travel diary istanbul

TURKEY TRAVEL DIARY

Istanbul has always been among the top on my list of cities I wanted to visit. And when I finally got the chance to go, I had to jump at the chance. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed. From the ornate architecture to the historic culture, I was completely fascinated. I tried my best to capture my vacation, but for once in my life, I had the misfortune of leaving my camera behind and I broke my phone during my trip and basically only documented a portion of my trip. However, thinking back on my experience, it was probably for the best because I felt completely present for the beauty of this amazing city. Something so simple as exploring the street traffic and observing daily life in Istanbul was incredibly fascinating. From the food to the many different bazaars, I felt right at home and never wanted to leave. Istanbul just felt like the best mixture of people I’ve ever seen anywhere else. Everyone was so happy and kind. Except for a few shady cab drivers, the people were so kind. 

WHERE WE STAYED:

We stayed at the Conrad Hotel Istanbul Bosphorus. We chose this hotel because it is located in the lively Besikta area which is a 5 minute walk from the Bosphorus. Hotel is also beautiful with fully renovated guest rooms and suites and a stunning rooftop restaurant that offers an amazing view of the city. They also have indoor and outdoor pools which were great for my kids. For a full tour and view check out my Istanbul Vlog here .

OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS TO CHECK OUT:

BALAT: One of the most unique neighborhoods in Istanbul hands down. This areais filled with colorful homes and buildings. Very rich in history and yet the least amount of tourists in this area. Which is perfect because this is the perfect place to snap some of the best photos if you’re looking for great shots.

TAKSIM: This area is similar to Time Square in NYC. Very crowded with people at all hours of the day. Go here for great shopping, shopping and nightlife experience.  

SULTANAHMET: This area is filled with tourists and with that comes higher prices, lots of souvenir shops and over populated restaurants. While I do recommend visiting this area, I would opt to dine/shop elsewhere for convenience and lower prices. 

KADIKÖY: This area is very laid back and kind of gives me such hipster vibes. Lots of trendy restaurants and cafes.

OTAKÖY: considered to be one of the best neighborhoods in istanbul. This area features a picturesque view of the mosque on the bosphorus. This is the area we stayed in and trust me when I tell you, you will not run out of amazing views, restaurants, shops, and café options… all within walking distance.

SHOP THE POST

My favorite items to pack are maxi or midi dresses for a summer vacation. Its super breezy and flowy and just perfect for hot weather. I like that I can dress it down with sandals and sneakers during the day and dress it up with a pair of heels at night for dinner. Below are my favorite maxi and midi dresses currently available in stores. Click the images below to shop these dresses. 

6 THINGS TO DO IN ISTANBUL

HAGIA SOPHIA :This incredible church-turned-mosque-turned-museum is probably one of the most architectural landmarks I’ve ever witnessed. The lineups are super long on the weekends as tourists seem to always flock to its beauty. But, if you purchase the VIP tour, which is what I did, you can bypass the lineup and get in within minutes. There are usually ticket dealers outside who can give this access. Since I was travelling with my kids, I opted for this option because convenience was absolutely a priority for me.

THE BLUE MOSQUE : As a muslim, I LOVE to experience the different mosques around the world. So seeing The Blue Mosque was an absolute must for me. And this famous landmark definitely did not disappoint. So much detail and remarkable architectural in every square inch of this structure. It almost makes you wonder how they ever accomplished such thing. The only thing to remember is that this mosque is a functioning most so they do close down for 5 prayers a day. During this time, anyone who is praying is allowed in to pray and the rest of the tourists are politely asked to wait outside. 

THE GRAND BAZAAR : This had to be one of my favorite shopping experiences of all time. There were so many things I wanted to take home…ESPECIALLY the carpets. However, because I was traveling to Dubai for 7 more days before heading home…it was nearly impossible for me to take home as much as I did. The quality is amazing in Turkey. Whether it be jewelry, carpets or clothing, the quality was unmatched. I loved scouring for all sorts of gems. I’m not much of a hagler, but it’s an absolute must at the Grand Bazaar. Everything is negotiable so go in strong otherwise you will get GOT!

TURKISH BATH:  If you’re looking for a once in lifetime experience, you must go to a Turkish Bath. Getting a Turkish bath and a full body massage at Cagaloglu Hamami had me feeling like a Sultan’s wife. The staff is very experienced and super friendly. Beautiful atmosphere coupled with a wonderful experience all around. Turkish bath’s are among the many spa experiences in Istanbul. I highly recommend it. 

CURISE THE BOSPHORUS: If you’re visiting Istanbul during the warmer months, a cruise on the Bosphorus is always a great idea. This unforgettable experience will give you a remarkable overview of the city both on the European and the Asian side. There are many options from a short cruise to a full day and also from a public tour to a more private one. We did a private tour since we had kids and had such a beautiful time. 

GALATA TOWER : If you wanna see a 360 panoramic view of Istanbul, this is your best bet. The tower also has a restaurant/cafe on the 9th floor which is quite busy at all hours of the day. The Galata tower is also surrounded by many cute patios, shops and cafes. If you ever get the chance to visit the Galata Tower, be sure to schedule your trip around the sunset hours. 

CHECK OUT OUR LATEST  YOUTUBE  VIDEO!

Don’t forget to  SUBSCRIBE  & Join the Sisterhood!

« SPRING TRENDS 2019

Categories: travel.

leave one here!

join the list

Back to the top, © 2020 the yusufs, for outfit updates and recent posts.

Istanbul Itinerary: 3, 4, 5, or 7 Day Options

Co-Founder of The Turkey Traveler. Globetrotter, Adventurer, and Frequent Traveler to Turkey!

This website uses affiliate links. For more information, click here .

Istanbul is a buzzing city with so much to see and do. As the once ancient capital of the Roman Empire, Constantinople, and the border between two continents, Europe and Asia, it’s a melting pot of history and diverse culture that cannot be found anywhere else on this planet.

While Istanbul is often visited as a stopover destination, being the largest transit hub in the world, anyone who just passes through this energetic city is really missing out.

From ancient landmarks to relaxing Turkish baths, serene nature, and world-class museums, there are tons of exciting attractions you could add to your Istanbul itinerary.

Whether you plan to stay for 3, 4, 5, or 7 days, these Istanbul itineraries will take you around some of the best sites in the city and tell you the best order in which to see them.

Planning a trip to Istanbul last-minute?

Make sure you book your tours, places to stay, and airport transfers ahead of time to ensure availability!

Here is our recommended airport transfer in Istanbul:

• Airport Shuttle From Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gocken International Airport (SAW) (Super affordable!)

Here are our recommended tours in Istanbul:

• Luxury Bosphorus Cruise At Sunset (A must-do In Istanbul)
• Whirling Dervishes Show (Unique experience!)
• Historical Turkish Bath Experience
• Istanbul Food And Culture Tour

Here are our recommended places to stay in Istanbul:

• Magnuara Palace Hotel (Gorgeous hotel in the historic centre!)
• Pera Palace Hotel
• Cheers Hostel (Budget hostel near the Blue Mosque!)

How many days is sufficient in Istanbul?

This is the age-old question we get asked the most. The amount of time you spend in Istanbul is usually dictated by how much time you have to spare. 

You could easily spend a week here and not get bored. We even spent two weeks there and didn’t run out of things to do.

We would say the optimal amount of time to spend in Istanbul is between three and five days. You could see all the highlights in three days, but if you have more time on your side, allow an extra couple of days for relaxation and to soak in the culture of the city.

After all, you don’t want to spend your time rushing from place to place and not take in the atmosphere. If you have time on your side, take it slow, don’t rush, and spend some time wandering the streets and take it all in.

📚 Read More: A Complete Istanbul, Cappadocia and Pamukkale Itinerary!

The Best Istanbul Itinerary for 3 Days

Most people visiting Istanbul only have a few days before they embark on a greater Turkey itinerary. After all, 3 days is the optimal amount of time to spend in the city.

Below is an Istanbul itinerary for 3 days, which takes you to all the top attractions and iconic landmarks in the city.

