12 Things to Do in Istanbul in July

If you are thinking of traveling to ancient Byzantium or Constantinople in the month of July you are going to find a rather hot climate and a large number of tourists. However, the amount of things that Istanbul offers to its visitors makes it easy to plan your stay so that your visits are as comfortable as possible. Not forgetting, of course, that you will be able to attend a couple of very interesting events.

The best way to make the most of your time is to combine the must-see sights (Hagia Sophia, the Galata Tower, the Blue Mosque and many others) with other lesser-known attractions and, therefore, with fewer visitors. Leave the former for the early morning, late afternoon or lunchtime and dedicate the rest of the time to discover the secret corners of Istanbul.

If you like jazz and you are traveling in July you are in luck. Not only you can make interesting tours of the most representative monuments of Istanbul, but you will be able to attend the concerts that are part of the International Jazz Festival in the city, one of the most important in the world.

Since 1994 this festival has been organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV). During the festival, numerous jazz, soul and blues concerts are held by international and local figures of these musical genres. The festival also gives young talents the opportunity to make themselves known during the three-week event.

One of the attractions of the festival (which can attract even those who are not very fond of this type of music) is that the concerts take place in various parts of the city, including some historical buildings of great interest.

Although the venues change every year, which makes it necessary to check the program before going, in previous editions concerts have taken place in places such as the Archaeological Museum, parks, boats on the Bosphorus or the church of St. Irene, not to mention some of the best nightclubs in Istanbul.

For several years now, Rumeli Hisari Fortress has been hosting a series of concerts, mostly classical music and opera, throughout the month of July. Although the place is worth a visit by itself, if you are one of those who want to enjoy this kind of music in a wonderful environment you should try to come by some night.

Rumeli Hisari was built in 1452 by Sultan Mehmed II on the European shores of the Bosphorus. You may have seen his figure cut out on a hill if you have done any of the cruises in this area. Specifically, it is located in the Sarıyer district.

The fortress today houses a museum and an open-air theater, a place where concerts are held starting, usually, at 21:00 at night. In addition, the complex has a beautiful garden where you can see objects such as cannonballs and part (it is claimed) of the chain that closed the Golden Horn to prevent invasions.

The neighborhood in which it is located is also known for its many fish restaurants, cheaper and less touristy than those located in Kumkapi.

How to get to Rumeli Hisari

Although you can get there by cab, the most comfortable way to reach the fortress is by bus line 25 from Taksim Square or with the 40 from Dolmabahce.

Sometimes the best meals in a city don't take place in fancy restaurants. In the case of Istanbul, where I recommend you take a gastronomic tour of Istanbul, you will find few experiences more enjoyable than having a great fish sandwich right next to the Galata Bridge.

There are a number of boats there that specialize in serving this simple but tasty food. Although you can go all year round, the temperatures in July make it the ideal time to sit at the tables they set up and enjoy the balik ekmek, the name given to the sandwich.

My recommendation is to go for dinner (they usually close around 22:00 - 22:30), since in summer at noon it is almost impossible to find a place. The funny thing is that, despite being in a very touristy area, in front of the Spice Bazaar and the Yeni Mosque, the vast majority of diners are locals.

Once you find a table you have to go to the boat to order your sandwich. Watching the mackerel being prepared (which is left without a single bone in just a few seconds) is a real spectacle. Afterwards, you will have to ask for a drink from one of the workers who go between the tables. You can also ask for mussels and a glass full of pickles that will be offered to you.

Out of the rainy season, although with the inconvenience of the large number of tourists, one of the best activities that can be done during the month of July in Istanbul is to cross the Bosphorus to Anadolu Kavagi, the last town before reaching the Black Sea.

The route starts from the pier of Eminonu and during the same you will be able to see from the boat buildings as impressive as the Dolmabahce Palace or the mansions located on the seashore. If you are lucky, as happened to me the last time I did this tour, you may see dolphins frolicking around the boat.

The ferry makes two stops before reaching its final destination, Sariyer and Kamlica, although I recommend that you do not get off until you reach Anadolu Kavagi.

Once in the village, once a small fishing village and with a large military base due to its geographical location, it is best to climb up to the castle Yoros. Beyond seeing its ruins, from its position you will be able to enjoy incredible views of the Black Sea.

After getting off the castle (and always pending the ferry return schedule), I recommend that you enter one of the restaurants in the village. Almost all of them offer a closed menu (quite cheap) consisting of squid, stuffed mussels and fish. Until a few years ago, you could still see how the fish was selected directly from the boats arriving in the town, but nowadays (for sanitary reasons I suppose) that aspect has disappeared.

One of the best places to escape the crowds of the historic center of Istanbul during the summer is the neighborhood of Ortakoy, located almost under the Bosphorus Bridge.

This beautiful area is not only characterized by its youthful atmosphere, but also by the presence of several outdoor cafes perfect for hanging out during the long days of July. The views of the Asian quarter of Üsküdar are also another attraction of the area.

In addition to these cafes, you should not miss the small but stupendous Ortakoy Mosque, located practically on the water.

On the other hand, it is also worth strolling through the streets behind Ortakoy Square. In recent years they have been filled with cafes, restaurants and bars that present a great animation and, in fact, has become one of the trendiest places to enjoy the night in Istanbul.

