A Guide To Street Photography In Istanbul (Turkey Travel 2022)
Istanbul is one of the most mesmerising and beautiful cities. With amazing architecture, great people, delicious food and some of the best photography spots. Within a day you can go from lazy brunch in Karakoy to the hustle and bustle of Fatih to the peace and quiet of Princes’ Islands.
Why Istanbul
Overall photography is very welcome here given that Istanbul is a huge travel hub and photography is a popular hobby within the local community. You will find photographers everywhere and even camera themed coffee shops. In the month of me being here and shooting almost everyday I have never had any issues. Istanbul is also safe. Of course you still need to exercise common sense, research what areas to avoid and don’t walk down dark alleyways at midnight. However every location I share in this video has been very safe and I’ve not experienced any issues. You can visit Istanbul for a long weekend or a month. There will always be more than enough to see and do. Personally I spent a month here but this video is tailored to those who are coming for a long weekend or a short week. Istanbul is very central and has one of the most connected airports in the world and is also very affordable for those on a tight budget. The weather varies a lot. You can have a beautiful sunrise followed by rain followed by a sunset. Great for photos. There is a huge variety of places to shoot and explore. From hip neighbourhoods to packed out street markets to peaceful islands and everything in between. Finally the food and coffee scene here is incredible but more on that later.
Gear
Although I have a fair bit of camera gear, I found that I only used 20% of it 80% of the time in Istanbul. So from personal experience I would say the best lens is a traditional 24-70 zoom. It will cover 90% of what you will be shooting. If you’re more of a prime lens kinda person, then a 28mm and a 50mm will cover almost everything too. Now if you do have extra room and want to bring an extra lens, then I’d suggest a telephoto like a 70-200. I haven’t used mine much but now and then it did get a cool shot. Personally I used my 28mm and 50mm primes the most here. The 28mm was wide enough to get the whole scene but I could still crop to 35mm if needed. The 50mm was perfect for subjects but could be cropped to 70mm for tighter details. Whatever you decide on, just make sure you don’t pack heavy. Istanbul is very walkable and you will clock many miles… which you don’t want to do with a giant heavy backpack.
General tips
First of all get yourself a travel card as public transport especially the ferries is one of the main ways you will get around. Also these travel cards let you use the public bathrooms. Many places now accept card however cash is still king. So always have a few hundred Lira in your pocket just in case. If you need a local sim for data, grab one at the airport on arrival. I found it to be the same price if not cheaper than high street. Just because it is a green light for you to cross the road, doesn’t mean that people will stop… so be careful and always check before crossing any road.
Although Istanbul is safe, I have come across scams and pick pockets. From shoe cleaners dropping a brush in front of you to kids asking if they can hold your camera. If you are aware and keep your wits about you, all will be fine. As you’re walking through any retail area, people will be constantly trying to get you into their shops or restaurants. Sometimes they might try to befriend you first. Never feel bad or guilty saying no, walking away or ignoring them. Every good restaurant I been to in Istanbul did not have someone outside trying to get you in. This might seem obvious but before buying anything make sure the price is clear and agreed. A few times I got stung and overpaid because I failed to do this.
Istanbul is the city of cats and there are plenty of them. Many of them are friendly and will want to be petted but some will run away. There are homeless dogs walking round the streets but that never gave us any issues. However we did try and avoid packs of dogs. As for clothing, bring a good rain jacked and a good pair of walking trainers. Obviously have other clothes too, otherwise you might get arrested. Finally I would suggest staying in Karakoy. Not only are you in the middle of an amazing coffee shop scene but also very central. So you can easily walk to many places from here. More importantly you’re next to Karakoy and Eminonu ferry ports giving you easy travel throughout Istanbul.
