11 Things to Do in Istanbul in August

The history of ancient Constantinople is evident in the many attractions that Istanbul has to offer. You can spend weeks touring its mosques, palaces, squares, museums or streets without ever getting to know the city completely, as each of its neighborhoods hides new and interesting corners.

Although the month of August has several disadvantages, mainly the heat and the large number of tourists, the visit is still highly recommended. In addition to its most important monuments, you can enjoy other places and activities that will leave an indelible mark.

The August heat can make walking through the streets of Istanbul to reach its monuments somewhat uncomfortable. A good way to avoid the fatigue caused by these temperatures is to book one of the tourist buses offered in the Turkish capital.

Thanks to its free stops, where you can get on and off as many times as you want, you will be able to reach the main attractions of the city, from the Topkapi Palace to Taksim Square, without forgetting all those located around the Golden Horn or even the Bosphorus Bridge.

The tourist bus tickets have different validity depending on which one you prefer. So, you can buy them for 1, 2 or 3 days, depending on how long the stay in the city and the plans you have.

If you are a bit overwhelmed by the eternal hustle and bustle of the streets of Istanbul and the high temperatures have exhausted you, just book an excursion to the Princes' Islands to relax with a quiet and cooler day. For starters, on the islands you will not hear any traffic noise at any time, as cars are totally forbidden. To move around you can only use bicycles or horse-drawn carriages, a way to avoid pollution of its natural spaces.

In total, the name encompasses a set of 9 islands located in the Sea of Marmara. According to legend, several princesses were exiled to them for behavior judged inappropriate by the Byzantine emperors. Today you can visit only 4 of the 9 islands: Heybeliada, Burgazada, Kinaliada, and the largest, Buyukada. It is the latter that usually attracts the most visitors, as its Victorian houses are joined by fantastic vegetation, beaches and the wonderful church of Hagios Giorgio.

The most convenient way to spend a day is to hire an organized excursion to Buyukada, although you can also arrive by ferry from the pier of Kabatas.

One of the great plans in the historic center of Istanbul, perfect to escape for a while from the heat of the city is to book the guided tour of the Basilica Cistern, built in the 6th century as part of the system to supply water to the palace of the Byzantine monarchs.

At the time, this cistern was part of a basilica, now completely disappeared. From the surface, no one can imagine what this subway space hides, and all visitors are surprised when they go down some stairs and find a large room with a capacity to store 10,000 cubic meters of water.

This real oasis of freshness in the middle of the city houses 336 columns 9 meters high. Curiously, there is no stylistic uniformity among them, since before being brought to the city they were part of other structures or monuments. Undoubtedly, the most famous columns are those whose base represents a Medusa's head. Their greenish color and the dim lighting create a truly magical atmosphere.

Other nearby cisterns

Although the Yerebatan is undoubtedly the most famous and spectacular, in the Sultanahmet area, you can also visit other ancient water tanks. Among them is the Binbirdirek Cistern, located between the Hippodrome and the Forum.

Another option is to enter the so-called Cistern of Theodosius, which was connected to the Aqueduct of Valens. I recommend that you check their website, as classical music concerts and other activities are sometimes held here.

Another ideal plan for the month of August is to book a cruise on the Bosphorus. From the sea you will be able to contemplate the beauty and diversity of Istanbul in a totally different and unique way.

In addition, thanks to the audio guide and the map at your disposal, you can easily locate all the points of interest and you will not miss any detail of the history of the city, as well as its most emblematic places such as the Dolmabahçe Palace or the Ortaköy Mosque. And, of course, you will have the opportunity to take spectacular pictures of the bridges connecting Asia and Europe.

The 90-minute cruise will allow you to enjoy panoramic views of the Bosphorus Strait, as well as admire Istanbul in a very special way. And, best of all, especially if your stay in Istanbul is short, you will be able to access it quickly and without queues.

Although the city of Istanbul has no beach within its limits, if you want to take advantage of your trip to spend a few hours lying on the sand and take a swim, you will find some very interesting options in the surroundings. It is also something you will appreciate to cool off a bit before returning to visit the most important monuments. In addition, you can choose to book a yacht tour in Istanbul and enjoy the full experience.

• Florya Günes: is the closest beach to Istanbul, although possibly the lowest quality. Being so close to the city it is usually very crowded during the month of August and it will be difficult to find a place on the sand. The best way to get there is with the subway train line Marmaray, from Sirkeci to Florya Train Station.
• Solar Beach Therapy in Kilyos (Black Sea): in the town of Kilyos you will find several interesting beaches. The Solar Beach stretches for 1 kilometer and is very well equipped with a terrace, restaurant and bar. In addition, during August several festivals are held there. Please note that there is a fee. You can reach it with bus line 151 (from Haci Osman metro stop) or with a special transport that leaves from Besiktas pier.
• Agva Kilimli Dark (Black Sea): this beach stands out for being located in a truly paradisiacal natural environment. This has made it a very popular destination for those who wish to do some hiking. The easiest way to get there is to approach Üsküdar and there take bus 139 A.
• Burc:::: beach this beach is managed by the Bosphorus University Graduate Association. With really fine sand, the place is equipped with a large terrace, bar and cafeteria, as well as several restaurants. During the evenings of the weekends, parties and concerts are held. Bus number 151, which you can take from Haci Osman metro stop, drops you off in the area without any problems.

