14 September 2026

Équipe Body Expert

8 min de lecture

Medical tourism: our best tips in Istanbul to visit, eat and go out!

Many of you have asked us to share our good tips for enjoying the best of Istanbul when you come for your hair, dental, plastic surgery or beauty treatments with Body Expert. Here we have compiled a mini-guide of our favorite addresses: cafes, restaurants, shopping, tourist attractions or escapades around Istanbul. A valuable list to take with you on your next medical trip!

Where to eat in Istanbul?

Breakfast

Probably the most important meal for Turks, and to enjoy it, go to Van Kahvaltı Evi www.facebook.com/VanKahvalti in the Cihangir district. Everything is there, Turkish and Kurdish specialities, a change of scenery guaranteed.

A Turkish breakfast spread: rings of fried dough on a wooden board, cheeses, olives, jams, cucumber and tomato in small dishes

Café Caché

The Lemon Garden is an insider’s address, a haven of tranquility and greenery that you reach after a maze of corridors and stairs. For brunch, lunch or a quiet drink in the heart of Beyoglu. www.limonlubahcebeyoglu.com

A garden terrace lit by round lamps after dark, guests at tables under the trees in a paved courtyard, one of them taking a photograph

Juice Bar

Founded by Rucksan, a French-Turkish woman, the Juicery Istanbul www.instagram.com/juiceryistanbul/ and its delicious smoothies, is the ideal place to recharge your batteries with organic vitamins and minerals.

Three views side by side: a bottle of green Juicery juice, an açai bowl with red fruit and granola, and the counter of the juice bar with its rattan pendant lights and plants

Pâtisserie

The Turkish saying “eat sweet, speak sweet” takes on its full meaning in this pastry café, Viyana Kahvesi, near the Galata Tower, for a gourmet snack.

A baker in an apron stretching dough on a floured worktop in front of a lit wood-fired oven

Anatolian Gastronomy

Ciya in Kadikoy www.ciya.com.tr/, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. The Byzantium of Anatolian gastronomy, with a formidable chef reviving hundreds of popular recipes from the country, adapted to the seasons. Spirited.

Two cappuccinos and two slices of cake, one with walnuts and one a strawberry cheesecake, served on yellow-patterned metal trays

Poetic Lunch

In the Cihangir district, a stone’s throw from Taksim, Emily’s Garden emilysgarden.com.tr/ offers a lush and poetic indoor garden. The service is refined, and the menu offers great value for money.

An open-air dining room under the trees, wooden tables and metal chairs standing on gravel, wine glasses and blue bottles on the tables

Authentic Kebap

Baskose, arguably the best Kebap in Nisantasi, tasty and perfectly roasted meat, impeccable welcome and service www.nisantasibaskose.com.

Banquettes and laid tables in a restaurant, spread with meze, grilled meats, baskets of bread and glasses of red wine

The Yavuz Sultan Selim bridge lit in red above the Bosphorus at night, its reflection stretching across the water

Where to go out in Istanbul?

Hip bar

360Istanbul, a trendy design place for a sunset drink on the rooftops of Beyoglu, after attending an art exhibition in one of the galleries of the same building overlooking Istiklal Caddesi. 360istanbul.com

A rooftop restaurant terrace at dusk, a round table laid in front of a stone turret, the roofs of Beyoglu and the old city skyline beyond

Fish Dinner

It’s impossible to miss the best fish restaurant in Istanbul. Sur Balık Restoran Cihangir www.surbalik.com/en/cihangir offers traditional sea cuisine, with dishes prepared to perfection. Unparalleled freshness and exceptional panoramic views of the Bosphorus.

Two views side by side: grilled octopus served in a cast-iron dish, and a dining room with its bay windows open onto the Bosphorus at nightfall

Chic dining

In the upscale Maçka district, the gourmet restaurant at Swissotel The Bosphorus, 16 ROOF www.swissotel.com/hotels/istanbul/dining/16roof/. A chic atmosphere guaranteed, exceptional food and one of the most beautiful views overlooking Istanbul and the Bosphorus strait!

A rooftop terrace at dusk, tables lit by lamps hung from rigging lines, facing the Bosphorus and the Ortaköy mosque

Culinary art

The Academy of Culinary Arts, MSA ( Mutfak sanatları akademisi msa.com.tr/msaninrestorani) is located in Emirgan, within the grounds of the Sabancı Museum. Founded in 2004 by Mehmet Aksel, it has a restaurant open to the public, where you can enjoy Turkish and international cuisine prepared by the students, with a panoramic view over the Bosphorus. Perfect for a brunch or a gourmet dinner.

Two plated dishes side by side: a rack of lamb in a herb and nut crust on a green purée, and a bowl of mantı with yoghurt and chilli butter

A woman in a wide-brimmed black hat drinking Turkish tea from a tulip glass, the Istanbul skyline and the Bosphorus behind her

What to visit in Istanbul?

