With so many unmissable attractions within a mere stroll of each other – and all set around the site of an ancient Byzantine hippodrome – Sultanahmet is an overwhelmingly popular tourist destination, and a prime location for visitors to be wowed on a truly epic scale. Beyond the wonders of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more, this relatively small area of Istanbul somehow manages to retain an air of peace and calm. It offers visitors a significantly less celebrated but nonetheless pleasant network of quaint lanes and side streets, majestic panoramas of the Bosphorus, and an impressive assortment of accommodation options for all budgets and tastes.

Istanbul’s most famous street, pedestrianized Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), throbs day and night and offers a fantastic array of architectural sights, shops, treats, and throngs upon teeming throngs of people. At the avenue’s northeastern end is expansive Taksim Square, thought by many to be the very heart of the city, with many of Turkey’s most renowned restaurants and some of Europe’s most happening nightlife in close proximity. In striking contrast, Beyoglu’s less trafficked areas – such as the affluent Cihangir and the antiques district of Cukurcuma – exude Old World charm and provide contemplative calm and splendid diversion via an assortment of cozy cafes, attractive boutiques, and quiet lanes.

Taksim, the pulsing heart of Istanbul, is a neighborhood that never sleeps. It is home to the famous Taksim Square, a hub for cultural events and demonstrations, and the starting point of the nostalgic Istiklal Street, a pedestrian paradise lined with countless shops, cafes, and restaurants. Dotted with historical buildings, consulates, high-end boutiques, art galleries, and iconic red trams, this neighborhood is a feast for the senses. The area also hosts the renowned Gezi Park, a green oasis amidst the urban hustle, and the landmark Atatürk Cultural Center, a beacon for the performing arts. The neighborhood is well-connected by metro, buses, and the nostalgic tram, making it easy to explore Istanbul's other fascinating districts.

In Besiktas, skyscrapers compete with palaces for space in an upscale vista replete with hilly green parkland filling in the margins. Step into this rather wealthy neighborhood and discover a rich mix of opportunities to shop, dine, and be entertained. For folks in search of urban buzz, not to mention a constant reminder of just how important Istanbul’s waterways are to its rich history, there's the frenetic Besiktas ferry terminal or the city’s most vibrant fish market to explore. For a timeout of metropolitan proportions, head to the bucolic Yildiz Park or the chic Bosphorus-side fishing village of Ortakoy. Attractions such as the grandiose Dolmabahce Palace and a bevy of other stately residences await admiration. To be sure, this large and not overly touristy swath of Istanbul yields plenty of pleasure for all.

For much of Istanbul’s history, Sisli and the area just north of Taksim Square were open countryside used mostly as hunting grounds. These days, Sisli and its chic streets are considered the very heart of contemporary Istanbuli life, where an epicenter of fashion and a thriving business district meet to create an expressly “downtown” feel. Though largely a residential neighborhood, luxury hotels, fine dining restaurants, and upscale shops abound with many of them situated inside or nearby Cevahir Istanbul, the biggest shopping mall in Europe and second biggest urban shopping mall in the world. Shopaholics and fashionistas travel from near and far to browse the area's mix of major global brand items and creations by popular Turkish designers.

Tourists, hawkers, and locals come together at the Grand Bazaar to comb its labyrinthine passageways in search of a bargain – be it a pair of brand name jeans, a handcrafted silk rug, or a perfectly brewed cup of tea. Outside the vast bazaar, worn, narrow streets wind their way down from its lofty perch to the southern shore of the Golden Horn, where the evocatively aromatic Spice Bazaar beckons alongside the elegant New Mosque (opened in 1665). Nearby, the famed Galata Bridge offers pedestrian access to urban delights across the river in Istanbul’s more residential and contemporary neighborhoods, while the must-see sights of Sultanahmet are but a leisurely stroll away.

Home to more than half a million residents, Uskudar on the Asian side of the Bosphorus is one of Istanbul’s most densely populated neighborhoods. Once a Greek colony, later a haven for people from across the Mediterranean and the Middle East, this gateway to Asia has been an active and diverse hub for eons. Still, visitors to Uskudar are often more overcome by its myriad treasures than by its many thousand residents. And with fairytale settings such as the “Maiden’s Tower” as well as grand examples of Ottoman Era architecture, plenty of parks, a gorgeous and lengthy coastline, and some of Turkey’s holiest sites, there’s no end to the sightseeing possibilities. Easily reached from the city’s European shores via a steady network of ferries, time spent in Uskudar reveals a “real life” Istanbul that many who experience find extremely fascinating.