Friends
Open to Bosphorus ferry ride
About Crossing continents
Meet like-minded people in Istanbul
On your own in Istanbul? Check in for the days you're there, say what you're open to, and other travellers and locals who chose to be seen can ask to join. They see your city, never your exact spot.
Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia, offering solo travellers the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and ferries across the Bosphorus. The vibe is lively and hospitable, with tea and conversation never far away. Travellers gather in Sultanahmet, Beyoğlu around Galata and Karaköy, and on the Asian side in Kadıköy.
Meeting people in Istanbul: what works
- Stay in Galata, Karaköy or Kadıköy for a social, local feel, with many cafés and bars.
- Take public ferries across the Bosphorus, a cheap and scenic way to explore and meet people.
- Join a free walking tour of Sultanahmet or a food tour in Kadıköy.
- Visit the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, where shopkeepers often invite you for tea.
Stay safe
Be wary of the shoe-shine scam and strangers inviting you to bars around Taksim, where bills can be inflated, and use BiTaksi or official taxis.
Meet in public places, tell a friend where you’re going, and never send money to someone you met online.
Cards people might post in Istanbul
Examples of what you could be open to. Post your own in a minute.
Friends
Open to Food tour in Kadıköy
About Turkish food
Date
Open to Sunset at Galata Tower
About A first evening in Istanbul
Ideas
Open to Hagia Sophia visit
About Byzantine and Ottoman history
Nearby and related
Guides
- Apps to make friends: an honest comparisonAn honest look at apps to make friends as an adult, from BFF by Bumble and Meetup to Timeleft and Peanut: what each is good for and what to watch for.
- Book Clubs in Singapore: Where to Find Your Reading PeopleFind a book club in Singapore: Silent Book Club sessions, free NLB library clubs in four languages, independent clubs, the Writers Festival and DIY tips.
- Dating apps in Singapore: an honest 2026 comparisonTinder, Bumble, Hinge, Coffee Meets Bagel and more, compared for Singapore: how matching works, verification and indicative SGD prices.
- Dinner with strangers in Singapore: social dining, supper clubs and how to do it safelyHow to have dinner with strangers in Singapore: Timeleft, supper clubs with communal tables, home dining, Meetup groups and doing it yourself safely.