Day 1- Karakoy / Galata / Beyoglu
Before I begin, Let me just say that these days are designed to be relaxing and slow paced. If you are happy to pack in as much as possible and be out sunrise to sunset every day, then you can get more done for sure. With that in mind, later in the video I will share some more locations that you can add as and when you see fit. Day 1 we kick off on the European side in Galata. Although this is a touristy area, there are so many little streets to explore as well as the tower itself. At first I thought it would be a tourist trap but honestly it is a must. You can get some cracking views if you go on a nice day, but if it’s gloomy like it was for me, then you can get nice photos inside too. After exploring the surrounding area, we head down into Karakoy. From the narrow streets filled with coffee shops to the waterfront, there is a lot to see. I would recommend walking up and down Galata bridge a few times. Both on top and underneath where the restaurants are. So many photo opportunities there. After Galata bridge, take a stroll down to Galataport. Although this is a modern shopping centre, you will often see giant cruise ships docked there. Pretty cool to just see the scale of them compared to the rest of the buildings. Now it’s time to head up into Beyoglu which is a very chilled out hip area full of nice coffee shops and views overlooking the Bosphorus. There isn’t anything specific here to see but more so a relaxed stroll round the neighbourhood with your camera.
Day 2 Balat / Yavuz Sinn / Süleymaniye
On the second day we start by getting a boat over to Balat. Balat is a famous spot with brightly painted houses and lots of character. It is a fairly small location so it won’t take you long but is definitely worth exploring. From Balat you can actually walk to the next spot which is an area called Yavuz Sinn. Basically it is the start of the busy market trading area although this spot is more for the locals. You can spend ages getting lost in this maze and there is always something new to discover. Although keep in mind that on Sundays almost everything is shut here. From here you can then walk over to Suleymaniye and visit the mosque. It is a beautiful piece of architecture and on a sunny day can make for amazing photos. It is also much quieter here than the other mosques due to it being a little out of the way. Finally you get some great views overlooking the city. If you do own an ultra wide lens, this could be a perfect location to use it.
Day 3 Princess Islands
About an hour ferry ride from Kadikoy you reach what is known as Princes’ Islands. It is a collection of 9 islands varying in size however only 4 of them are most visited. This is a whole day affair and you will need to get an early start to get all 4 islands in without feeling too rushed. My advice is get up as early as you possibly can, head to Kadikoy and get the first boat over. The boat ride itself is fantastic with clean sea air, amazing views and a performance from the locals which always makes the crowd smile. We approach Kinaliada, the first of the 4 main islands and immediately greeted with a nice small beach and these long narrow roads. The second thing we are greeted with is the lack of cars. You do get service cars but all personal transport is using electric trikes, scooters and bikes. The long narrow roads can make for awesome photos and a 70-200 telephoto will be perfect here however sadly I left mine at the hotel. You can rent bikes and cycle round however given we were island hopping that day, we just explored the small built up area and hopped on another ferry to the next island. The second island is called Burgazada and is a little bigger. It also does away with the straight long roads and is a little more complicated to navigate. However it has it’s own charm and distinct feel. On an April weekday when we went it was very quiet, but I’m told mid summer on a weekend this place is packed out. Personally I enjoyed finding a nice harbour front restaurant and just watching the world go by after a couple hours shooting and exploring. Time to jump on the ferry and head to the third island which was my personal favourite and it is called Heybeliada. This is definitely the most populated one where many people live permanently. It even has a proper high street. The reason I like this island is because there is a greater diversity of subjects, buildings and generally more life.
After an hour or so wandering round, we jumped on another ferry and headed to the final and biggest island called Buyukada. This place was very busy and definitely seems like it is the main one everyone goes to. The prime reason to visit this island is to climb all the way to the top where you are rewarded with amazing views of the city. However take your time walking up as there is so many little scenes and details to photograph on the way. The climb is not steep but does take a while and if you time it well you should get to the top just before sunset. After you’re done, head back down and catch the long ferry back to Kadikoy where no doubt you will fall asleep after such a long day. If you do have extra time, I suggest splitting these 4 islands over 2 days to get the most out of them. If you are in town for a while then I suggest dedicating a day per island.
