7 DAYS IN ISTANBUL
Day 1
1. Topkapi Palace
We recommend starting your day exploring this impressive palace, which was the center of the Ottoman Empire and residence of the Sultan and his family from 1478 to 1856.
The palace opened as a museum in 1924, a year after the sultanate was abolished and the Republic of Turkey was founded.
Here, in addition to enjoying its architecture and mosaics, you can see exhibits of the empire's treasures, armor and weapons, the palace kitchens, among many other interesting sections.
You can also visit the Harem, an area where the sultan's family and he himself resided.
We suggest you arrive as soon as the palace opens, that way you can enjoy it to the fullest without so many people or the tours that arrive between 10 am and 12 pm.
To visit the Palace you need at least 2 hours and another hour for the Harem, if you have the opportunity, visit it, it is one of the sections that you will like the most for its beautiful decorations and impressive mosaics.
The Palace is open from 9 am to 6 pm, closed every Tuesday.
2. Hagia Sophia
Once you leave Topkapi Palace, continue to Hagia Sophia which is located just a few steps from the main entrance of the palace.
This is one of the main monuments of Istanbul.
Hagia Sophia was built between the years 532 and 537, during the Byzantine Empire. Almost a thousand years after its construction, the ancient city of Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans, changing its name to Istanbul and turning Hagia Sophia into the imperial mosque of the Ottomans.
In 1934, it was declared with the status of a museum which was revoked in July 2020, returning to have the status of a mosque.
As of January 15th, 2024, new rules for visitors have been implemented:
Here are the new rules for all visitors as of January 15th, 2024 ⬇️
-ENTRANCE FEE: €25 for all visitors including foreign residents with a valid Turkish residence permit and Turkish citizens. Entrance is FREE for kids under 8 years old.⚠️Museum Pass Türkiye and Museum Pass Istanbul are not valid⚠️
-The entrance to the gallery area is now only through the gate located in front of Topkapi Palace’s main gate and the fountain.
-Hagia Sophia is still a mosque, therefore, even to visit the gallery all visitors must follow every mosque’s dress code, women must cover the hair and dress modestly. You can also buy a headscarf for 30 TL and a body cover for 75 TL at the ticket office.
-The gallery is not wheelchair accessible, therefore, for these visitors only the first floor (praying area) can be accessed.
-Tourists can only access the gallery on the second floor, now the prayer area (first floor) won’t be open to tourists is only for worshippers.
-Muslim tourists who desire to pray at Hagia Sophia can access the prayer area free of charge ONLY at praying times. The gate is located in front of Sultanahmet Square (old gate), however, if you also want to visit the gallery on the second floor, then you have to pay €25.
-Information about the Hagia Sophia is available in 23 languages through a headset system that may be accessed through a QR code application from mobile phones. In this way, tourists can learn about the monument quietly, without disturbing the worshippers.
The visit to Hagia Sophia takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour.
3. Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
When you finish touring Hagia Sophia, go see the Sultanamhet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque for its thousands of tiles in different shades of blue that adorn its wonderful interior.
This marvelous place was built between 1609-1616, during the sultanate of Sultan Ahmet I.
Just take into consideration that since the beginning of 2018 to present date, restoration work has been carried out, for this reason, a large part of its interior might be covered. But if you happen to be lucky and that such works have already finished for your visit, do not forget to see it inside.
The visit to the blue mosque takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour.
FREE ENTRANCE.
4. Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is located next to Hagia Sophia on the other side of the tram line, is another of the sites that should be visited in the city.
Built during the Byzantine empire between the years 527-565 for water reservoirs, it is famous for its impressive marble columns and the heads of Medusa.
The visit to the Basilica Cistern takes between 25-35 minutes.
5. Hippodrome of Constantinople
Next to the Blue Mosque we can admire the area where the famous Hippodrome of Constantinople was once located, which was the center of fun and entertainment in the ancient capital city of the Byzantine Empire. Today we can still see some of the monuments that were part of this structure such as the obelisks of Theodosius and Constantine and the serpent column.
This site is public, therefore there is no fee to visit it.
If you want to see one of the last standing structures of the hippodrome and that few people know about it, we recommend you walk a couple of minutes away from the blue mosque where you will find the “Sphendone”, an oval structure which supported the last end of the hippodrome, and which at the time helped keep it leveled.
