Discover Istanbul’s 200 best spots for a Couples' trip

Tuğra Restaurant

★ 4.5 · 1,024 reviews

Dine at Tuğra Restaurant inside the Çırağan Palace Kempinski, where the Bosphorus sits right outside your table. Work through a degustation of history-inspired dishes in a formal, waterfront setting made for celebrations.

TURK FATIH TUTAK

★ 4.7 · 1,190 reviews

Discover TURK Fatih Tutak, a fine-dining evening that starts with a restaurant pick-up and unfolds over roughly three hours. Settle into the tasting experience in a refined, design-minded room built for special occasions.

Mikla

★ 4.3 · 2,723 reviews

Rise to the top of the hotel for dinner at Mikla, Beyoğlu's rooftop fine dining address. Work through a contemporary tasting menu with terrace views, in a setting made for celebrations and slow evenings.

360 Istanbul

★ 4.0 · 6,242 reviews

Discover 360 Istanbul, a penthouse restaurant above Istiklal Street where dinner, drinks and views share one table. Order modern Turkish meze, linger over the skyline, and stay late as weekend DJs take over the room.

GALLADA by Fatih Tutak

★ 4.4 · 604 reviews

Dine in an elegant setting at a Fatih Tutak restaurant. Reserve an evening table and enjoy the occasion.

Ulus 29

★ 4.2 · 2,207 reviews

Discover Ulus 29, the hilltop restaurant, terrace bar and nightclub that gives Istanbul's evenings a view. Linger over dinner with sweeping city views, then move to the terrace or the dance floor as the night picks up.

Maiden's Tower

★ 4.7 · 28,207 reviews

Cross the Bosphorus by boat to Maiden's Tower, Istanbul's most legend-laden landmark. Climb up through the small museum, read the stories behind its origins, and enjoy views of the city as the light fades.

Oligark İstanbul

★ 4.0 · 2,249 reviews

Discover Oligark İstanbul, a restaurant and lounge right on the Bosphorus. Watch the sun set over the water, linger over dinner, and stay on as the evening music picks up.

Nicole

★ 4.5 · 755 reviews

Reserve a table at Nicole, an intimate Istanbul restaurant with only a few tables. Settle into a ten-course tasting menu where native Turkish spices shape each carefully layered plate.

Topaz İstanbul

★ 4.3 · 1,147 reviews

Settle into Topaz İstanbul for a dinner where the Bosphorus is the backdrop. Watch the sunset fade over the water while working through modern interpretations of traditional Turkish courses.

Basilica Cistern

★ 4.6 · 98,042 reviews

Descend into the Basilica Cistern, the Byzantine reservoir hidden beneath Istanbul's old city. Follow the lit walkways between 336 marble columns and spend about 45 minutes absorbing the echoing, water-level atmosphere.

Topside Bar

★ 4.7 · 78 reviews

Discover Topside Bar, a rooftop hideaway on top of the Peninsula hotel by the port. Sip a cocktail or glass of wine while the Bosphorus, the skyline and the Galata Tower unfold around you.

The Blue Mosque

★ 4.7 · 122,896 reviews

Enter the Blue Mosque, Istanbul's iconic six-minaret landmark in Sultanahmet. Walk through the vast prayer hall, take in its tile-covered interior and the sweep of domes above.

Neolokal

★ 4.3 · 1,351 reviews

Book a table at Neolokal for a dinner where presentation is half the show. Work through a contemporary Turkish tasting menu, plated with care in a refined, design-led setting.

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

★ 4.8 · 135,257 reviews

Enter Hagia Sophia, the monumental domed landmark at the heart of Istanbul's old city. Spend an hour beneath its great dome, taking in marble, gold and the building's layered past.

AŞEKA KARAKÖY

★ 4.7 · 667 reviews

Discover AŞEKA KARAKÖY, the Michelin-starred dinner address in Karaköy. Settle in for a two-hour evening of à la carte dishes, including well-reviewed lamb, in a trendy, couple-friendly room.

Arkestra

★ 4.3 · 623 reviews

Discover Arkestra, a Michelin-starred fine-dining room split into three modern spaces. Spend an unhurried evening with inventive dishes, wine recommendations from the sommelier and well-reviewed cocktails.

Ciragan Palace Kempinski

★ 4.7 · 15,152 reviews

Experience Ciragan Palace Kempinski, an Ottoman palace turned grand hotel on the Bosphorus. Admire the palace facade and waterfront setting, and soak up the atmosphere of a place where sultans once lived.

Borsa Restaurant

★ 4.4 · 787 reviews

Cross to the Anatolian shore for a meal at Borsa, set inside the Adile Sultan Palace. Time your table for sunset and enjoy dinner with the Bosphorus laid out in front of you.

Sunset Grill & Bar

★ 4.1 · 4,625 reviews

Discover Sunset Grill & Bar, a glamorous hilltop restaurant with sweeping views of the bridge. Order Mediterranean plates or sushi and linger from golden hour into a late-night cocktail.

Sultanahmet

Step into Sultanahmet, where Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul meet. Walk between the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the ancient Hippodrome, then wander cobbled lanes to a tea garden for a break.

Galata Tower

★ 4.6 · 217,273 reviews

Ascend Galata Tower, one of Istanbul's most recognisable landmarks. Climb to the top for sweeping views over the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the city's rooftops.

Mürver Restaurant

★ 4.4 · 2,716 reviews

Seek out Mürver Restaurant, a signless Beyoğlu hideaway with a view that earns its reputation. Order the charred octopus and sour cherry hummus for a calm, festive evening.

Emirgan Park

★ 4.6 · 56,225 reviews

Wander through Emirgan Park, Istanbul's celebrated garden of ponds, shady paths and seasonal colour. Circle the water, linger among the flower beds, and find a quiet bench for a slow, scenic hour or more.

Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on a Luxury Yacht

★ 4.8 · 1,514 reviews

Watch the sun go down from the deck of a 25-metre yacht on the Bosphorus. Enjoy snacks, baklava and tea while your guide points out the mosques, palaces and villas along both shores.

Spago Istanbul by Wolfgang Puck

★ 4.0 · 1,384 reviews

Discover Spago Istanbul by Wolfgang Puck, the St. Regis restaurant that pairs refined global cooking with a lively bar scene. Begin with cocktails on the rooftop, then settle in for a long, polished dinner.

Sankai by Nagaya

★ 4.3 · 89 reviews

Discover Sankai by Nagaya, an omakase counter hidden behind a keycard door on the third floor. Work through a signature tasting menu of precisely cut fish and carefully seasoned rice in an intimate, secretive setting.

Feriye Lokantasi

★ 4.4 · 5,184 reviews

Dine by the Bosphorus at a stylish restaurant with an extensive wine list and lovely views. Book a waterfront table and settle in for a long meal.

Ortaköy

Wander Ortaköy, where a baroque mosque meets the Bosphorus right beneath the bridge. Grab a loaded kumpir from a street stall, browse the crafts market, and linger on the waterfront as the light fades.

Büyük Mecidiye Mosque

★ 4.8 · 45,368 reviews

Visit Büyük Mecidiye Mosque, the Ortaköy landmark framed by the Bosphorus Bridge. Step inside for about 20 minutes beneath its light-catching windows, then linger on the quay as the water changes colour at sunset.