🇹🇷 Football trip to Istanbul: an unforgettable weekend between passion, stadiums and culture

In this article, you will learn how to discover Istanbul and experience the incredible feeling of attending one or several matches during your football trip to Istanbul. First of all, let me tell you how I experienced two matches in one weekend in Istanbul, including the Fenerbahçe – Galatasaray derby. One of the best football trips I have ever experienced!

Why choose Istanbul for a football trip?

Istanbul had always been at the very top of my list of cities to absolutely discover on a football trip! The atmosphere in Turkish stadiums is unlike anything else. What has always fascinated me about Turkish football is the power of the supporters’ chants. When you know that most of the decibel records ever measured in a stadium are held by Istanbul stadiums, and that some players have even fainted because of it… it can only make your mouth water. So one day, I took the plunge, accompanied by my long-time stadium partner. Here we are, setting off on what would become one of our best football trips! Discovering a city that would leave us with unforgettable memories, both football-wise and culturally. I carefully chose the date, since the plan was to attend a Besiktas home match on Saturday, as well as the explosive Intercontinental Derby between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray on Sunday.

But what makes football in Istanbul so special is the incomparable atmosphere:

• The chants reach record decibel levels (up to 132 dB at Vodafone Park!),
• The smoke flares, drums and choreographies light up the stands,
• And the derbies, especially the one between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, are experienced as battles of national prestige.

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul and discovery of the Asian side of the city.

We landed in Istanbul on a Friday evening, eager to discover the city and its unique atmosphere. The first impression is already strong: Istanbul is organised chaos, lively, vibrant, and magnificent. As you may know, the city is crossed by the Bosphorus Strait and sits on two continents. We began our discovery of Istanbul on the Asian side, where our accommodation was located. We started strong with a visit to the Çamlıca Mosque. We discovered a truly sublime and brand-new monument! The façade is magnificent and the details are breathtaking. Inside, a vast space opens up to visitors. A huge favourite was the gigantic chandelier in the middle of the mosque’s main hall. Mesmerising…

We then headed towards the Çamlıca TV Tower, not far from the mosque. It was an opportunity for us to gain height (beware of vertigo!) and realise the immensity of the city. Simply put, it is impossible to see the end of it on the horizon. Istanbul is a gigantic city. Here, you are at the crossroads of civilisation.

As night fell, we moved closer to Kadiköy and its lively neighbourhoods to taste the city’s nightlife. We visited a few bars, but with a busy sightseeing schedule the next day, we didn’t stay too long in this place where anyone looking to party all night would certainly have no trouble doing so!

 

Bosphorus cruise and Besiktas match!

On the morning of the second day, a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait awaited us, departing from Kadiköy. It is the perfect excursion to discover the city from every angle! I particularly loved passing under the huge bridges crossing the Bosphorus in several parts of the city. Under one of them, a gigantic Turkish flag proudly waves in the wind. The setting is fantastic. We sailed up the strait while observing the different architectural styles, both on the European and Asian sides. I highly recommend this excursion.

In the afternoon, we walked through a few more streets of Kadiköy before crossing the Bosphorus to head to the Besiktas district. Because indeed, it was already time for us to attend our first match of the weekend!

 

⚫ Experiencing a match at Besiktas: thrills and unity

We arrived in the Besiktas district 4 hours before kick-off, a few hundred meters from the stadium. The fixture was not particularly attractive (Besiktas hosting Antalyaspor), but the neighbourhood was extremely lively! Besiktas supporters filled the streets and bars, gathering around an eagle statue located in the heart of the vibrant Besiktas district. Between drinks, we explored the surroundings and discovered numerous street art pieces featuring the club, while coming across groups of supporters lighting smoke flares on their way to the stadium. Pure delight.

We bought a jersey from the official store for the equivalent of €20, and here we go for the match! Allow some extra time to reach your seat, as entering the stadium can be quite difficult. We arrived just in time for the famous Besiktas anthem, which was a moment I absolutely wanted to experience! Guaranteed chills! A not-so-nice aside, but at that moment someone tried to pickpocket me from behind… Fortunately without consequence as I had placed all my belongings in an inner pocket!

The match was a huge success for Besiktas, who quickly took control and eventually won 5-1 at home. The stadium was full, the atmosphere fantastic, and I understood that the reputation of Turkish atmospheres is not just a legend! I remember a very intense moment, full of powerful emotions. I was truly amazed by both the sights and sounds. I loved the stadium’s immediate proximity to the Bosphorus, as well as the unique character of its architecture. Another favourite was the magnificent eagle statue in front of the stadium. Stunning!

We returned to the hotel by boat, crossing the Bosphorus at night under Istanbul’s lights.

The Istanbul Derby – Fenerbahçe vs Galatasaray

This was THE day we were waiting for: the famous Intercontinental Derby. This match opposes the two most popular clubs in Turkey, and even if the sporting stakes were not major that season, the tension was palpable.