The visit to the Hippodrome, Sphendone and the small cistern takes between 35-40 minutes.
6. Istanbul Archeological Museums
This complex is a set of three museums: The Archaeological Museum, The Museum of Ancient Oriental Works, and The Tiled Kiosk Museum. You can visit all of them for the same price. The most visited is the Archeological Museum where we can admire beautiful artifacts from different times and civilizations in the region.
The visit takes between 1-2 hours depending on whether you want to visit only a part or the entire complex.
GOOGLE MAPS LOCATIONS FOR DAY 1:
Day 2
1. Grand Bazaar
Now the day will start in one of the largest and oldest covered bazaars in the world. This bazaar has almost 4 thousand stores along 61 streets, it opened to the public in 1456.
This place is quite colorful and very frequented especially among tourists, whether you want to buy or just walk through its streets, it is a place that you must visit. The visit does not take long, it all depends on whether you want to buy or not. The entrance to the bazaar is totally FREE.
The visit to the Grand Bazaar takes a maximum of 1 hour, depending on whether you want to make purchases.
2. Suleymaniye Mosque
A few minutes away from the Grand Bazaar, one of the most beautiful and impressive mosques in the city is located, the Suleymaniye Mosque, built between 1550-1557, by the imperial architect Sinan, under the orders of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
Here you can visit the mausoleums where the tombs of Sultan Suleiman himself, some of his relatives, and Hurrem Sultan, who was his legitimate wife, are located.
This mosque is truly a gem inside and out, and one of the most impressive views of the city are from the mosque gardens. Entrance fee is free.
The visit to Suleymaniye Mosque takes between 35 minutes to 1 hour.
3. VEFA BOZACISI
When leaving the mosque, and if you want to try something typical of the country, we suggest you visit VEFA BOZACISI, where you can find one of the most typical fermented grain drinks in Turkey called "boza".
4. Eminonu Local Markets
Take the opportunity to visit some of the many stores where locals buy their products. Here you can also find hundreds of souvenirs, clothes, sets of Turkish teacups, Turkish coffee cups, and much more at much cheaper prices than inside the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Bazaar. The shops are located a few streets down from the Suleymaniye Mosque stretching all the way to the Spice Bazaar near Eminonu port.
5. Spice Bazaar
Now is time to explore another of the most traditional and ancient bazaars in the city, the Spice Bazaar built in 1660. Here we can find all kinds of spices, Turkish delights, among many other products. It is not a very big place, so at most, it will take 1 hour to visit it depending on whether you want to do shopping or not.
6. Galata Bridge and Karaköy
Just a few meters from the Spice Bazaar we can find the iconic Galata Bridge, famous for the beautiful views it offers us as well as the local fishermen who daily settle on the bridge to fish.
As you walk across this bridge, it will connect you to one of the most picturesque and active neighborhoods in the area, Karakoy.
Here you can find a great variety of restaurants, cafes and even bars to enjoy, its colorful streets are worthy of being photographed.
7. Karaköy Güllüoğlü
Also do not forget to try the best baklava in the city, Karakoy Gulluoglu, where we highly recommend you delight some of its varieties of this typical dessert.
The tour of the Galata Bridge and the Karakoy neighborhood takes a maximum of 2-3 hours, depending on whether you want to spend time in one of its cafes or bars.
8. Bosphorus Boat Tour
To end the day, nothing better than a beautiful tour of the Bosphorus. We recommend doing it in the afternoon a little before sunset as Istanbul offers an unforgettable show with its sunsets from the Bosphorus. You can rent either a private tour of the Bosphorus or take the collective ferry tours for 5-6 usd maximum per person.
They can be taken from almost any port in the city, including Eminonu, Kadikoy, and Uskudar, the companies that offer the tours are Turyol and Sehir Hatlari. You can check the updated schedules and costs here:
Both websites have an English version.
The Bosphorus tour takes between 1 hour to 1.5 hours depending on the one you choose.
GOOGLE MAPS LOCATIONS FOR DAY 2:
Day 3
1. Taksim Square, Istiklal street & Galata Tower
This area is one of the most active in the city, where you can find hundreds of shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy the day.
