11 Things to Do in Istanbul in October

Without the heat of summer and before the characteristic cold of winter arrives, this Turkish city is at its best in the autumn months, including October. Visiting all that Istanbul has to offer is also more comfortable, as the influx of tourists drops considerably.

Although no one should miss out on visiting the interior of its monuments, in October you will enjoy the mosques with the golden hue of the autumn light almost as much. In addition, the city offers some special activities to further enhance the experience of spending a few days in the city.

Exfoliation, massage, steam room? If after spending hours admiring the best monuments in Istanbul you want to relax, rest and let yourself be pampered, there is nothing better than to do it in a traditional hammam.

This Turkish bath is also 5 centuries old (the business will have survived for 500 years, don't you think?) and the building in which it is housed has architecture worthy of admiration.

October is also the perfect time to book a ticket to the hammam because it often rains in Istanbul. Do you find any "buts" to this plan?

Contemporary art lovers have an appointment in Istanbul every two years during the months of October and November. The city's Biennial is considered one of the most important in the world, although it does not reach the level of the Venice Biennial.

This contemporary art festival has been held since the mid-1980s. More than 70 artists from various countries around the world usually participate, as the organisers of the Istanbul Biennial aim to include art from cultures that generally receive less attention in Europe, such as Africa and Asia.

The Biennial's exhibitions and activities are held at various venues in the city, such as the Museum of Painting and Sculpture and the Pera Museum. Although these are interesting venues, in my opinion it is more worthwhile to visit other locations such as the Cistern Basilica, St Irene's or Büyükada Island, as they add their own attractions to what is on display.

You can certainly eat good fish in Istanbul at any time of the year, but the locals themselves point out that there is no better time than autumn. The historic district of Karaköy has for centuries been one of the city's main fresh fish hotspots, and today you can find some places that offer unforgettable dishes.

Among the best dishes to choose from is the famous balik ekmek, a mackerel sandwich that leaves no one indifferent. What's more, you'll be able to watch it being prepared right in front of you, in just a few minutes.

Of course, you can also opt for other, more elaborate recipes. These include another classic of the city's street food: stuffed mussels, which you can try if you book a gastronomic tour of Istanbul.

Autumn, more specifically October, is definitely the best time to climb the Galata Tower, perhaps along with spring. Not only will you save a lot of time queuing because of the less crowds of tourists, but you can also see the best views of the city in a light that makes it even more beautiful.

To get there in the most relaxing way possible, it's best to find the Tünel funicular stop (it's a bit hidden, on Tersane Street after crossing the Galata Bridge towards the tower).

Once there, climbing the tower is quite easy, as there is a convenient lift to the top. Once at the top, from a balcony surrounding its circular structure, you will be able to see the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Soleiman Mosque, the Golden Horn and many other of Istanbul's wonders that you will surely get to know in depth if you book a guided tour of Istanbul

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Practical information about the Galata Tower

• Opening hours: daily from 9:00 am to 12:00 am
• Price: around €6.20

The Akbank Jazz Festival, Turkey's oldest jazz festival, takes place in Istanbul for 10 days in October. If you are a fan of this type of music, this is the perfect opportunity to attend one of the concerts.

The concerts organised by the festival feature international jazz stars as well as up-and-coming young jazz artists. In total, during these days you will be able to see more than 100 artists distributed among the 10 main venues of the event. In addition, workshops and film screenings are also organised.

Concert venues include the Galataport Istanbul Paket Post Office, the Gazhane Museum, the Galatasaray Lyceum and the Pera Palace Hotel.

Take the opportunity to visit the Pera Palace Hotel

If you decide to attend one of the festival's concerts and want to take the opportunity to see a historic part of the city, the Pera Palace Hotel is an unbeatable option. The beautiful building was built in 1892, no less, with the purpose of providing accommodation for travellers on the legendary Orient Express.

In addition to its undoubted historical and aesthetic value and the wonderful views from its facilities, the hotel is visited by many curious people who want to see two rooms in particular: Room 101, dedicated to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Room 411, where Agatha Christie stayed to write Murder on the Orient Express.

Although much improved in recent years (you should have seen it two decades ago), the traffic in central Istanbul can be overwhelming. There's no better place to relax than Gülhane Park, which is at its best in late September and October.