How to get to Ortakoy

Ortakoy Square can be reached by taking a half-hour walk from the Dolmabahce Palace, which is easy to reach by streetcar from Sultanahmet itself.

Another option is to get to the palace and there take the bus line 22 to the Ortakoy neighborhood itself.

If you have gone with children to Istanbul and want to offer them a few hours of fun there is probably no better place in the city than its theme park Isfanbul, formerly Vieland. Besides, being outdoors, July is the best time to visit it.

This large park is very popular with Istanbul families on weekends, so it might be better to go on a weekday. Among its main attractions is a huge roller coaster that reaches up to 110 kilometers per hour. If that's too much for you, don't worry, the park has rides for all ages, plus a shopping and dining area.

To ease the heat, for example, you can also ride the Çilgin Nehir rapids, with boats for up to 9 people.

Although you can get there by bus (line 36CE from Karakoy, crossing the Galata Bridge), the most convenient way is to hire a tour that includes tickets and transportation.

During your stay in Istanbul in July you will sometimes feel like looking for cool places to escape the heat. Without leaving the essential places to see in the city, I am going to recommend two that you can see in the same morning or afternoon.

The first is the Gülhane Park, which you can reach on foot or with a tourist bus of Istanbul. This large garden is the oldest in the city and for a time was part of the Topkapi Palace.

The park has been restored in recent years and today houses some of the best museums in the city. In itself it is a great place to stroll along its shady paths or sit on one of the terraces located in the area closest to the sea and enjoy fabulous views of the Asian side of the city.

Before or after relaxing in Gülhane you must visit the Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans for centuries.

The palace, huge, has different areas to visit, from the rooms where the treasury is located to those that house various religious relics, not forgetting the harem, for me the most valuable.

Nor are the gardens in the complex, with many fountains to relieve you from the summer heat of the city. In fact, it is not uncommon to find visitors having a small picnic in the palace gardens.

If you go by streetcar you will have to get off at the stop called Gulhane. Do not get lost, as there is another stop called Topkapi which is in the opposite direction and has nothing to do with the palace.

The good weather in July makes it the perfect time to embark on a sightseeing cruise along the Bosphorus. This activity will not only allow you to enjoy a fantastic dinner and belly dancing show, but will also show you some of Istanbul's best sights from a different perspective.

The cruise starts at sunset, so you will witness the sun setting behind the Suleiman Mosque. With the night illumination, you will pass behind the Topkapi, the Blue Mosque or the Dolmabahce Palace, on a route so beautiful that you won't know where to look.

One of the drinks most used by the Turks to refresh themselves in the long days of July is the ayran. My recommendation is that you dare to try it in one of the terraces located on the first floor of the Galata Bridge or from some of the viewpoints that are in the streets leading from Istiklal Caddesi.

The ayran, along with raki, is considered the national drink of the country. Its composition is quite simple, containing only yogurt, water and a little salt. This content makes it perfect for recovering the salt that the body loses due to sweating.

Nowadays it is difficult to find homemade ayran in Istanbul, but its more commercial version is also great. Although not everyone will find the drink enjoyable, no one should fail to at least try it.

Joaquin's Traveller Tip

Its yogurt base may lead many to think that it is a typical breakfast drink. However, the reality is that it is usually drunk during meals and if you ask for it for breakfast you will be met with a look of incomprehension from the waiter.

Among the disadvantages of traveling to Istanbul in July is the large number of visitors to the city. However, most of them tend to concentrate on Sultanahmet and the Galata Tower area, while many other areas of enormous interest receive much less attention. I suggest, therefore, that you take a short tour of one of these areas: Fener.

Fener is, without a doubt, one of the best neighborhoods in Istanbul to visit. Originally, it was the Greek quarter of the city and as soon as you enter it you will discover that its streets are narrow and steep. Do not worry if you lose your sense of direction, as it is normal in the area. Unhurriedly discover the beautiful colorful Ottoman houses that will pop out at every step while you contemplate the life of the neighborhood, with its children playing ball.

A building not to be missed is the Greek Orthodox Lyceum, easily recognizable by its red bricks. A nearby staircase will take you to thechurch of Santa Maria de los Mogoles, also known as the Red Church.

Other places of great interest are the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the cathedral of San Giorgio, not to be missed.

Already on the shore of the Golden Horn, in the area that delimits the neighborhood of Fener of Balat, you will find the Bulgarian church of St. Stephen, built entirely of iron.

July is one of the hottest months in Istanbul, something you should take into account when planning your trip. The average highs are around 28º C, while the average lows are around 20º C. In any case, it is best to check the weather forecast before traveling.

The heat does not prevent it from being a rather rainy month and you should not be surprised if a short but intense thunderstorm breaks out while strolling through the streets.

Despite its large size, Istanbul is not a complicated city to get around. Of course, your own car is not a good option, as the traffic is a real nightmare.

The city's transport network consists of the metro (which you will hardly use because it is not located in the most touristy area), the streetcar (the most useful), buses and the very convenient ferries.

To use any type of transport you must get the Istanbulkart, a wallet card that you can load with the amount you want. Obviously, you can also buy individual tickets, but it is worth getting the card at any machine near the stops or in the city center.