Day 1: Sultanahmet

Our itinerary begins in the enchanting city of Istanbul. This once capital of the Roman and Ottoman Empire, named then as Constantinople, is brimming with history and culture. It’s also the only city in the world to span two continents; Europe and Asia.

On the first day of your visit to Istanbul, you’re going to want to explore the neighborhood of Sultanahmet . This is where you’ll find the most iconic landmarks in the city, including the Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern.

This day will do a lot of walking but it’s all within the same area, so you won’t need to travel far today, you’re going to see exactly why Istanbul is a city worth visiting .

Stop 1: The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is the most beautiful work of architecture in Istanbul, so it makes sense to visit this attraction first. It was built between 1609- 1616 by Sultan Ahmed I. It became famous for its hand-painted blue tiles that you can see inside.

The mosque features more than 200 stained glass windows, as well as a stunning carved marble mihrab that’s worth checking out. It’s also the resting place of Sultan Ahmed I.

The Blue Mosque has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 and is one of Turkey’s most famous sites.

Stop 2: Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia is just across the park from the Blue Mosque and is another one of the most important mosques in Turkey. It was built in 537 by the Roman Emperor Justinian. It was originally used as a cathedral for Constantinople, where it remained the largest Christian church in the Eastern Roman Empire for over 1000 years ago.

After Constantinople was seized by the Ottoman Empire, it was converted into a mosque. It was a museum for a short time between 1935-2000 but was converted back into a mosque. It has some of the most stunning architecture, mosaics, and artistic coverings of all the mosques in the city.

Stop 3: Topkapi Palace

Around the corner from the Hagia Sophie is the Topkapi Palace. The palace was the former home of the Ottoman sultans in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Today, it is a large museum, showcasing artifacts from the Ottoman era. Not all rooms are open to the public, but the most beautiful ones are. The Ottoman Imperial Harem and the treasury are the main reasons to visit this palace in Istanbul .

The Topkapi Palace was also declared a UNESCO site in 1985 and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

Stop 4: Basilica Cistern

During the Roman Empire, the Romans built several cisterns under the city as a water filtration system for the city’s palaces. The largest and best-preserved cistern in the city is the Basilica Cistern.

It is just 150 meters away from the Hagia Sophia, so it makes sense to see this historical landmark on the same day.

Stop 5: Istanbul Archeological Museums

The Istanbul Archeological Museums is a collection of three museums in the Sultanahmet district. They are made up of the Archeology Museum, The Ancient Orient Artifacts Museum, and the Tile Museum (Tile Kiosk).

They contain historic relics dating back to the early Ottoman period after it captured Constantinople from the Roman Empire.

One of the highlights of the museum is the Alexander Sarcophagus, which is the tomb of Alexander the Great, found in the Archeology Museum, and the Egyptian Grave with two coffins in the Ancient Orient Artifacts museum and the geometric tiles of the Tile Kiosk, one of the oldest buildings in the city.

Stop 6: Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar

Another one of the major landmarks in Istanbul is the Grand Bazaar. It is the largest and oldest covered market in the world, with 61 streets and over 4,000 shops. It began operating in 1455 after the Ottomans captured Constantinople.

The vibrant Grand Bazaar is the best place to pick up Turkish souvenirs , from Turkish delights, Turkish lamps, rugs, towels, and clothes.

Around the corner from Grand Bazaar is the Spice Bazaar. This is another souk market where you can shop for various teas and spices. The spices are said to help with certain medical conditions, from diabetes control to weight loss, and mood enhancers.

Stop 6: Evening Turkish Hamam

After all this walking around, you’re going to want to relax a little. We recommend finishing off the day in a Turkish Hamam, which is similar to a Roman Bath. It’s not just a public bathing space, but a spa where you can get massages and beauty treatments.

Located next to the Hagia Sophia is the Hurrem Sultan Hamam, which was built in the 16th century. It’s a little pricey, but if you’re going to enjoy a Turkish bath , you might as well go to an authentic one!

Day 2: Istanbul: Taksim

On the second day, we’re going to cross the Galata Bridge and explore the Kabataş neighborhood. This is still part of Europe, but also features many iconic attractions that should not be missed.

Stop 1: Galata Bridge

We’ll begin at Galata Bridge, a 19th-century bridge that crosses Istanbul’s Golden Horn channel. The bridge is famous because of the fishermen who cast their lines here, attracting hundreds of seagulls.

The bridge has two parts, the top part is where the cars cross the bridge and also where you’ll find the fishermen, and along the bottom part you’ll find many restaurants serving fresh seafood meals.

Stop 2: Galata Tower

Next, we’ll visit the iconic Galata Tower. By now you have probably noticed the tower in the skyline, given that it is the city’s watch tower.

It was built as a part of the Walls of Galata in 1348 by Roman Empire. The Galata Tower has had a tumultuous past, having caught fire in 1794 and 1831. It was also badly damaged in a storm in 1875.

The tower was renovated in the 1960s to look like the original but using concrete instead of wood. You can climb to the top of the tower and witness 360-degree panoramic views of the city. There is also a museum and exhibition hall in the tower.

Stop 3: Istiklal Street

Istiklal Street is the most famous street in Istanbul and is where you’ll find a blend of historic and modern. It was historically known as Grand Avenue of Pera, and is a pedestrian street made famous for its red tram that rides from one end to the other.

There are many high-street brands setting up shops here in the old buildings that were once apartments for the Romans. It’s a great place to pick up some street food or find a traditional Turkish restaurant down one of the side streets.

If you’re into nightlife, you’ll find vibrant bars in this area. There are also many things to do on Istiklal Street , including visiting some of the top museums in the city.

Stop 4: Pera Museum

The Pera Museum is a must-visit for art lovers. It was established in 2005 and is home to a large selection of iconic works from renowned Turkish artists such as Osman Hamdi Bey, Cihat Burak, and Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, as well as European artists such as Jean-Léon Gérôme and Jean-Baptiste van Mour.

The museum is a cutting-edge cultural space spanning over 5 floors and provides a fantastic space where history and art collide.

Pera has served as a hub for creative expression since it first opened its doors. Amongst its many fascinating collections, there is an art gallery hosting diverse works from across Turkey’s dynamic cultural heritage. Notable pieces include Orientalist paintings and rare photography pieces that explore the late 18th century through to modern-day times.

Stop 5: Bosphorus Cruise

If your legs are a little tired from all this walking, then a Bosphorus cruise is a great way to enjoy an afternoon or early evening.

The cruise takes you through Istanbul’s Golden Horn and out into the Bosphorus. It gives you a unique perspective of the city from the water, and it’s also the best way to see the palaces in Istanbul. Many of the palaces were built next to the water, and their beautiful decoration and architecture are best seen from the water.

You will see boats lined up on the waterfront in Eminönü, and there are plenty of cruises to choose from. They are all pretty much the same, but you do need to book your ticket in advance.

You can either head to the harbor early in the morning and book your ticket, or you can book your ticket online.

Day 3: The Asian Side

On the third day in Istanbul, you’re going to explore the Asian side. We’ll be visiting the largest mosque in Istanbul, the hip and vibrant area of Moda, and tasting delicious Istanbul street food .

Stop 1: Çamlıca Mosque

The first stop is Çamlıca Mosque, located at the top of Çamlıca Hill. To get here, you must first take the metro to Üsküdar and then change to the metro to Kısıklı. From here, you simply walk up the hill.

The Camlica Mosque is the largest mosque in Istanbul and measures at 72 m (236 ft). The six minarets measure even higher to 107.1 m (351 ft). This stunning mosque is a sprawling complex large enough to house 63,000 worshipers at one time.

There’s also an art gallery, library, and conference hall. It was designed by two female architects, Bahar Mızrak and Hayriye Gül Totu, and was said to have cost $110 million USD to make.

Stop 2: Kadikoy

After spending time admiring the mosque, head over to the area of Kadikoy, one of the biggest attractions in Istanbul’s Anatolian side . Here you’ll find bustling markets and fishermen on the waterfront. This is the perfect place to sample some street food. We highly recommend the balık ekmek (fish sandwich).

Stop 3: Moda

After wandering the neighborhood of Kadikoy, head further south to Moda. This is a hipster neighborhood with street art, boutique stores, cool coffee shops, and a relaxing park.