Gulhane is the park that leads to the Topkapi Palace and some of the city's best museums. Strolling along its paths in October, as many local families do, will allow you to enjoy the beautifully coloured autumn trees.

At the end of the garden you'll find a café where you can sit down for a drink and enjoy great views of the Asian side of the city.

Take advantage of the walk to enter the Topkapi Palace or the archaeological museum

A visit to the Topkapi Palace is one of Istanbul's must-see sights. The former residence of the sultans is today a great museum to which you should dedicate several hours. It houses several very interesting rooms, such as those containing pieces from the treasury of the former Ottoman Empire, the relics room and, above all, the harem. Its gardens are also great for strolling around and enjoying the views of the city.

In the same Gülhane Park you will also find two branches of the archaeological museum. The exhibits showcase much of the region's history, including the impressive Alexander Sarcophagus and Meleager Sarcophagus.

Even though it's October and there are fewer tourists, Istanbul's traffic and bustling streets are hardly diminishing. There is probably no better place to relax for a few hours than the Princes' Islands, which are at their best in autumn, according to many.

There are eight islands in this small archipelago in the Sea of Marmara, although only four are usually visited. During Byzantine times they were used as a place of exile for disgraced princes and nobles. Their beauty meant that over time the Ottoman aristocracy began to build wooden palaces on them, as well as some villas that can still be seen today.

As cars are banned, the atmosphere is very peaceful, especially from October onwards. To get there you can take one of the ferries from Kabataş or Sirkeci or book one of the organised tours to Buyukada, one of the main islands.

Although you'll find pomegranate juice at other times of the year, the best time to try it is during the pomegranate season, starting in October. Taking advantage of this time, numerous street st alls start offering the juice at very cheap prices and you shouldn't miss the chance to order a glass and drink it while strolling or sitting on a bench.

Pomegranate juice (and other fruit) stalls have become a characteristic feature of the city, especially from autumn onwards. A good place to try it is in the bustling streets in front of the Eminonu bus station esplanade.

This is an area where few tourists visit, despite its proximity to the spice bazaar, and where you'll find not only pomegranate juices but also sweet shops at much cheaper prices than in Sultanahmet.

When you hear the word puppet, you might think that this is an ideal plan if you've been to Istanbul with children. However, at this festival you will find performances for all ages and themes.

The festival lasts approximately 11 days and involves companies from all over the world. In its different venues you will also find workshops to learn how to make puppets, film screenings and conferences, always with the world of puppets as the main theme.

As a curiosity you should know that the art of puppetry has a long tradition in Turkey, where it was known by the name of Karagöz. During the time of the Ottoman Empire, this type of art spread throughout its domains in the Balkans, North Africa and the Middle East.

If you are in Istanbul at the end of October, you will be able to witness the celebrations of one of the most important dates in Turkey's modern history, Republic Day. For a couple of days starting on the 28th of that month, the city fills with parades, performances and fireworks to celebrate the occasion.

Cumhuriyet Bayramı, the Turkish name for the celebration, has its origins in Atatürk's creation of the modern Turkish state. Thus, on 29 October 1923, the sultans lost power and the Turkish Republic was declared.

In addition to the colourful parades and musical performances, the most spectacular part of the celebrations is the fireworks display. With the lights reflecting on the Bosphorus, the effect is absolutely magnificent and I can assure you that you won't forget it.

Oktoberfest is a well-known German tradition, but if you like beer, you'll find a smaller version in Istanbul. Bear in mind that for decades there was a lot of emigration from Turkey to Germany and it's not surprising that some of the returnees brought some of their customs with them.

Although you'll find celebrations in some of the city's pubs, the most famous one is organised by the Bomontiada Art Complex, a historic Istanbul brewery. This party takes place for 3 days mainly in Populist, a pub located in the Sislis district.

To get there, just take metro line 2 from Taksim, get off at Osmanbey Metro Station and walk about 10 minutes to Birahane Sk.

It's always advisable to check the weather forecast shortly before you travel, but to give you a rough idea, in October the average high is around 20°C, while the average low is around 13°C.

As you can see, it's not too cold, but you should bear in mind that it does rain quite often. So don't forget to pack an umbrella or at least waterproof clothing.