Which Expansion

Istanbul expansions

Base game: 2–5 players40–60 minPegasus Spiele2 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    Istanbul: Mocha & Baksheesh

    Buy this first

    BGG rates it 7.88 from 3,415 ratings. A BGG poster says that if you buy only one Istanbul expansion, buy this; others call both expansions good but not necessary.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Four new places to visit, more interaction between players, a coffee good and new ways to earn rubies via the tavern and guild hall.

    Expansion2–5 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  2. #2 overall

    Istanbul: Letters & Seals

    Worth it

    BGG rates it 7.73 from 1,633 ratings. Buy it second: a BGG poster says to get Mocha & Baksheesh first, and several owners call both expansions fun spice rather than necessary.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Mail delivery to shopkeepers for money, secret-society information sold for rubies, and a slower companion who needs no assistants.

    Expansion2–5 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek

Stuck between two?

Istanbul expansions: quick answers

Which Istanbul expansion should I buy first?

Istanbul: Mocha & Baksheesh. BGG rates it 7.88 from 3,415 ratings. A BGG poster says that if you buy only one Istanbul expansion, buy this; others call both expansions good but not necessary.

Is Istanbul: Mocha & Baksheesh worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. It adds: Four new places to visit, more interaction between players, a coffee good and new ways to earn rubies via the tavern and guild hall.

Istanbul: Mocha & Baksheesh or Istanbul: Letters & Seals: which first?

We’d buy Istanbul: Mocha & Baksheesh first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Same publisher

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-15.