A concierge that already knows Istanbul
NUM holds 70,320 places in and around Istanbul. Text it what you want, in any language. It finds three real places that fit, open now, and books the one you pick.
Six of us in Kadıköy on Saturday night around 8. Somewhere for meyhane-style meze and rakı?
Three meyhanes in Kadıköy that can seat six at 8 on Saturday. Want me to book one?
What is in the Istanbul directory
Built from open map data, kept current, and never ranked by who paid, because nobody can pay. Placement is not for sale on NUM. Counted November 8, 2026.
Istanbul at a glance
Founded as Byzantium around 657 BC, the city was refounded as Constantinople in 330 AD. It was an imperial capital before and after the Ottoman conquest of 1453. Visitors come for the Byzantine and Ottoman monuments of the old city, the Bosphorus and the food. It spreads across two continents, with about two-thirds of residents on the European side.
Known for
Hagia Sophia Ayasofya
Justinian's great domed church, finished in 537, a mosque again since 2020. Women must cover their hair, and foreign visitors have paid to enter since January 2024.
Topkapı Palace Topkapı Sarayı
Ottoman sultans' palace begun in 1459 on Seraglio Point, above the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. A museum since 1924, it includes the Imperial Harem.
Grand Bazaar Kapalıçarşı
Covered market begun in 1455 near the Beyazıt Mosque, with 61 streets and over 4,000 shops selling jewelry, carpets and leather. Closed Sundays.
Balık ekmek at Eminönü
Grilled or fried fish, usually mackerel, in bread with salad, sold at Eminönü straight from the boats it is cooked on.
İstiklal Avenue and Galata İstiklal Caddesi
Pedestrian street in Beyoğlu running from Taksim Square, with a nostalgic tram, leading down toward Galata and the surviving Genoese Galata Tower.
Getting there
From Istanbul Airport (IST), metro line M11 runs to Gayrettepe for the M2 line toward Taksim. Havaist and IETT buses also serve the city, and taxis take about an hour to the center. Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is 32 km southeast, on the Asian side. Metro M4 runs to Kadıköy. IETT buses E10 and E11 also go to Kadıköy, and Havabus coaches run to Taksim.
Getting around
Metro, trams, buses, ferries and the Marmaray rail tunnel under the Bosphorus all take the Istanbulkart. Cash is not accepted. One card can pay for up to five people, tapping one after another.
When to go
May and June bring highs of about 21 to 26 C, little rain and long days. September and October are also pleasant, with a little more rain. July and August average about 28 C and feel humid. Winters are wet, around 5 to 10 C, with occasional heavy snow.
Local tip
Cross between Europe and Asia on a Şehir Hatları city ferry, such as Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy. It takes the Istanbulkart and gives a wide view of the water.
Facts checked November 1, 2026. Transport and openings change, so NUM checks them again.
More of Istanbul
Hagia SophiaPhoto: Adli Wahid · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Topkapı PalacePhoto: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Balık ekmek at EminönüPhoto: Garrett Ziegler · CC BY-SA 4.0 
IstanbulPhoto: Allie_Caulfield · CC BY 2.0 
IstanbulPhoto: Mark Ahsmann · CC BY-SA 3.0 
IstanbulPhoto: Maksym Kozlenko · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Where NUM looks in Istanbul
Districts NUM covers here.
- Fatih (old city)
- Kadıköy
- Şişli
- Beyoğlu
- Üsküdar
- Beşiktaş
- Zeytinburnu
- Bayrampaşa
- Eyüpsultan
- Gaziosmanpaşa
- Ataşehir
- Kağıthane
How NUM works in Istanbul
- 1
Text NUM what you want
A table, a massage, a driver, a pharmacy. In your words, in your language.
- 2
Get three real places
Checked, open now, and close to where you are. Nobody paid to be on the list.
- 3
It books the one you pick
The confirmation stays in your thread. A real person is one message away.
Questions about NUM in Istanbul
How many restaurants does NUM know in Istanbul?
5,309 in and around Istanbul, from the open map data NUM builds its directory on. NUM does not list all of them at you. It picks three that fit what you asked for, and says why.
Does NUM cover street food and markets in Istanbul?
Yes: 1,695 street-food spots and 220 markets. Ask it what is open now and it will answer for the hour you are actually in.
Can NUM help me find a hotel in Istanbul?
NUM knows 4,446 places to stay here. It finds the one that fits and hands you to the licensed partner who books it, so you always know who you are booking with.
Which airport is closer to the old city?
Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side. Take M11 then M2, or a taxi of about an hour. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side, linked to Kadıköy by metro M4.
What should I wear to visit Hagia Sophia and other mosques?
Women must cover their hair at Hagia Sophia. Most of the ground floor is kept for worshippers, and some areas open to visitors only outside prayer times.
Can several of us share one Istanbulkart?
Yes. Up to five people can use one card. Each taps in turn, waiting a few seconds between taps.
What language can I message NUM in for Istanbul?
Whatever you write in. NUM answers in the language of your message, and in the script you used, which for Chinese means Traditional stays Traditional.
Does it cost anything?
Not for travelers. Booking through NUM is free and nothing is added to your bill. NUM Plus and NUM Platinum are optional and only add room.
For businesses in Istanbul
If you run somewhere here, list it free. No account needed: add your place or update its details, and NUM checks them before they go live. Taking bookings through NUM is a separate, optional sign-up.
- Free to list, no account needed
- NUM checks every listing before it goes live
- Nobody can pay to be recommended
Istanbul eSIM: data on the local networks in Istanbul, installed before you land. Turkey eSIM plans.