Stop 4: Whirling Dervishes Show

If you went for an afternoon Bosphorus cruise, then you’ve got plenty of time to enjoy a whirling dervishes show in the evening. This is a traditional Turkish dance where dancers look as though they are floating across the floor.

As well as being a dance, it’s an active meditation exercise, which originated from the Sufi tribes in the 13th century. This is one of our favorite things to do in Istanbul at night .

The Best Istanbul Itinerary for 4 Days

If you have an extra day to spend, you might want to spend it doing something more relaxing. Not many people know this, but Istanbul is surrounded by serene nature, and you don’t have to go far to find it.

In our Istanbul 4 day itinerary, we would suggest following the itinerary for 3 days, and on the fourth day, visit the Princes Islands…

Day 4: Princes Islands

On the fourth day, you’ll need to allow a full day to explore the Princes Islands , or Adalar as they are referred to in Turkish. There are nine islands in total, but only four are inhabited. Each island was once used as an exile home for the rich, famous and powerful, including members of the royal family (hence the name, Princes Islands).

There are no cars on the islands and they can only be explored on foot or by bike. You will notice several examples of luxurious, stunning architecture and 19th-century mansions as you explore each of the islands.

To get to these unique islands in Turkey , you must take a ferry from Kabatas or Kadikoy. The ferry stops at Kınalıada, Burgazadası, Heybeliada, and finally Büyükada, or “Big Island” as it’s often referred to.

It takes 75 minutes to reach the last island, Buyukada, and ferries operate every hour – this gives you an hour to explore each island, so you need to plan your trip accordingly.

You may wish to pick two out of the four islands we mention below if you want a more leisurely day.

Be sure to check out the ferry times here .

Stop 1: Kınalıada, Princes Islands

The first stop is Kınalıada, the smallest island in the Princes Island archipelago. It’s the nearest island to mainland Istanbul and its history dates back to the ancient Greeks.

The name Kinaliada means “Henna Island” in Turkish, and it is so named because of the red-color land you see here. This is made by iron and copper deposits which were once mined here.

The first settlers on the island were the Greeks, who used the island as a place of exile from the Byzantine rulers. The most famous exile to live here was Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes, who lived at the Monastery of the Transfiguration on Hristo Peak.

It won’t take you long to explore the small village on the island. Make sure to check out the former Greek Orthodox monastery, the Monastery of Christ, and wander along the small streets to check out the unique architecture. The old fire station and school are particularly beautiful.

After an hour, make your way back to the ferry pier to go on to the next island.

Stop 2: Burgazadası, Princes Islands

Burgazada, or Burgaz Adası, is the third largest in the group and was also an exile settlement for the Greeks. It was once called Antigoni, after Antigonus I Monophthalmus, father of one of the successors of Alexander the Great.

Antigoni built a fort on the island, which you can still see today. The island is small and has one single hill, so you can easily see all the main attractions in an hour.

Be sure to check out the Spanudis Mansion, which was the home to the famous Turkish short-story writer Sait Faik Abasıyanık. Then there is The Church of Iohannes Prodromos which was built in 1899. It was built on the site that was once a prison for St Methodius the Confessor, who was exiled here.

There are also a few monasteries to see, the Monastery of Hagios Georgios Garipi which was a refuge for White Russians fleeing the Russian Revolution, and the Monastery of the Transfiguration, which dates back to the Byzantine era.

Stop 3: Heybeliada, Princes Islands

The second largest island is Heybeliada, which was once used by the Turkish Navy. Each year, the island holds a few small open-air concerts in the summer, which attracts many visitors to the island.

Make sure to check out the Naval High School, which was founded in 1773 and has stunning architecture. It’s also the home of the only remaining Byzantine church on the island,  Kamariotissa , as well as the last church to be built before the conquest of Constantinople.

The grounds are where you’ll find the grave of Edward Barton, who was the second English Ambassador for Elizabeth I of England, who was sent to Constantinople and spent his last days on Heybeliada trying to escape the plague.

As with all the other islands, Heybeliada also has a monastery, named Hagios Georgios tou Kremnou, which was built in the 16th century. There are also the ruins of the Hagios Spyridon monastery which was built in the 19th century.

You can also visit the house of the second President of Turkey, Mavromatakis Köşkü, which is a museum, as well as several other beautiful 19th century mansions.

Stop 4: Büyükada, Princes Islands

The last island is the biggest island, Buyukada. If you only have time for one, make sure this is it. You can see many of the island’s notable landmarks, including the Merkez Eczanesi, a pharmacy from 1870, and the ruins of a villa where Trotsky lived during 1929-1933 on Hamlaci Street 4.

Since this island is much bigger than the rest, we recommend you rent a bike and cycle around the island, taking in the quietness and beauty of the island. See the Greek Orthodox Church, St. George Church, which sits on the highest point of the island with amazing views of the city.

Other notable landmarks on the island are the former Greek Orphanage, which was the largest wooden house in Europe.

You can also find a beach for swimming and relaxing on, as well as a huge green park. You could easily spend more than an hour here. Be sure to stay for sunset and try one of the top-rated restaurants on the waterfront.

The Best Istanbul Itinerary for 5 Days

For those blessed with five full days in the city, you might be wanting to see more off-the-beaten-path places in Istanbul. On our fifth day, we are going to explore the Fener district.

This is home to Balat, the Jewish district of Istanbul. Here you get to see the diverse cultures of Istanbul and see a unique side of the city in its architecture, history, and general way of life.

If you’re looking for a 5 day Istanbul itinerary, we suggest following the itinerary above and adding the following stops on your fifth day…

Day 5: Fener District

The Fener District is where you’ll find the remnants of Istanbul’s Jewish Population. In the late 15th century, Sultan Bayezid II offered citizenship to the Jews fleeing the Inquisition in Spain and Africa, and most of the immigrants ended up here.

The Fener District is part of the  UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Historic Areas of Istanbul . Fener has become a melting pot of culture, with ethnic minorities from places like Armenia, Bulgaria, and more.

The neighborhood also has a number of charming coffee shops and restaurants, as well as art galleries and boutique stores.

Stop 1: Balat District

Balat is the most famous neighborhood in Fener. It’s known for its colorful, narrow wooden houses and cobbled streets. Kiremit Caddesi (Kiremit Street), is the most famous place to find these buildings.

These pastel-colored buildings are some of the  most beautiful buildings in Istanbul . But this is not the only reason to visit Balat .

Nestled among the historic buildings and winding streets, are unique, cozy cafes, some of which are an artist’s playground, such as İncir Ağacı Kahvesi which is known for its umbrella installation and colorful huts where you can sip your coffee in.

You can also find many antique shops and vintage shops, if you enjoy thrift shopping. Be sure to check out the Phanar Greek Orthodox College, which you won’t miss as it’s a striking red building ontop of the hill.

Stop 2: Kariye Mosque

The Kariye Mosque, or The Chora Church as it’s also known, is one of the most historically significant mosques in Istanbul. It was built as a Greek Orthodox Church in the 4th century during the reign of Constantine the Great, at the time when the walls of Constantinople were being built.

It was part of a monastery complex outside the walls of the city and served as an Orthodox church until it was converted to a mosque in the 15th century by Ottoman Turks.

What makes this church unique is that it still has stunning mosaics depicting biblical stories and figures, some of which date back to the 14th century. It also hosts a number of incredible frescoes that showcase Ottoman artistry and engineering prowess.

The Kariye Mosque has been under renovation since 2005 and there has been no end date announced at present. We will update this guide as soon as we know of a re-opening date, and this is one site in Istanbul not to be missed.

Stop 3: The Walls of Constantinople

Have you ever wondered if the walls of Constantinople still stand? The answer is yes, but only in some areas. You can see the remains of the walls of Constantinople on Hoca Çakır Cd, this is where they are the most well-preserved.

The walls were built in the 4th century and were used as a defense against oncoming invasions, and they were withheld for many centuries before the great Mahmet II finally seized the city in 1453.

You can walk along the walls in some areas as well, which offer an incredible view of the Marmara Sea and the Golden Horn.