Start from Taksim Square and continue to Istiklal Street, a street of approximately 6 km that is only for pedestrians, visit the largest and most important Catholic church in Istanbul, Saint Anthony of Padua. You will continue until you reach the Galata Tower, where we recommend you climb to appreciate one of the most impressive views of the city. Enjoy a coffee or dessert in one of the many lovely cafes or restaurants in this area.
The tour in this area takes approximately 4 hours.
2. Dolmabahçe Palace
This is one of the most luxurious and impressive palaces in the city, it is located on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait, for this reason, the views it gives us are splendid. This palace became the center of the Ottoman Empire and the residence of the Sultan and his court from 1856 until the abolition of the Sultanate.
The visit to this palace lasts approximately 2 hours.
3. Ortaköy
To end the day, visit the picturesque neighborhood of Ortakoy. Located on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait, it offers us unique views of the sunsets, it is also one of the most photographed places in the city.
In Ortakoy, you can see the mosque and the first Bosphorus bridge, there are also many cafes and restaurants to enjoy those views. Here is the best place to enjoy the famous "kumpir" which is a baked potato filled with ingredients to your liking.
The visit to this neighborhood lasts approximately 1-2 hours.
GOOGLE MAPS LOCATIONS FOR DAY 3:
Day 4
1. Balat/Fener
On this day, you can explore the beautiful and colorful neighborhoods of Balat and Fener, where we can find churches, synagogues, and mosques in one place.
In the past, it was one of the areas where communities of Jews, Armenians, Greeks and Muslims lived, therefore, here we will find the traces that each of these communities left. It is one of the most fascinating places in the city and it has beautiful cafes and restaurants to enjoy while exploring the area.
The visit to the Balat and Fener neighborhoods takes around 2-3 hours maximum.
2. Eyüp Sultan and Pierre Loti Hill
This area is quite close to Balat and Fener, you can get there by bus or tram that passes through those areas. Here we can also enjoy beautiful views of the famous Golden Horn.
Eyup Sultan is one of the most traditional and spiritual neighborhoods in the city, for this reason, if you want to experience the traditions of this culture, nothing better than visiting this area, especially during the month of Ramadan.
When you arrive in this area, we recommend you take the cable car to Pierre Loti hill, the cable car can be paid with your IstanbulKart used for public transport in the city.
Walk up the hill and enjoy a Turkish tea or coffee with the beautiful and impressive views of the Golden Horn.
Once you're done exploring the top of the hill, you can walk down to Eyup Mosque.
The path to the mosque leads past the Eyup cemetery, one of the largest and oldest in Istanbul, where we can also find graves of Ottoman sultans and members of the court, grand viziers, high-ranking religious authorities, officials and military commanders, as well as intellectuals, scientists, artists and poets.
Once you reach the small center of Eyup, visit the beautiful Eyup Sultan Mosque, built in 1458, only 5 years after the conquest of Constantinople, but which was left in ruins due to earthquakes. The mosque that we see today was rebuilt in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
3. Tarihi Meshur Eyup Sultan Guveccisi
Here we will also find many restaurants to eat, one of our favorites and that is something very local in the area is to eat in a small restaurant called "Tarihi Meshur Eyup Sultan Guveccisi" where you can delight the famous "guvech" which is like a type of " pide ”or“ pizza ”.
The visit to this neighborhood takes around 3 hours maximum.
GOOGLE MAPS LOCATIONS FOR DAY 4:
Day 5
1. Kuzguncuk
Now is time to explore the Asian side of the city, which just as the European side, it also has a lot to offer to the visitors. To get to this neighborhood, you must take a ferry from the port of Karakoy, Eminonu or Kabatas to Uskudar, it costs about 10 TL per person and crosses in less than 20 minutes. Once in the port of Uskudar, cross the main avenue and take a public bus at the station next to the mosque, you can take one that starts with number 15, get off at the station called Kuzguncuk and explore one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city. Kuzguncuk is known for its colorful and picturesque houses, streets and cafes, many of the locals love this area for its great atmosphere and how photographic it is.
Like Balat and Fener, Kuzguncuk in the past used to be one of the settlements of communities of Jews, Armenians, Greeks and Muslims, for this reason, we will find churches, synagogues and mosques together.