Picturesque

A ferry ride away, in the heart of Uskudar, the beautifully restored old quarter of Kuzguncuk offers a pleasant stroll, photo opportunity, stroll through the picturesque streets and a stop at some of Istanbul’s oldest pastry shops.

Stroll

The “Hans”, ancient caravanserays located between the Örücüler Kapisi and MahmutPasa Kapisi gates of the Grand Bazaar. These ancient multi-storey courtyards, once the final stops for the Silk Road merchants’ caravans, still house dozens of goldsmiths’ workshops that supply the Grand Bazaar’s shops with jewelry and trinkets. Fascinating.

Antiques & Brocantes

Çukur Cuma Caddesi, in Beyoğlu, is the district of antique dealers, painters and craftsmen, specializing in the recovery and rehabilitation of second-hand goods and antiques. A pleasure for the eyes and an exciting treasure hunt.

Hammam

Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamami kilicalipasahamami.com/ offers an incredible experience! Everything is perfect in this historic 16th century establishment.

Inside a historic hammam: stone domes and arches, a wooden gallery on the upper floor, cushioned benches around a circular chandelier

Massage

Spending time walking in Istanbul is unavoidable, and to recuperate, there’s nothing better than a traditional Thai foot massage. So let’s relax at the Foot Spa!

Two views side by side: a close-up of a foot massage, and a therapist in a red uniform performing a traditional Thai stretch

Culture

In the Sisli district, the Bomonti Ada is a famous beer factory transformed into a cultural center, with art exhibitions, open-air concerts, bars and restaurants, in a post-industrial setting.

The outdoor courtyard of a former brick brewery turned cultural venue, an audience seated in colourful deckchairs in the evening under strings of lights

Art

Istanbul Modern is a must for art lovers, with a great modern and contemporary collection. www.istanbulmodern.org/en

A gallery room in a modern art museum, visitors standing in front of large canvases, among them a dark painting scattered with white flowers

Cruise

Take a ferry from Eminönü to Anadolu Kavağı for an unforgettable cruise on the Bosphorus to the old fishing village of Anadolu Kavagi, a delightful neighborhood at the foot of the Anadolu Fortress. Sit on a restaurant terrace and enjoy a plate of freshly fried anchovies, the local speciality.

Belle Epoque escapade

Take the ferry from Kabatas to spend a night on the island of Büyükada. Enjoy the old-fashioned atmosphere of the Princes’ Islands and discover the sublime wooden villas from the beginning of the 20th century on foot, by bicycle or by horse-drawn carriage, and sleep for a romantic night in a pure Belle Epoque hotel, the Splendid Palace. splendidpalacehotel.com

The terrace of a Belle Epoque hotel, white wrought-iron furniture and red and white striped cushions on a tiled floor, looking out to sea

Seaside getaway

Unknown to tourists, the yellow sandy beaches of the Black Sea, north of Istanbul, offer an ideal seaside getaway just one hour from the city center. Burç Beach is the perfect place to enjoy it.

Surfing and Kiteboarding

Yes, you can also surf and kite in Istanbul! On the Black Sea, 100m from Burç Beach, the Surf School Istanbul (surfschoolistanbul.com) offers a range of surfing sports. The instructors are friendly and very professional, and the equipment is state-of-the-art!

Two views side by side: a kitesurfing beach with its sails and branded flags, and a surfer carrying an orange board along the shore

An Istanbul Welcome Card banner advertising a VIP Combo of tickets, tours and audio guides, illustrated with Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern

Istanbul Welcome Card, a useful and smart pass to visit Istanbul

This tourist pass gathers the entry tickets to the city’s main monuments, a Bosphorus cruise and audio guides for less than the same tickets bought separately, avoids queues in the most popular historical monuments, and offers a free digital guide that helps you discover the city without getting lost. Purchased online, it is delivered directly to your hotel. istanbulwelcomecard.com/shop

Sources

Casey, V., Crooks, V. A., Snyder, J., & Turner, L. (2013). Knowledge brokers, companions, and navigators: A qualitative examination of informal caregivers’ roles in medical tourism. International Journal for Equity in Health, 12, 94. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-12-94

Istanbul Welcome Card. (2026). Frequently asked questions. https://istanbulwelcomecard.com/frequently-asked-questions

Mutfak Sanatları Akademisi. (2026). MSA hakkında [About MSA]. https://msa.com.tr/msa-hakkinda

Mutfak Sanatları Akademisi. (2026). MSA’nın Restoranı [MSA’s restaurant]. https://msa.com.tr/msaninrestorani

Swissôtel The Bosphorus. (2026). 16 Roof. https://www.swissotel.com/hotels/istanbul/dining/16roof/

Xu, T., Wang, W., & Du, J. (2020). An integrative review of patients’ experience in the medical tourism. Inquiry, 57, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958020926762