The Best Istanbul Itinerary for 7 Days

For those who have a full week at their disposal, you have time to truly experience the diversity and uniqueness of the city, but now you might be after a bit of adventure.

So on our sixth and seventh day, we plan to take you to the theme parks and on a day trip outside the city.

If you’re looking for a 7 day Istanbul itinerary, follow the itineraries above and add the following stops to day 6 and 7…

Day 6: Theme Park Day

Istanbul is also home to several exciting theme parks. If you are travelling with kids, you might want to have a theme park day!

Stop 1: Vialand Theme Park

If you only have time for one park, it should be Vialand. There is so much to see and do here, you should spend a full day here.

Vialand Theme Park has something for everyone – from its rollercoaster rides and other thrilling attractions such as Parkour land, mall, and Disney-inspired palace, to its interactive theaters and kid-friendly carnival games.

It opened in 2013 and was the first shopping, entertainment, and living complex in the world that combines a Theme Park and a shopping mall.

The park is spread over a huge 600,000 meters squared and features the world’s 4th biggest rollercoaster, the Nefeskesen, which accelerates to 110 kilometers in just 3 seconds. Don’t miss the “Justice Tower”, which descends from 50 meters, as well as the 7-D movie theatre.

If you’re looking for thrills and entertainment, Vialand has something for even the pickiest traveler!

Stop 2: LEGOLAND

If you have time for another theme park, then we recommend LEGOLAND. You can get a taxi here from Vialand and be here within less than 15 minutes.

Legoland is the perfect place for both grown-ups and children looking for an unforgettable day out. There’s so much to explore – from massive models, three incredible rides, and interactive activities, to 10 LEgo-build areas and Lego workshops.

Open since 2015, it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey within a few years. It not only offers lots of fun to kids but adults can also enjoy themselves playing with large building sets made from genuine Lego bricks.

No matter how old you are, you’ll be sure to find the perfect way to have some incredible fun at Legoland.

Day 7: Day Trip to the City of Troy (Çanakkale)

By now you must be feeling you’ve seen a lot of Istanbul and would like to explore some other parts of Turkey. Located four hours away by car is the ancient city of Canakkale, which is most famous for being where the ancient city of Troy once was.

Stop 1: Troy National Park

Perhaps the most famous thing about Çanakkale is the nearby ancient ruins of Troy, located in the Historic Troy National Park, which can be visited by guided tours or independently.

This legendary city served as an important historical battleground between Greeks and Trojans in the 8th century BC. Visitors can explore the remains of Troy or take a tour through its open-air museum featuring archaeological finds from Hellenistic and Roman eras. 

According to archaeologists, the City of Troy is only one of nine cities that was built on top of each other, so the findings you see here are that of several civilizations. The oldest city is said to have dated back to 3000 BC.

As well as being historical, it’s also an area of outstanding natural beauty, so take a moment to look out for several species of bird and wildlife that make this park their home.

Stop 2: Cimenlik Castle

The city of Çanakkale is also worth stopping off at, since it has some notable historical attractions, such as the Cimenlik Castle.

It was built in 1462 by Mehmet the Conqueror to protect the Ottoman Empire in the Dardanelles. Just right across the Dardanelles, visitors will also find Kilitbahir Castle, another fortress built around the same time.

Both of these castles are now museums and offer spectacular sea views.

Stop 3: Troy Horse

Many have heard the legend of the Fall of Troy , which has been passed down through Greek mythology for centuries. The story was also featured in Homer’s  Iliad .

If you don’t know the story, the Trojan War  went on for years, in which the Greeks tried to break through the walls of the City of Troy but were unable to breach them.

To trick the Romans on the other side, they built a wooden trojan horse and gave it to them as a gift. Little did the Romans know, the Greeks had waited inside the horse until nightfall, and then attacked the Romans as they slept. And thus the war was won.

To remember the story, head to the waterfront of Canakkale, where you can see the huge steel and fiberglass statue of the horse that was used in the 2004 movie “Troy.”

Extend to 10 Days Istanbul Itinerary

If you have fallen in love with the city and want to spend more time here, you could easily extend it to 10 or more days. 

If you’re looking for some ideas for how to spend 10 days, we recommend you fill your time taking some day trips to the cities near Istanbul . 

Bursa, Kumköy, or Şile are three cities we would recommend adding to your Istanbul itinerary. If you plan your visit right, you could even spend time at the beach in Şile if beaches are your thing.

There are also some beaches closer to Istanbul, which would be the perfect place to spend your days in the summer. 

Aside from that, I would spend time wandering the city, shopping for souvenirs, stopping off at traditional cafes , and gorging on street food. 

Explore some of the parks in Istanbul or check out the museums . There is so much to see and do, we know you’ll find something fun to fill in your time on a 10 day Istanbul trip.

Getting Around The City

Istanbul is a very walkable city, as long as you have some comfortable shoes on. We have purposely organized the stops in our itineraries to allow you to be able to walk from place to place, without the need for public transportation.

However, sometimes taking public transportation is necessary, especially if you plan to visit the theme parks or head over to the Fener district.

We have written a complete guide on public transportation in Istanbul for those who are visiting for the first time. Read about how to get around Istanbul here .

Tips for Visiting Istanbul

To help you have the best trip to Istanbul, here are a few words of advice:

• Go slow and don’t try to pack it all in. I know these itineraries are jam-packed, but you’re going to exhaust yourself trying to see every museum and mosque. Take time to just wander the streets and soak in the atmosphere as well.
• Get the Istanbul E-Pass, this is a tourist pass that gives you free entrance to many of the city’s top attractions. You can save up to 70% by using this card.
• Download Offline Google Maps or MapsMe, so you don’t need to rely on data.
• Pick up a Turkish sim card, but not from the airport. Turkcell is our preferred operator, but you can read more about it here.
• Dress modestly . This is a Muslim country and even though it’s hot, respectful attire should be worn at all time. Leave the hot pants at home, and bring light clothing that covers your knees and shoulders.
• Bring a headscarf if you’re a woman. You will need to wear one when entering the mosques.
• Take out cash, as many places don’t accept credit cards.

Final Thoughts on Istanbul Itinerary

So there you have it, this is how you can spend your days in Istanbul, and as you can see, there is a LOT to see and do.

No matter how many days you plan to spend in Istanbul, we know you will have a great trip.

Do you have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments.

Co-Founder of The Turkey Traveler

Sean Lau is a professional travel blogger and writer with adoration for Turkey. Originally from the USA, Sean frequently travels to Turkey to explore every nook and cranny. From bustling bazaars of Istanbul to the tranquil beaches of Antalya, Sean has seen it all. He hopes to share his first-hand knowledge, insider insights, and personal anecdotes to inspire fellow travelers to visit Turkey, especially to his favorite destinations – Istanbul and Cappadocia.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

This website uses affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link at no extra cost to you. TheTurkeyTraveler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our full affiliate disclosure .

© 2024 The Turkey Traveler

Istanbul in 7 Days: A Detailed 7-Day Itinerary

In the midst of Istanbul’s vast tapestry of attractions, plotting a concise visit might seem a formidable task. Yet, armed with our 7-day itinerary, you’ll traverse the city’s pivotal experiences with ease, guaranteeing you harness every treasured moment in this bewitching metropolis.

Istanbul in 7 Days

Day 1: exploring sultanahmet, hagia sophia.

Start your day with a visit to the iconic Hagia Sophia , a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture that has served as a cathedral, mosque, and now a museum. Marvel at its stunning mosaics and the massive dome that seems to float above the vast interior.

Blue Mosque

Just a short walk from Hagia Sophia, you’ll find the Blue Mosque , another architectural gem. Admire its six minarets and the beautiful blue Iznik tiles that adorn its interior.

Topkapi Palace

Next, head to Topkapi Palace , the opulent residence of Ottoman sultans for centuries. Explore its lavish courtyards, chambers, and the famous Harem, where the sultan’s wives and concubines lived.

Basilica Cistern

Delve underground to visit the Basilica Cistern , an ancient subterranean water storage system. Walk among its 336 marble columns and be sure to spot the two Medusa head column bases.

Grand Bazaar

End your day with a visit to the Grand Bazaar , one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets. Wander through its labyrinthine alleys, bargaining for souvenirs, spices, and textiles.