For the past few years, the Kadiköy neighborhood has become one of the liveliest in Istanbul. If you are in August in the city, I recommend you spend an evening-night strolling through its streets and getting to know its great offer of cafes, bars and pubs.

Although you can get there in other ways, in my opinion there is no better way than taking a ferry from Karakoy and getting off at the fabulous train station on the Asian side of Istanbul: Haydarpasa. Just to see this building, given by Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Sultans at the beginning of the 20th century, is worth the trip. In fact, I recommend that you sit on the terrace located almost on the water to drink tea while enjoying the view.

Afterwards, you just have to wander through the streets of the neighborhood, browse in the stores in the area and enter a restaurant or pub to discover the great atmosphere there.

While Sultanahmet, İstiklal Caddesi and the Galata Tower area tend to be packed with tourists in August, t here are other interesting neighborhoods in I stanbul where you won't find those crowds. Üsküdar, in the Asian part of the city, is one of the most recommended. If you arrive by ferry from Eminonu (although you can also opt for the train built underwater Marmaray), the most interesting itinerary begins along the coast to reach the so-called "neighborhood of soap operas", Kuzguncuk.

This area, full of colorful houses and small gardens, has become famous for having been used as a setting for several Turkish soap operas. In the neighborhood, you can also see an interesting mix of places with a modern and youthful atmosphere and others that are totally traditional. After a stroll, you should take a walk towards the beautiful Atik Valide Mosque, not forgetting to take a look at all the attractions along the way.

The next point of interest is the Karacaahmet cemetery, located in a beautiful park in the middle of the neighborhood. Going down towards the sea, you can not miss the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, (one of the best mosques in Istanbul from my point of view) as well as a stroll through the fish market, including restaurants, located in the vicinity.

Although these tours can be done all year round, summer is perhaps the best time to do them, especially if you want to enjoy the wonderful views from the open-air terrace of the Pierre Loti cafe. My advice is to spend part of the afternoon walking around the neighborhood before going up to the café on the funicular.

The Eyüp neighborhood is also an ideal place to escape the tourist crowds. The atmosphere you will find is practically only local. Considered as one of the most conservative of the city, the Eyüp mosque is the main point of interest. From a religious point of view, it is the third most important place of pilgrimage for Muslims around the world and inside is the tomb of Abbu Ayyub al-Ansari, Muhammad's assistant.

When leaving the mosque I recommend that you take a walk around the adjacent square. Both in that space and in the nearby streets you will be able to see another Istanbul, with hardly any tourists and stores for locals. It really is a lively and worthwhile walk. To finish, you will have to take the cable car that takes you to the top of a small hill. Actually, this hill is a cemetery worth visiting, but it is better to go up in this means of transport and walk down.

Practical information

• Guided tour: there is a guided tour that goes along the Golden Horn and allows you to visit the Eyüp Mosque.
• How to get to Eyüp: the best way is by bus from Eminonu station (there are many lines making the trip), although you can also walk a long way from Fener.
• Cable car: it runs between 8:00 and 23:00 hours and can be paid for with the city transport card, just like the bus.

If you like rock you're in luck, as Istanbul hosts one of the biggest festivals of this type of music for three days in August. Sponsored by the Coca-Cola brand, Rock 'n Coke brings together some of the best bands from around the world every year.

The stages of this macro-festival are located out doors and it is possible to spend the night in the camping area set up for it. The concert venue is located at Hezarfen Airfield, 50 kilometers from the city.

The site also has a small amusement park and a shopping area. Although it is mainly for rock, you will also find performances of other musical styles.

Those who are in Istanbul at the end of August, specifically on the 30th, will witness the parades held in the city on the occasion of Victory Day.

On this date, the country celebrates its victory in the war against the Greek army in 1922, a conflict that elevated Mustafa Kemal, Atatürk, the father of modern Turkey, as the country's leader.

Military parades and other celebrations are held that day throughout the country, including Istanbul. In addition, several of its most symbolic buildings are illuminated with the country's flag. However, keep in mind that it is a public holiday, so you may find some stores closed.

If you miss more green areas in Istanbul, especially in the August sunshine, my advice is to spend a day hiking in the nearby Belgrade Forest. As many locals do during their vacations or weekends, there you will be able to relax and walk along the marked trails in the middle of amazing vegetation.

In total, this forest covers about 5,000 hectares of land and is located just an hour away from the city center. In addition to doing some hiking, in the forest you will be able to go boating or have a quiet picnic in the designated areas.

Getting to this area is not too complicated. The most practical way is to take the subway to Haci Osman and then take the bus 42 HM to Bahçeköy. Alternatively, some small travel agencies in central Istanbul offer day trips to the area.

The city of Istanbul offers numerous plans to do and things to see regardless of the time of year you go. About the weather in August, it is pretty much the same as if you go to Istanbul in July: hot and humid. Although it's always good to check the forecast before you travel, highs are usually above 30º C and lows don't drop below 20º C.

The best thing about this month is that rain doesn't usually appear, although don't be surprised if a summer thunderstorm breaks out.