan your trip.

1. Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia is the most iconic monument in the city. With its history that spans over centuries, this prominent landmark is a place that hits almost every tourist’s bucket list. Visiting the Hagia Sophia is a completely indoor activity with the exception of waiting for the tickets. Now the lines for the tickets are super long and there are many scams around them which is why I covered a whole guide on how to book your tickets for Hagia Sophia.

When the weather is nasty, I would not recommend staying in the line for the tickets. We had a relatively short line and still waited for 30 minutes. In such cases I would recommend booking it online as it saves time and you aren’t miserable while you wait. There are couple of great options when it comes to booking your tickets.

• Hagia Sophia with Audio Guide
• Hagia Sophia with Museum
• Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque with Audio Guide (Note that entrance into the Blue Mosque is free. The price is not very different but it gives you an audio guide so you appreciate the Mosque more.)
• Hagia Sophia & Basilica Cistern (You can add Topkaki palace)

If you notice, many of these combination tickets are worth it because they also include other indoor activities in Istanbul that I have listed below. They reduce time spent in many queues and some are valid over multiple days.

2. The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is free to enter so you don’t need a specific time or ticket to get in. It is a religious space so when the prayers are being said, you may not be able to get in. It is also open late so its easy to squeeze in this monument around your busy schedule. I generally would combine it with a visit to Hagia Sophia or its museum or even the Topkaki palace. This is because it is located very close to these monuments.

It is also important to note that you probably will not spend a lot of time in the Blue Mosque because while it is beautiful there isn’t so much to see. The interior of the mosque is shaded from the elements but there are parts of it which aren’t.

3. Basilica Cistern

The kids and I really wanted to visit the Basilica cistern. It is another one of the cool indoor activities in Istanbul that is in the central touristic area of Istanbul. The cistern is underground so you will have to go down some stairs before you reach it. Its amazing when you consider that there are roads, buildings and a whole city above. If it wasn’t marked on the map, I wouldn’t have known that it existed.

The Basilica cistern doesn’t have any internet connectivity below. You could log into the wifi that is provided but I recommend downloading your audio guides before you enter so that you have it at hand. The cistern is one of the most visited monuments in the area and it gets booked out especially if you are in Istanbul during the busier months. I would recommend booking your tickets in advance.

Museums

Did you know that there are a number of museums in Istanbul? Entering these museums can be costly if you want to see them all which is why it is important to pick and choose in advance. They are also incredibly popular so for some it is wise to book in advance.

4. Hagia Sophia Museum

The Hagia Sophia museum was one of my favorite museums in Istanbul. It is in a building so it is definitely one of the best indoor activities in Istanbul if you want to stay sheltered and warm for awhile. A lot of people will say that the Hagia Sophia museum is not worth it which is why we almost did not visit it. The fear of missing out really got to us. Plus the person at the ticket counter advised taking the combo deal with the Hagia Sophia which made us reconsider.

In retrospect, I’m glad that we did. The museum isn’t like most typical museums. It is an experience in itself. The history of Hagia Sophia is presented using augmented reality. So as you walk into each space, you can see the scenes unfold around you. It may feel like you are waiting in line for long but once you get in, the queue proceeds really fast.

There are a couple of different artifacts that are on display. You’ll find these at the end of the show. You can take your time going through these.

I think that a big reason why many people like or don’t like the Hagia Sophia museum is based on expectations. You expect a museum in a traditional sense and that’s not what you get. The AR show is impressive and as a person who loves history, I really appreciated how it was put visually. I also liked how easy it was for children to follow. Plus it was available in many different languages.

Generally speaking its best to book the tickets in advance in combination with the Hagia Sophia. This was you don’t have to worry about availability.

5. Istanbul Archeological Museums

There isn’t just one but three Archeological museums in Istanbul. I was confused at first because I saw two of them when we were moving around and thought maybe they moved. But no! There are three separate ones and each one houses different artifacts.

1. The Archeological museum
2. Museum of the Ancient Orient
3. Museum of Islamic Art

If you’ve visited the Topkapi palace you have also probably seen the Hagia Irene. This old church was transformed into a barrack. It was later used to store artifacts. Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz was very impressed by archeological museums in Paris which is why he ordered a museum to be built in Istanbul. That was how the first archeological museum building came into being and the artifacts from the Hagia Irene were transfered here.

One of the things that you should know is that the three museums are covered under one ticket which makes them surprisingly budget friendly when compared to entry prices at other monuments in the city. All three are great indoor activities in Istanbul and you could easily spend hours exploring them.

Shopping Related Indoor Activities In Istanbul

A lot of people head to Istanbul to do their shopping. While it used to be cheap, the prices have gone up significantly so keep that in mind. There are a number of great places to shop in that are covered. So if shopping is on of the indoor activities in Istanbul that is on your list, keep these locations in mind.