Day 4 Topkapi Palace / Hagia Sophia / Bazaar
Onto the final day and we have a mixture of culture and chaos. First stop of the day is Hagia Sophia Mosque. You have to come in the morning if you don’t want to be swarmed by a huge crowd. Also it was Ramadan during our visit which would have attracted a bigger crowd and closed half of the Mosque down due to prayers. Also I suggest visiting on a sunny day so you have some amazing light to work with. The light will pour through the windows and light up small areas of the mosque. You can then use this light to create some great shots. After the mosque, we head down to Topkapi Palace which is only round the corner.Initially I was skeptical given it is a major tourist attraction and is more suited to those who love history however from a photography point of view, I was really surprised with how many opportunities there are. As with the Mosque, I suggest coming on a sunny day because that’s when you will have fantastic light flooding into all the narrow alleyways and through all the windows. Definitely get the full ticket which gets you access to all parts of the palace as there are photo spots everywhere. In total a couple hours here is enough to get a feel for the place and get some nice shots. However during busier times be prepared to wait longer for the right subject or a gap in the crowd. With the culture out of the way, it is time for the chaos. By that I mean the entire Bazaar area stretching from the palace all the way down to Eminonu. There is no specific street or road I could say has the best photo spots as they all offer something unique and can depend heavily on footfall and subjects. My suggestion is to just get lost in the narrow streets and see what you find. If you literally get lost, just remember as long as you’re going downhill, you’re going towards Eminonu. This area is busy, chaotic and loud however you will walk away with some cracking photos. Finally as for the Egyptian and Grand Bazaar, personally I preferred the Egyptian one as it was smaller but also easier to move around with more space. However as someone who is not into owning a ton of random material possessions, jewellery or fake designer clothes, I didn’t find neither market super interesting. Definitely visit for the experience, but I wouldn’t bank on getting many great photos here.
Other mentions
If you happen to have extra time, there are a few other places worth a mention. First up is Uskudar and Kadikoy. This is on the Asian side and has a fantastic chilled out atmosphere. Mostly because it is where the locals live and not as touristy as the European side. Also you get some amazing sunsets and Bosphorus views. Next up or a nice walk from Ortakoy to Bebek along the Bosphorus. It a great way to spend an afternoon with plenty of places to stop, explore and photograph. Finally I want to mention the Ferries. You can spend an entire day just on the Ferries going all round Istanbul and in the process getting some incredible photos. Honestly some of my favourite images came from the ferries and it is such a chilled out way to get around. If you have a spare day, it is something I would consider doing.
Food & Drink
I saved the best till last. Let’s start with coffee spots and there are two different approaches here. First one is to get a traditional Turkish coffee by the side of the road. It is strong, bitty but delicious. It is also great watching them prepare it on the hot coals. The second option is to find one of the millions of amazing coffee shops. I love the coffee shop culture in Istanbul. So much attention and detail is put in with some of these coffee spots resembling a cosy living room and living space. I personally enjoyed spending my time in is the Federal Coffee Company which is located in Galata. Great atmosphere and even better coffee. Great place to get some work done too. Secondly we have Kronotrop in Karakoy. I think in total I’ve come here over 20 times during my visit for coffee and brunch. The food is outstanding. Location is outstanding and the overall environment is just so chilled out and peaceful. Last but not least is the Ilmisimya Cafe & Art Space. It is a photo and art themed coffee shop full of memorabilia, classic cameras and generally a cool place to chill out. The cold press coffee was decent too. Now let’s look at a few dinner options. Personally I am not an adventurous eater and I prefer basic clean food that I know. The first spot is the Murver Restaurant located on top of the Novotel in Karakoy. The views overlooking the Bosphorus are fantastic, the atmosphere is great and food is absolutely delicious. The second spot is the Mukellef which is another rooftop restaurant in Karakoy overlooking Galata Tower. I particularly like the meze style food served here and the people who work here some of the friendliest I’ve met. Finally for something more local and traditional is the Ciya Kebab restaurant located in Kadikoy. If you’re a veggie, it might not be a place for you but if you can eat a little chicken or meat then you will not be disappointed. With the main course out of the way now let’s get onto the best part which is the desert. I am pretty sure there is a law somewhere that requires everyone visiting Istanbul to have some traditional Baklava, and there is no better place than the Karakoy Gulluoglu. It is one of the most if not the most traditional and well known baklava spots. It is always busy, open till past midnight and serves the best Baklava Ive ever had. Spoiler alert however…. It is full of calories… keep that in mind. Of course no trip to Istanbul will be complete without the ice cream man pulling your pants down and showing you up in front of your mates. However the ice cream is quite good if you can get it. Last but not least is tea. Lots of tea. You can get it everywhere and it’s a great way to take 5 minutes to sit down and relax.