Day 2: Discovering Modern Istanbul

Taksim square.

Begin your second day in Istanbul at Taksim Square, the heart of modern Istanbul. Surrounded by shops, restaurants, and historic sites, it’s a bustling hub of activity.

Istiklal Street

Stroll along Istiklal Street, a lively pedestrian boulevard lined with shops, cafes, and galleries. Don’t miss the historic tram that runs along its length.

Galata Tower

Head to the Galata Tower for stunning panoramic views of Istanbul. This medieval stone tower offers a bird’s-eye view of the city’s skyline, including the Bosphorus Strait and the Golden Horn.

Spice Bazaar

Visit the Spice Bazaar , also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, to immerse yourself in the vibrant colors and fragrances of spices, teas, and Turkish delight.

Bosphorus Cruise

Cap off your second day with a relaxing Bosphorus cruise. Sail along the strait that separates Europe and Asia, taking in the stunning views of Istanbul’s skyline, waterfront mansions, and historic sites.

Day 3: Exploring Lesser-Known Istanbul

Suleymaniye mosque.

Begin your third day with a visit to the majestic Suleymaniye Mosque , an architectural masterpiece designed by the famous architect Sinan.

Chora Church

Next, explore the Chora Church, a Byzantine-era church adorned with exquisite mosaics and frescoes that depict biblical scenes.

Dolmabahce Palace

Visit the opulent Dolmabahce Palace , a 19th-century palace that served as the residence of the last Ottoman sultans. Marvel at its grand halls, ornate decorations, and the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier.

Head to the charming neighborhood of Ortakoy, where you can stroll along the Bosphorus waterfront, browse through local boutiques, and sample delicious street food , such as kumpir (stuffed baked potatoes) and waffles.

Day 4: Crossing to the Asian Side

Begin your fourth day by taking a ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul and exploring the vibrant Kadikoy district. Discover its lively market, trendy cafes, and street art.

Stroll through the picturesque neighborhood of Moda, known for its tree-lined streets, stylish boutiques, and cozy cafes.

Bagdat Avenue

Head to Bagdat Avenue, a popular shopping destination with a mix of international and local brands, restaurants, and cafes.

Kiz Kulesi (Maiden’s Tower)

End your 4-day itinerary with a visit to the Kiz Kulesi, also known as Maiden’s Tower, a historic tower situated on a small islet in the Bosphorus Strait. Enjoy the stunning views of the city and the water.

Day 5: Exploring Hidden Gems

Balat neighborhood.

Start your fifth day by visiting the colorful Balat neighborhood, known for its historic houses and charming streets.

Great Palace Mosaics Museum

Discover the Great Palace Mosaics Museum , a lesser-known attraction showcasing beautiful Byzantine mosaics.

Camondo Stairs

Climb the Camondo Stairs, an elegant and unique architectural feature in the Galata district.

Princes’ Islands

Finally, take a ferry to the Princes’ Islands, a group of nine picturesque islands in the Sea of Marmara. Enjoy a peaceful day away from the city, exploring the islands’ charming streets, beautiful beaches, and lush forests.

Day 6: Delving into Art and Culture

Istanbul modern.

Begin your sixth day with a visit to Istanbul Modern, the city’s premier contemporary art museum, showcasing works by Turkish and international artists.

Pera Museum

Next, explore the Pera Museum, which houses an impressive collection of Orientalist paintings, Anatolian weights and measures, and Kütahya tiles and ceramics.

SALT Galata

Visit SALT Galata, a cultural institution that hosts exhibitions, workshops, and events focused on contemporary art, architecture, and design.

Rahmi M. Koc Museum

Head to the Rahmi M. Koc Museum, an industrial museum dedicated to the history of transport, industry, and communications in Turkey .

Istanbul Archaeological Museums

End your 6-day itinerary with a visit to the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, a complex of three museums housing over a million artifacts from various civilizations.

Day 7: Experiencing Turkish Cuisine

Turkish breakfast.

Start your final day in Istanbul by indulging in a traditional Turkish breakfast , featuring a variety of cheeses, olives, bread, jams, and more.

Cooking Class

Take a Turkish cooking class to learn how to prepare some of the country’s most beloved dishes, such as stuffed grape leaves, lentil soup, and baklava .

Street Food Tour

Embark on a street food tour to sample Istanbul’s diverse and delicious street food offerings, including simit (a sesame-covered bread ring), roasted chestnuts, and mussels stuffed with rice.

Visit some of Istanbul’s traditional tea houses to experience the city’s tea culture, sipping on Turkish tea while playing backgammon or chatting with locals.

Farewell Dinner

End your 7-day itinerary with a farewell dinner at a local meyhane (tavern), where you can enjoy a variety of meze (small plates), grilled meats, and raki, Turkey’s signature anise-flavored spirit.

In this 7-day itinerary for Istanbul, visitors will experience the best of the city, from historic landmarks and modern attractions to hidden gems and rich art and culture. The journey begins in the heart of Sultanahmet , exploring iconic sites like Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. The itinerary then takes travelers through modern Istanbul, lesser-known attractions, and across the Bosphorus to the Asian side. Along the way, visitors will discover hidden gems, delve into the city’s art and culture scene, and immerse themselves in the flavors of Turkish cuisine. This comprehensive guide ensures that travelers make the most of their time in the enchanting city of Istanbul.

Is there enough to do in Istanbul for a week?

Absolutely. Istanbul is a city steeped in history, culture, and vibrant daily life. A week in Istanbul allows you to explore its major historical landmarks, such as the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. Additionally, you can take leisurely strolls in various neighborhoods, explore the bustling markets like the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, savor the diverse culinary offerings, embark on a Bosphorus cruise, and even take day trips to nearby attractions. Seven days give you the luxury to go deeper and experience the city beyond the typical tourist trail.

Are 7 days too long in Istanbul?

No, 7 days is not too long in Istanbul. Given the city’s rich history, diverse culture, and a plethora of attractions, a week allows visitors to explore both its famous landmarks and its lesser-known gems at a more relaxed pace. Beyond the major historical sites, one can also delve into different neighborhoods, experience local eateries, markets, and contemporary art scenes, and even take day trips to nearby areas. Seven days in Istanbul provides a deeper immersion into the city’s essence beyond the typical tourist itinerary.

Istanbul Street Food Guide in 2024 – Best Döner Restaurants

Istanbul Street Food. Istanbul, the vibrant metropolis straddling two continents, is not only renowned for its rich history and stunning architecture but also for its...

Best Month to Visit Istanbul & Best Things to Do in 2024

The best month to visit Istanbul largely depends on personal preferences and interests, as well as the type of experience you seek. However, generally speaking,...

Exploring the Blue Mosque: A Guide to Etiquette and Dress Code

When visiting the Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, it's crucial to respect the cultural and religious practices associated with...

Delicious Turkish Bagel ( Simit) 2024

Turkish bagel known as "simit": In the vibrant tapestry of Turkish cuisine, there emerges a culinary gem that has captured the hearts and taste buds...

Istanbul Cruise Port Galataport 2024 Guide

You may read our guide here to learn everything there is to know about Istanbul Cruise Port Galataport , the city's cruise port, including its...

Best Things to Do on New Year’s Eve in Istanbul in 2023

Are you organizing a group gathering of friends and family for New Year's Eve in Istanbul on December 31, 2023? You may be wondering what...

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Prices in 2023

Cappadocia is one of the most popular destinations in Turkey and that's why Cappadocia hot air balloon prices are getting higher each year.   Cappadocia...

Best Luxury Yacht Rentals in Istanbul in 2023

One of the few cities in the world where boating is permitted throughout the entire year is Istanbul. Spending a day relaxing on a boat...

Museum Entrance Prices in Istanbul & Turkey in 2022 ( As of July 1st)

With the arrival of the summer months, demand for museums and ruins increased. Here are the new Museum Entrance Prices in Istanbul & Turkey in...

What Are the Different Types of Turkish Hammam Soaps and How Can They Benefit You?

Turkish Hammam Soaps are a type of soap that is unique to the Turkish culture and carries a long history. They provide several benefits for...