🍽️ Pre-match in Kadiköy

We headed to the neighbourhood around the Fenerbahçe stadium early in the afternoon for a late lunch in a restaurant filled with yellow and blue supporters. Chants had been sung since the morning, preparing us for a 100% Fenerbahçe afternoon. Like the day before, we explored the neighbourhood looking for street art dedicated to the club. Once again, we were not disappointed and found some gems! Earlier, a street vendor sold us smoke flares, which we lit safely around the stadium before entering. An incredible moment that resulted in unforgettable photos and memories! For information, smoke flares are prohibited INSIDE stadiums in Turkey. A quick stop at the club shop to gear up for the occasion, and we were ready to enter the stadium!

The atmosphere was boiling, and we could feel the strength of this rivalry between the two most popular clubs in the country. There was tension in the air, even though statistically that season the derby was not crucial. But what was at stake today was not the 3 points, it was much more! A Fener – Gala match is an opportunity to establish supremacy over the city for a few weeks or months for one of the two camps. The pre-match was powerful, with chants sung by the entire stadium and several yellow and blue striped banners appearing in different parts of the stadium. Speaking of the stadium! Unlike Besiktas and Galatasaray stadiums, Fener’s stadium has not undergone major renovations, which gives it a much duller appearance. It is a large concrete block, without particularly sophisticated design. A shame, but we will settle for it! The interior is also quite outdated. It is therefore difficult to feel strong emotions when looking at the stadium itself… The crowd, however, lives up to the club’s reputation!

 

🏟️ The derby atmosphere

The Fener anthem echoed and was sung by the entire stadium, then kick-off was given. The home side quickly took control over their great rival, who soon found themselves without solutions against a Fener team in almost total control of the match. A clear 2-0 victory on the pitch. In the stands, just like the day before at Besiktas, we felt extremely strong intensity throughout the match. We did not sing as we didn’t know the lyrics, but Istanbul’s heat and the powerful chants of the supporters left us quite exhausted and overwhelmed by the experience we had just lived! As an anecdote, an English tourist who had managed to hide a smoke flare decided to light it just before the end of the match. He was immediately taken away by stadium security in a rather chaotic situation! He was only released from “custody” the following morning… Moral of the story, avoid smoke flares INSIDE stadiums!

In summary, a match in Istanbul is a moment of insane intensity. There is a lot of atmosphere long before kick-off, and decibels in every corner of the stadium! It also requires quite a lot of organisation to obtain your tickets… If your question is how to find tickets for a match in Istanbul, look no further. Attending a football match in Turkey works in a very particular way.

🎫 How to buy a ticket for a football match in Istanbul?

✅ Step 1: Register on Passolig

Before trying to buy a ticket, you must first register on the Passolig platform. This will be your virtual supporter card in Turkey. The registration process is really not easy, and this is where a specialised travel agency service like Stadium Avenue will be very useful! Because once registered on Passolig, nothing guarantees that you will be quick enough to purchase your precious ticket! For less stress, we strongly recommend using a reliable and specialised provider.

✅ Step 2: Buy your ticket (if you are fast enough!)

Once your account is activated, you can buy a ticket for matches… if any remain. For major matches such as derbies or European competition fixtures, tickets sell out within minutes.

Our advice: go through a specialised travel provider, such as Stadium Avenue. You will avoid:

• Administrative complications
• The risk of invalid tickets
• The stress of not having a ticket

🕌 Day 3: Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, and end of the stay

The football chapter of our Istanbul weekend comes to an end (almost), as the following day we tried to visit Galatasaray’s stadium, unsuccessfully as it was closed on Monday. A more recent stadium than Fener’s, slightly further from the centre, but very impressive architecturally!

However, the final part of our visit to Istanbul was just as breathtaking. We set off to discover the European side this time. With iconic locations such as Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and, above all, the Hagia Sophia mosque.

The Grand Bazaar is a must-see for bringing back souvenirs and getting lost in a fabulous place. It feels a bit like Ali Baba’s cave, with textiles everywhere, magnificent lighting, and everything that makes Turkish and oriental craftsmanship so beautiful, with gastronomy never far away, especially delicious baklavas! The colours and smells of this place are a journey on their own.

But the most memorable visit of this football trip to Istanbul was definitely Hagia Sophia! While it may appear less attractive from the outside than other large mosques in Istanbul due to the weight of time, it is inside that this extraordinary monument captivated my emotions. It has already been more than 4 years at the time of writing these lines, but I still remember the sparkling chandeliers, the immense fabrics with Quranic calligraphy, the softness of the carpet underfoot, the sounds of prayers, and the intimacy provided by this place despite being very busy and so vast… It is also a strong cultural site of humanity, with traces of the different civilisations that occupied the city when it was called Byzantium, Constantinople, or Istanbul…. After a weekend of rare intensity, Hagia Sophia acted as a true haven of peace. We were able to sit in a corner on the carpet and simply observe and feel time stop for a moment. If Istanbul is indeed one of the crossroads of civilisation, Hagia Sophia is undoubtedly the centre of that crossroads in every way.

 

In summary: why experience a football trip to Istanbul?

• For the intensity of atmospheres in Turkish stadiums
• To discover Istanbul differently, between culture, passion and folklore
• To immerse yourself in visceral, raw, pure football.

💡 Ready to experience a football match in Istanbul?

Stadium Avenue helps you organise your stay:

• Purchase of official tickets
• Passolig registration
• Well-located accommodation
• Local assistance

🎯 Click here to receive a personalised quote and experience your own football trip to Istanbul.