Do not forget to go uphill in one of its streets to enjoy beautiful views of the Bosphorus.
The visit to this neighborhood lasts approximately 2 hours.
2. Metet Kozde Döner
Since you are in this area, you can eat one of the best doner in the city in the restaurant called Metet Kozde Doner.
3. Üsküdar
Take the bus back to Uskudar port. Once in the port, walk along the coast, where you will have beautiful views, then reach the Maiden’s tower, another outstanding monument specially at sunset.
The visit to this neighborhood lasts approximately 1-2 hours.
4. Kadıköy
In the port of Uskudar, take the ferry to Kadikoy, once there, go through its port, then head towards its main area where you will find many shops selling all kinds of products, restaurants and local markets, this is one of the main areas of the Asian side of the city, and one of the most active at all times.
In case you also want to enjoy the nightlife, this is the right place as there are many bars to enjoy the night.
Do not miss walking towards Moda, one of the most famous neighborhoods in the area and where you can enjoy beautiful views of the Sea of Marmara.
The visit to this neighborhood lasts approximately 2-3 hours.
GOOGLE MAPS LOCATIONS FOR DAY 5:
Day 6
1. Princes' Islands
Enjoy a relaxing day in one of the Princes’ Islands that are located an hour and a half by ferry from the port of Eminonu in Istanbul. They are located on the Asian side of the city on the Sea of Marmara.
The Princes’ Islands are a group of several islands. The largest and most visited is Buyukada, followed by Heybeliada, and Burgazada, the most local and least frequented by tourists.
Any island you choose will be a good option, you can spend a whole day exploring its attractions, it is easy to explore them on foot or you can rent bicycles, which we recommend as it is a very fun way to get around the islands.
There are no motor vehicles here, but there are electric minibuses that move you from place to place, they can be used by paying with the IstanbulKart.
Depending on where you take the ferry from, they can cost up to approximately 50 TL per person.
GOOGLE MAPS LOCATIONS FOR DAY 6:
Day 7
1. Galataport
Start the day by visiting one of the sites that has just recently opened to the public. It is an innovative cruise port located on the Bosphorus coast, in Karakoy neighborhood, which has the capacity to receive up to 3 cruise ships and 15 thousand passengers per day.
In addition, here we can find an open-air shopping center and many restaurants, as well as a complex of contemporary art museums and exhibitions.
This port was very important during the Ottoman era, it was closed to the public for almost 200 years, but with an investment of 1.7 billion dollars, it has been reactivated.
Now this site is in one of the most privileged areas of the city due to its impressive views. So, if you want to start your day enjoying wonderful views of the Bosphorus, this place is the ideal one.
Visiting time is approximately 1-2 hours maximum.
2. Beşiktaş center
This neighborhood on the European side of the city is one of the busiest. It is also located on the shores of the Bosphorus and is ideal for walking and getting to know its more local side. Walk through its center where you will also find many restaurants and shops. Is also a perfect place for a food tour, and even there is a street called Kahvalticilar street which literally means the Breakfast street, where you can find restaurants specialized in Turkish breakfast and is one of the favorite spots for locals! Our favorite place is Cakmak. If you are also a soccer fan, you can visit the Besiktas Stadium, it can only be visited by hiring a tour at the stadium but it worths it! Approximate visit: 1 hour if you just want to walk the streets of this neighborhood.
This place is famous for its beautiful wooden villas and its good seafood restaurants. Take advantage of this place to take photos.
Once in Bebek, explore the area.
For these two neighborhoods it takes approximately 2-3 hours.
4. Rumeli Fortress
After Bebek, you can walk along the coast to one of the oldest fortresses in the city, Rumeli Hisari (Rumeli Fortress), with stunning views of the second of the Bosphorus bridges connecting the two continents. This fortress was key to the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans, it was built in 1452 in a period of just 4 months.
You can visit it and enjoy its wonderful views from its high areas.
The fortress can be covered in 1 hour.
GOOGLE MAPS LOCATIONS FOR DAY 7:
MORE BEAUTIFUL PLACES ALONG THE BOSPHPRUS:
The home for unique & authentic travel