What Do Turks Eat? Best Typical Turkish Food to Try in 2022

Without a question, Turkish cuisine is one of the most famous cuisines in the world. It would be totally understood if you google "What Do...

How to Get Turkish Tax Number (ID) Online for Foreigners – Non-Residents or Non-Citizens in 2022

You need Online Turkish Tax number as a foreigner for multiple reasons. You might want to open a bank account in Turkey, buy property in Turkey...

Bir Şeyler Ara

Mini guide of my city: what not to miss in Venice

Popular posts, we will travel again, and we will enjoy it even more, my favourites bookshops in london, adopting a dog has incredibly changed my life, sestiere castello in venice: my itinerary, napolitudine, my weekend in naples, exploring istanbul: my travel diary.

Exploring Istanbul was in my bucket list since a couple of years, and when I finally booked the flight I was on cloud nine!

Music, round of drinks and 20 degrees in January: I definitely didn’t have a bad welcome in here!

Europe and Asia live side by side in this 15 million people metropolis, in an amazing mishmash of different cultures, sounds and scents spread in every single corner of this amazing city.

Also the accommodation at the Boutique Hotel  No 18  had been exactly the right choice: super position and receiving and the room was very nice too.

Putting down the luggage took us only a couple of minutes, as we couldn’t wait to exploring Istanbul. We started strolling around Beyoğlu streets, surrounded by the joyful mood all around.

During dinner we then had fun with the nice people seated next to us. Between one raki  toast and a guitar strum they were trying to teach us how to pronounce  Teşekkür ederim  (thank you in Turkish). Unfortunately they didn’t have success :'(

The day after we woke up with the muezzin call: it was my first time and definitely it’s something very special, a unique sensation.

We then followed the people flood into  Istiklal Caddesi  (Istanbul shopping and bar street) and we arrived in Taksim square, simply immense and full of history.

With the underground we then reached Eminönü ,where we boarded a Bosforo tour ferry.

For nearly two hours we were cradled by the gentle swinging and by the seagull flying, while the mosques profiles peeked out from the city hills.

The aperitif could just be at  Leb-i Derya . When I walked in I felt like my heart had skipped a beat because of the breathtaking view.

From its windows you can see all the city. An even more astonishing show considering the sunset pink light and the muezzin chant, that guides Istanbul to the night.

The following days slipped away quickly exploring Istanbul. We visited the marvellous  Aya Sofya ,  Blu mosque ,  Basilica Cistern ,  Galata Tower  and  Hippodrome.

We then took never ending walks through the side messy alleys, a ride on the nostalgic red tram and obviously we did a tour at the  Gran Bazar.

Exploring Istanbul means also to taste the sensational local pastries and to enjoy the yummy turkish food. Among the others, I absolutely recommend to have dinner at Lokanta Helvetia.

During my stay, I also loved my chats with the nice and friendly residents and the cats, that seem to be the second citizens of Istanbul. They literally seem to guide you to the thousand hints of this magic city.

Just love it!

You may also enjoy:

Road trip in costa de …, panamá & costa rica: pura vida, ten days in portugal + a …, leave a reply cancel reply.

Ilia, Illy for everyone. Italian born, Brit by adoption. I write tirelessly and I'm constantly on the move.

Follow The Frilly Diaries

Email Address:

Discover more from The Frilly Diaries

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Post Categories:

Istanbul in one Day: A 24 hour Istanbul Itinerary

This post is a 24 hour Istanbul itinerary with the ultimate travel guide about what to see in Istanbul in one day. Istanbul is a modern and dynamic city, but at the same time it has a history that goes back 3000 years. It was once the capital of the Roman empire, the Byzantine empire and is now the capital of Turkey.

It will be a challenge to see everything in Istanbul in one day. Istanbul is now Europe’s largest city. With 15 million people there is always something to do on top of the large number of top tourist attractions. It is not impossible though and if you plan vour visit well, you can see the best things to do in Istanbul in one day.

Istanbul in one day

I arrived late in the evening on a flight from Tehran and had a full day before flying back to Amsterdam. It was a crazy day, but because I prepared my Istanbul itinerary beforehand I managed to see the most important sights.

This post is more than an itinerary, it will help you make the best out of your day in Istanbul. If you have more time consider yourself lucky. You can never be bored in Istanbul and I can recommend this 4 day itinerary .

A one day Istanbul itinerary

1. the blue mosque.

There are a lot of mosques in Istanbul and if you have to choose only one mosque in your Istanbul itinerary, make it the blue mosque.

I already visited the blue mosque in the evening when I arrived and the surroundings were peaceful and quiet. Even tough the mosque is closed at that time it is nice to walk in the courtyard without the crowds.

The blue mosque was the first thing to see on my Istanbul itinerary the next day. Despite getting up early, it was already very busy. Once you are inside it is easy to understand why. What an exquisite beauty that can only leave you in awe.

2. Hagia Sophia

The next stop on my Istanbul itinerary was the Hagia Sophia. This was my biggest priority to see in Istanbul. A church built-in the Byzantine time turned into a mosque and now a museum. It has Istanbul’s history packed into an amazing architectural wonder.

When I entered the Hagia Sophia I was overwhelmed by the majesty and beauty of this structure. I just stood there a couple of minutes to let it sink in. Then I walked through and looked at the details. An interesting mix of muslim architecture with christian mosaics and paintings that are still visible

3. Topkapi palace

The palace where the sultans of the Ottoman empire resided for generations was another priority for me to visit and was next on my Istanbul itinerary.

I did not expect to spent so much time at Topkapi, but the palace was much bigger than I thought. There are three nice courtyards with several beautiful buildings that all have different purposes. Before I knew, I spent two hours walking around.

The Topkapi palace was also very busy, but I tought it was definitely worth it. If you have the museum pass you should also visit the harem. If not, you should pay an additional entrance fee for this area, which in my personal opinion is not really worth it.

4. Archeological museum

One advantage of having the Museum pass is that several museums are included that I would have otherwise skipped. The archeological museum was one of them. Because it was close to the Topkapi palace I decided to make a quick visit and I was positively surprised by their interesting collection. This is a must visit for history lovers.

5. Galata bridge & Galata tower

After all the museums and mosques I was hungry. I took the tram to the Galata bridge over the Bosphorus to try out the famous balik ekmek (a fish sandwich). Unfortunately I did not have time to enter the Galata tower and instead I ate my sandwich while watching the boats on the Bosphorus river and the fishermen on the bridge.

6. Grand bazaar

How else could I end my Istanbul itinerary then with some last-minute shopping in the grand bazaar. After visiting the bazaars in Iran , such as Tehran bazaar , I missed the beautiful ceilings and left over details from the past. The bazaar in Istanbul lacks the authenticity you find in Iran. That said, it is still an excellent place to go shopping for spices, tea and delicious sweet turkish delight.

7. The cats of Istanbul

Obviously the cats of Istanbul were not planned in my Istanbul itinerary. However, even if you are just one day in Istanbul you will meet lots of them.

What I really liked is that the people in Istanbul take really good care of them. People pet them and even leave food for them. It’s always a joy to see happy cats wandering around a city.

The beautiful movie Kedi about the cats of Istanbul is great to watch before visiting the city.

Where to eat in Istanbul in one day

The food is one of the main reasons I would like to go back to Istanbul. Turkish food is delicious and there are so many local dishes I had to miss out on, because I had no time. I only have one stomach and there is only so much you can eat and try in 24 hours.

Honestly, finding good local food is not easy. Most restaurants cater for tourists and serve the same menu’s of kebab. I havent found a special hidden gem that day, but really enjoyed the balik ekmek (fish sandwich) on the street at the Galata bridge and the turkish delights I tried in the Grand bazaar.

You always need a reason to come back to a city and for me the food will be one of them.

Where to stay in Istanbul for one night

I stayed in the Stanpoli Hostel in the dormitory. I tought it was a good hostel with an excellent breakfast buffet on the top floor with a wonderful view on the Bosphorus and the city.

Istanbul in one day on a budget

The city of Istanbul is big and to keep it cheap you should consider buying these cards, even when visiting for a day.