6. Head To The Malls

There are so many malls all over Istanbul. It reminded me a lot of my time in Bangalore in India. We didn’t really realize how common they were initially. We tried heading out to the biggest ones which takes a lot of time when heading to the nearest ones was a good option.

The Mall of Istanbul is one of the biggest malls there. There are outlet malls too. These have a lot of discounted merchandise and are great if you want to buy something on a budget. My general recommendation is to head to the malls closest to you so you don’t waste too much time.

7. Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is huge and the main part of it is covered. It is a great place to head to a day that is rainy or when the weather is just bad. This is because the bazaar is an experience in itself. The architecture of the building is gorgeous and you don’t really see how beautiful it is till you enter. Walk through the archways and see the different sections. It is important to note that the prices here can be bloated at times.

The bazaar ( market) extends outwards and while it isn’t completely enclosed, we found that there was a makeshift shade that was installed. It kept the worst of the rain away from us. It was one of the more interesting indoor activities in Istanbul that we did in the rain. In fact, we came back here a second time just for the vibe.

Food And Culture

I’ve combine food and culture largely because food is often a big part of the Turkish culture. Its a communal meal. People sit together and talk. They chill and laugh. Share the days events or just connect. It could be with friends or with family or just acquaintances. People bond over food. This was something that reminded me of home and also of my travels through South East India.

There are other aspects that I’ve included that are also cultural which are perfect indoor activities in Istanbul.

8. Visit A Hamam

Consider adding a hammam to your list of indoor things to do in Istanbul. We browsed through the numerous Turkish Hammams in Istanbul and narrowed down on one that was recommended to us by a friend. I recommend keeping the hammam for the end of the trop or somewhere mid trip. Its very relaxing in its own way and its a great way to destress. It also warms you up nicely if the weather is cold outside.

The hammam that I’ve linked to above is the Aga Hamami. It is one of the oldest hammams in Istanbul and it is also a heritage building. Its important to book your appointment in advance because there are only limited slots per day. That’s why this is a little hard to organize as an impromptu activity.

9. Take A Cruise

The Bosphorous river cruises are another idea when you are considering indoor activities in Istanbul. It may not seem like an indoor activity but the cruises have an indoor and outdoor section. The inside section is usually heated during the cooler months of the year so you can stay warm and dry. The huge windows allow you an unobstructed view of the Istanbul landscape.

There are many different kinds of cruises that you can head out on. Generally I divide them into the day cruises and the night cruises. The night cruises come with entertainment and dinner while the day cruises are more for sightseeing. I’ve discussed the pros and cons of the cruises separately so you can dig into those details if you are considering this.

10. Sit At A Rooftop Restaurant

One of the cool things to do in Istanbul is to sit at a rooftop restaurant. These offer unparalleled views of the city. There are so many different restaurants to choose from. All of them are in the main historic center. There are a few as you go to the outskirts but these are the ones that have a view of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. There are a couple that will give you a view of the river too.

The best part is that this can be done spontaneously. You don’t have to plan in advance. So if the weather turns and you don’t know what to do, just go and chill till the rain passes. Its great in the night too because you can see the whole city lit up. It was one of my favorite indoor activities in Istanbul.

11. Visit An Iconic Seafood Restaurant Under A Bridge

While we are on the topic of restaurants with a view, there are some pretty cool restaurants that are on the Galata bridge. You won’t see them initially. Because the highway runs above and the restaurants are built into the underside of the bridge. These restaurants specialize in seafood and offer some of the best views of the setting sun. Highly recommended because they are easy to get to, reasonably priced and offer a different experience.

12. Chill At A Cafe

Istanbul has a lot of cafes. The food scene here is very unrushed. People come into a cafe and just chill sipping a cup of tea or coffee while the world goes by. This is a perfect way to spend a couple of hours if the weather gets bad. It is a great way to taste all the delicious food that Turkey has to offer. With the amount of walking around that we did, this made sense every single day. It wasn’t just one of the indoor activities in Istanbul for us but a part of our day.

13. Take A Cooking Class

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As I mentioned before, food is an integral part of the culture in Turkey. People gather around for meals and have conversations. They connected over shared experiences. It isn’t just a meal. Its tradition passed down through recipes. One of the ways to understand this is to take a cooking class. Here you can learn about the local cooking techniques, how spices are used to season food, what are the local diet looks like and more.

As you can see, there is no shortage of indoor activities in Istanbul. This why it is one of the best cities to visit irrespective of the season or the weather. While great weather would make the journey more pleasurable, don’t shy away from booking tickets during the low or shoulder season like we did. Not only do you get a cheaper price but you also get lesser crowds.

Other Posts That You May Enjoy

• Cool Turkish souvenirs in Istanbul
• Where to book the Hagia Sophia tickets

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