Istanbul Photography Tour: Best Photo Spots and the Right Times

The best photo spots in Istanbul are Galata Tower and the Galata Bridge, the coloured houses of Balat, the Süleymaniye Mosque terraces and the Bosphorus shore at Ortaköy, and the best times are the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. In late June that means roughly 5:30 and 20:40; in December roughly 8:25 and 17:40, because Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year. A photography tour simply puts these places in the right order for the light. You can do it with a private guide and car, or book a styled shoot: our Istanbul flying dress rooftop photoshoot, from $190 per person, includes a professional photographer and 250 photos. This guide lists the spots, the hours and a route that works.

Best photo spots and the right time for each

Times of sunrise and sunset shift by about three hours across the year in Istanbul. Check the exact time for your dates and plan the two key shots of each day around it.

Galata: the tower, the bridge and the streets

Galata Tower is the city's best-known viewpoint and also one of its best subjects. From the gallery at the top you see the Golden Horn, the Old City and the start of the Bosphorus in one sweep. The gallery is narrow and busy, so a wide lens and patience matter more than a tripod. Go early in the day for shorter queues; in the evening the tower is a better subject from below, lit up at the end of the streets that climb from Karaköy.

The Galata Bridge and Eminönü are the classic sunset location. Stand on the upper level of the bridge or at the Karaköy end and shoot towards the Old City: the domes and minarets of the New Mosque and the Süleymaniye stand in silhouette, with fishing lines, ferries and seagulls in the foreground. After sunset, the blue hour lasts about 20 to 30 minutes and is often better than the sunset itself.

For the streets, see our things to do in Galata and Karaköy page: the stepped lanes, old banks and the Camondo Stairs make good detail shots.

Balat and Fener: colour and street life

Balat and Fener, on the Golden Horn, are the most photographed neighbourhoods in the city for their coloured wooden and brick houses, steep stepped streets and corner cafés. The famous view is the stepped street lined with painted houses climbing the hill from the Balat shore; the side streets around it are just as good and much quieter.

Go on a weekday morning. By late morning at weekends the main corners fill with photo shoots and queues for the same angle. Morning light also sits better on the house fronts. Remember that this is a residential area: people live behind the painted doors, so ask before you photograph residents or step onto doorsteps, and keep your voice low on early mornings.

The red-brick Greek school on the hill above Fener and the white iron Bulgarian St Stephen Church on the shore are two more strong subjects within walking distance. Our things to do in Balat page has a walking route.

Süleymaniye and the Old City mosques

The Süleymaniye Mosque, Sinan's masterpiece on the third hill, is the best place in the Old City for architecture photography. The arcaded courtyard gives you repeating arches and domes; the terrace behind the mosque gives a wide view over the Golden Horn to Galata. Late afternoon light from the west warms the stone and lights the terrace view.

In Sultanahmet, go early. Before 08:00 the square between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia is almost empty, and the light is soft. By 10:00 it is full of groups.

Rules for mosques apply to photographers too:

• Mosques close to visitors for about half an hour around each of the five daily prayers, and for longer at Friday midday.
• Photography inside is generally accepted without flash, but do not photograph people praying, and do not stand in front of worshippers.
• Dress modestly: covered shoulders and knees, and a headscarf for women inside the prayer hall. Our what to wear in Istanbul page covers this.

The Bosphorus: shore views and shots from the water

The strait is best photographed from two angles: from the shore looking at the water, and from the water looking at the shore.

From the shore, Ortaköy Mosque with the bridge behind it is the Bosphorus postcard. Shoot from the small pier beside the mosque, at sunrise or in late afternoon. Further north, the Rumeli Fortress and the shore at Bebek and Arnavutköy give mansions and boats with the second bridge behind. On the Asian side, the Salacak shore in Üsküdar faces the Maiden's Tower with the Old City skyline behind it, ideal at sunset. For a city-wide panorama, Çamlıca Hill and Pierre Loti Hill are the two high points.

From the water, a public ferry between Eminönü and Kadıköy or Üsküdar is the cheapest photography trip in the city: twenty minutes with the Old City skyline on one side. A private boat is better for serious work because you choose the timing and the captain can slow down or hold position for the shot. Our private Bosphorus yacht cruise lasts two hours with a guide, from $600 per group, and our sunset Bosphorus yacht cruise page explains how to time it.

A one-day photography route

This route follows the light and keeps the driving short. It works best with a private guide and car, which also carries your gear between stops.

1. Sunrise: Sultanahmet Square. Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia with almost nobody around.
2. Early morning: Balat and Fener. Coloured houses and stepped streets before the crowds and while the light is soft.
3. Late morning: Galata Tower. Climb the tower, then photograph the streets and Camondo Stairs below.
4. Midday break. Harsh light; a long lunch, or interiors where light is less of a problem.
5. Afternoon: Ortaköy and the Bosphorus shore. The mosque and bridge, then the shore towards Bebek.
6. Late afternoon: Süleymaniye. Courtyard and terrace in warm light.
7. Sunset and blue hour: Galata Bridge. The Old City skyline from the Karaköy side, or the Maiden's Tower from Üsküdar.

In summer, when sunrise is before 6:00 and sunset after 20:30, split the day: shoot the morning, rest at midday and go out again from 17:00. In winter the whole route fits between about 8:30 and 18:00. Our page on the best time to visit Istanbul covers the seasons; spring and autumn give the clearest air and the most comfortable walking.

Practical rules: drones, tripods and people

• Drones. Flying a drone in Turkey requires registration with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) above a certain weight, and much of central Istanbul, including the historic peninsula and the Bosphorus, is restricted airspace that needs flight permission. Do not plan a trip around drone shots unless the permissions are arranged in advance.
• Tripods. Fine in streets and on the shore. Inside museums and in crowded places they are often not allowed or not practical; ask at the entrance.
• People. Ask before photographing people up close, especially women and children, and in residential streets. Most shopkeepers and street vendors are happy to be photographed if you ask and buy something.
• Security. Do not photograph police, military sites or security checkpoints.
• Gear. A small bag is easier at security checks in mosques, museums and malls. Keep cameras on a strap in crowded places such as the Grand Bazaar and the trams.

If you want to be in the pictures yourself rather than behind the camera, a styled shoot is the easier choice. Our flying dress rooftop photoshoot takes about three hours on a terrace above the skyline, with a professional photographer, a flying dress, 250 high-resolution photos, 13 edited images and a reel; daytime or sunset sessions are possible, and hotel transfers are extra. If your trip continues to Cappadocia, see our Cappadocia balloon photo shoot page.

Tours that cover this

• Istanbul Flying Dress Photoshoot: Rooftop Session, 250 Photos & Reel, from $190 per person.
• Private Istanbul Tour with a Licensed Guide: 1, 2 or 3 Days, from $199 per group. Build the day around photo spots and light.
• Istanbul Private Driver Tour: Mercedes Vito for 8 Hours, 1-6 Guests, from $299 per group. Car and driver for a spot-to-spot route.
• Private Bosphorus Yacht Cruise in Istanbul: 2 Hours with Guide, from $600 per group.

For more ideas, see our Istanbul destination guide, or browse private Istanbul tours on our sister site, Get Istanbul Tours.

Frequently Asked Questions