Istanbul card – This card allows you to travel on public transport and get a 40% discount on the fares. There is an extensive network of metro, tram and ferries. You can buy the card at the airport and then travel from the airport to Sultanahmet by metro, already saving you a lot of money.

Sultanahmet is where most sites like the Hagia Sophia, Blue mosque and Topkapi palace are and a good place to stay with several hostels and guesthouses. It is easy to explore Sultahnamet on foot, but if you want to explore other parts of the city the card comes in very handy.

Museum card – If you want to visit both the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi palace it is worth to buy the Museum card. It is slightly cheaper and allows you to visit several other museums as well. One other advantage is that you only have to stand in line once to buy the card. This will save you a lot of time, because the lines at the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi palace are long.

How to make the most out of Istanbul in one day

Seeing Istanbul in one day is a challenge. With so many things to do you will really need to focus on the highlights and even then it will be a fully packed day.

The following tips will help you make the most out of your day.

1. The museum card : skip the long lines to get in the Haga Sofia and the Topkapi palace by buying the museumcard. If you visit both, the museumcard is even slightly cheaper than buying seperate tickets

2. Get up early: beat the crowds by getting up early. Istanbul is at its best when the sun is setting over the Bosphorus and the city is slowly coming to life

3. Prepare your Istanbul itinerary : Decide what you really want to see when you are. It is a huge city and my one day Istanbul itinerary not only includes the highlights, but also made sense logistically as the places were quite near each other.

If you have only one day in Istanbul and you don’t want to spend your time stuck in traffic, find out how you can travel between the places you want to visit beforehand. Public transport is cheap, but distances are big and traffic can be crazy.

When to visit Istanbul

Istanbul really is a year round destination. Summers can get pretty warm so therefore spring and autumn are best. Even though winters are cold this is also a great time to be in Istanbul. It will be more quiet, cheaper and seeing the city covered in a blanket of snow is magical. Read here everything about Istanbul in winter .

Is it safe in Istanbul?

When I arrived late in the evening at my hostel I was greeted by several cats in the window. While I was paying attention to the cats the owner of the hostel came outside to greet me by my name. I was surprised he knew who I was, but it turned out I was the only guest that day. With recent terrorist attacks the tourist numbers have gone down and most tourist establishments are struggling with the decline of income.

The chances of you accidentally being in the wrong place at the wrong time are still very small and therefore I can still recommend Istanbul to anyone. For me, I felt safe, even as a woman travelling alone. Istanbul is a big city and like any other city, you have to be on your guard for pickpockets and tourist scams. These scams are more likely to bring you into trouble than terrorism. Click here for an article on the most common tourism scams in Istanbul.

Disclaimer : This post about Istanbul in one day contains affiliate links. If you buy any service through any of my links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. These earnings help me to keep Backpack Adventures alive! Thanks for your support!

20 thoughts on “Istanbul in one Day: A 24 hour Istanbul Itinerary”

I liked the section about safety. That was my main question. It seems like such a cool place to visit!

We never felt any fear in Istanbul. It’s a great city.

seems like a great way to spend 24 hours, looks like you managed to do a lot. A great days adventure, great post

Ellis you really were able to pack in so much with only 24 hours in Istanbul. My bf has 24 hours in Istanbul from Amsterdam en-route to Nairobi and I shared this with him 🙂

Ah, this is an awesome list! I usually try to go to places for longer as I like to travel slowly but sometimes when you’re in transit and you have a short amount of time I love these posts that tell you where to go with your precious few hours. The Blue Mosque has intrigued me for ages now and those kitties!! Allergic or not… I will play! :-p

You just got the most out of 24 hours in Istanbul, that’s amazing to see as a female traveler alone you did this all in one day, I’m impressed 🙂

Wow, you really managed to see a lot in just 24 hours! Did you manage to catch the ferry to the Asian side? It was one of my favourite things to do in Istanbul. If you didn’t, hope you’ll be back one day. It really only takes 20 minutes but it’s such a beautiful passage. I was having a missing Istanbul day already, I can say that your post didn’t help getting over that 😀 I love that you included the cats in your highlights because they definitely are one 🙂

Thanks for the information and inspiration! I was thinking of buying the Museum card but now I’m sure I’ll will do it. Luckily, I have a few more days to use it. Thanks Ellis.

I was just in Istanbul for a layover and it was such a great city! I’m so sad I missed the palace but logistically could not make it there! Next time I will definitely make it there! Looks like you had a great day!

Wow you did a lot in 24 hours! Funny I was talking to a friend about going to Istanbul last night, she also said it felt much safer than she thought it would be 🙂 Love the information about cats, that’s really cute and quite unique! The architecture looks incredible 🙂 thanks for sharing!

Love Istanbul – I’ve had quite a few long layovers there and spent a few hours in the city each time. All your recommendations for things to see are so wonderful 🙂 Xx, Eleonore

Istanbul is such an amazing city! We spent a week there and were still discovering new places everyday. If you ever go back I can recommend visiting the Prince’s Islands by Ferry for a great a day trip. The food is so good too!

I almost booked a flight considering something like this. Next time I’ll take it as I’d love to see the Blue mosque! I had no idea so much was possible.

I love Istanbul!!! This post brought back some great memories.

Istanbul is on my list! Love the pictures of the cats!

Great post – I’m exhausted just reading it as it sounds like you had a really busy day! Thanks for sharing

I loved Istanbul! You managed to fit a lot in 24 hours! Aren’t all the cats wonderful?

Ha! I thought I was the only one who thought the cats of Istanbul (and Turkey) were one of the more fascinating aspects of it. I have many photos of kittens that were hanging out in different markets and coffee shops.

Wow! All in 24 hours! Some great tips even for a layover!

would like to book one day travel tour at Istanbul.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Kale by LyraThemes.com.

The Most Practical 5 Day Istanbul Itinerary

Creating an Istanbul itinerary for a limited number of days can be a herculean task. The city has a plethora of things to do, has a rich history and is spread across two continents – Asia and Europe. Hence, we have decided to share our itinerary that involves sight-seeing, best experiences and enough time to enjoy yourself.

If you’re planning a trip to Turkey, the follow blog posts may prove to be the difference between a good trip and a GREAT trip!

• Our comprehensive guide on visiting Turkey: 2 weeks in Turkey Itinerary
• Get the best of your visit to Cappadocia: 4 Days Cappadocia Itinerary
• A hidden gem often ignored: 3 days in Alanya
• If you are a vegetarian like us and looking for Turkey vegetarian food
• All the amazing things to do in Turkey: Unique things to do in Turkey
• Turkey Shopping Guide: Get the best Turkish souvenirs

Istanbul is the most well-connected city in Turkey. Hence, there is a pretty good chance that you shall be entering and leaving Turkey through Istanbul. Because of this, we split our 5 Days in Istanbul into two parts during our Two Week Trip to Turkey . We spent 2.5 days there in the beginning of our Turkey trip and the balance 2.5 days in the end.

We suggest you to do the same in case you wish to follow our highly recommended Turkey Itinerary for 14 days.

This article contains affiliate links. This means that we earn a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Kindly read our full disclosure and privacy policy for more details.

Quick overview

Istanbul Itinerary: Where to Stay

To make the most of this itinerary, we recommend booking your hotel in two of the best areas to stay for tourists – Sultanahmet and Karakoy (or anywhere in Beyoglu).

Sultanahmet is the area where most of the popular sites of Istanbul are. It has the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern and many other attractions within short walking distance . It does get a little touristy, but as long as you stay and eat in one of the inner streets of the area, you should be good.

It also has a lot of restaurants that serve most of the Vegetarian Food options in Turkey . So if you’re a vegetarian like us, it’s a very convenient place to stay during the course of this Istanbul Itinerary.

Karakoy on the other hand is a perfect place to stay for the second part of your Istanbul trip. It is not only close to iconic sites like the Galata Tower and the Galata bridge , but is also a hip area with street art, roadside cafes and nargile joints. On top of that, it is better connected to far-away places in this itinerary like Ortakoy Mosque and Dolmabahce Palace than Sultanahmet .

Also, we preferred to stay in a hotel and not in an Airbnb or apartment rental as the hotels were quite cheap and we didn’t wish to cook our own food. So renting an apartment didn’t offer a lot of value while visiting Turkey.

Istanbul Itinerary: How To Get Around

Istanbul’s public transportation system is one of the most efficient ones in the world.

Buses, trams, ferries and the metro connect this city panning two continents. To access this extensive network, you need to have a city travel card . There are card vending machines located at most major tram and metro stations where you can buy a new card, reload the card and check the card balance.

Another great thing about the travel card is that multiple people can use the same card. Just tap once at the gate for each person, but ensure that there is sufficient amount loaded in the card for your entire group to travel.

We (2 persons) got two pre-loaded cards with 10 trips each before arriving in Istanbul, that enabled us to travel during this 5 day Istanbul itinerary without reloading even once. We travelled on metros, trams, buses and ferries. The best part was that this pre-loaded card was delivered to our hotel which saved us the hassle of going to the metro station and trying to figure out the card vending machine. With this we saved a lot of time and we highly recommend buying your travel card beforehand.

If you are traveling in a group of 4, there might be times when getting a cab could prove to be cheaper . However, use only Bitaksi to book a cab. Bitaksi is Istanbul’s Uber . If you take a regular cab, there is a very good chance that you shall be overcharged for your trip.

Istanbul Itinerary: How To Stay Connected

To use Bitaksi though, you’ll need internet and the best way to stay connected is by getting a portable wifi device. We used this device for the entire duration of our Two Weeks in Turkey which helped us stay connected even in the most remote locations. The device can be pre-ordered and can be picked up from the airport. It can be used by multiple people, allowing you to share the cost as well.

Even if you don’t plan on taking a cab, get internet connection to figure out walking routes and public transportation timings on google maps.

Now that we have covered the basics, let’s explore the things to do during your Istanbul trip, one day at a tie.

Day 1 of Your 5 Day Istanbul Itinerary

Your day 1 in Istanbul shall entail your hotel check-in and collecting your portable wifi and travel card. Choose a flight that reaches Istanbul at around 10:30 in the morning. This way you shall be reaching your hotel at your exact check-in time of 2 o’clock.

Istanbul airport is located a little farther away from the city and the best way to reach the city center is by the Havaist bus . These buses run every half an hour from Istanbul airport to various locations in the city like Taksim Square and Sultanahmet. The seats are very comfortable and the prices are reasonable. International Credit Cards are accepted so you don’t need to change your money at the airport.

Check-in to your Sultanahmet hotel, have lunch at one of the many small eateries in the back alleys of Sultanahmet and take a nap to get rid of any jet lag. Again, this entire area accepts international credit cards, so no need to change your money anywhere. The exchange rates in this area are really bad, so avoid changing money here.

Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square)

This is why we recommend booking a hotel in Sultanahmet during your 5 days in Istanbul. After check in and lunch, head out for a stroll in the Sultanahmet Square, also known as the Hippodrome.

During the Byzantine period, the Hippodrome was used for chariot races and other such sporting events.

Today, it is a lively area full of street vendors selling their wares, colorful gardens, fountains and some of the most important monuments of Turkey.

Facing each other, on either side of the Hippodrome are Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque – the two most iconic buildings of the city.

There are also some lesser known monuments in the area like the Obelisk of Theodosius built in the 4 th century (picture above).

You can leisurely walk around the square to get a general look and feel of the area. After all, your next day is going to involve exploring the history and heritage of all these monuments in detail.

The Blue Mosque

While exploring the Sultanahmet Square, check if it’s prayer hours. If not, you can visit the most iconic monument in Turkey.

The Blue Mosque is the image you see when you google Istanbul. It is a 6 minaret Mosque and is famous for the Blue mosaic tiles in the interior of its main dome that give this magnificent mosque its name.

You shall be visiting this mosque at around sunset so there will be minimal crowds and you will be able to marvel at its beauty to your heart’s content.

Like in all other mosques in Turkey, there is a strict dress code to be followed while visiting the Blue Mosque.

Women need to be dressed in such a way that your head, shoulder and your knees are not exposed. Men cannot wear shorts.

All mosques in Turkey are free to enter.

After visiting the blue mosque, sit down for drinks or smoke a water pipe (nargile) at one of the many amazing street-side or rooftop bars in the neighborhood. It might seem a little touristy but you won’t get to have a drink with the most epic view in all of Turkey anywhere else. Call it a night after dinner and get some good rest as the next day is going to be packed with activities.

Day 2 of Your 5 Day Istanbul Itinerary

Grand bazaar.

Start the day 2 f your 5 day Istanbul itinerary by visiting the iconic Grand Bazar! The Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest shopping complex in the world. The market was established during the 15 th century and houses approximately 4000 shops selling everything from Turkish carpets, decorative lamps, Ottoman Jewelry, luggage, cheap knock offs of luxury goods and jerseys of your favorite football clubs.

The reason why we have included the Grand Bazaar in our first full day in Istanbul is because it is the best place to exchange money in Istanbul. You will get the maximum value for your dollars or euros here.

After getting forex (Turkish Lira), you can choose to shop today or visit the bazaar again on your last day. This way, you wouldn’t have to carry your shopping goods everywhere for the rest of your trip.

The Bazaar is only a 10-minute walk from the Sultanahmet square so you can quickly head back to continue your site seeing adventure.

Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia is located opposite the Blue Mosque and is probably the monument with the most history.

It was built as an Orthodox Cathedral, converted to a mosque during the Ottoman Rule, declared a Museum in the 1900s by the then leader of the Republic of Turkey and was converted back to a mosque as recently as 2020.

Take a guided tour of the Hagia Sophia to understand its rich culture and get a glimpse of the famous mosaics of Lord Jesus and Mother Mary.

Have lunch at any of the many amazing restaurants in the back alleys of Sultanahmet and proceed to our next destination, the Topkapi Palace.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace used to be the main residential complex of the Ottoman Empire. The palace complex consists of the Royal Residence, administrative blocks, the high court and the royal kitchens.

The palace is known for its architecture and rich history. However, the highlight of your visit to Topkapi Palace shall be the Harem – a place where the Sultan’s wives and concubines lived.

We recommend this highly rated guided tour of the Topkapi Palace because otherwise, it’s just like visiting any other good-looking building.

Also, consider investing in this Istanbul Pass like we did to follow this 5 day Istanbul Itinerary. It includes guided tours to all the heritage locations listed in this post and also includes special experiences like the Whirling Dervishes show and a Bosphorus Dinner Cruise. The pass offers great value as normally, the total cost of the above listed shows itself is higher than the cost of the pass.

Basilica Cistern

There are hundreds of cisterns under the city of Istanbul. These cisterns used to store water to meet the needs of the entire city.

Only two of the many cisterns are accessible to tourists now. The larger of the two, Basilica Cistern was constructed in the year 532 to meet the water needs of the Royal Palace.

The dimly lit interiors of the cistern and the medusa head at the bottom of some pillars have become Instagram favorites.

The Turkish Pass includes a guided trip to the basilica cistern, so make the most of it.

The Whirling Dervishes Show

You might be exhausted after visiting the above places and what better way to soothe your senses than the most calming experience you can have in all of Turkey – The Whirling Dervishes show.

This mystical Sufi ceremony, known as Sema, is a form of meditation where the Sufi saint becomes one with God .

While spinning, with his right hand above his head, the dervish is conveying to God that he is ready to receive His benevolence and with his left hand pointing at the earth, he’s willing to share this blessing with the ones witnessing his prayer.

The soft music, the constant rotation of the saints and the set up in general, makes this one of the best experiences you can have in Turkey .

The experience is included in this Istanbul Pass , but if you are not opting for the pass(WHY NOT!?), you can also book the experience individually over here .

Day 3 of Your 5 Day Istanbul Itinerary

Have a hearty Turkish breakfast early in the morning and get ready to use that Public Transportation card I mentioned earlier. Day 3 of your Istanbul Itinerary shall entail some of the lesser known gems of Istanbul.

Suleymaniye Mosque

Suleymaniye mosque is an absolutely beautiful mosque that looks quite similar to the Blue Mosque from the outside. However, because of its distance from the Sultanahmet Square and the popularity of the Blue Mosque, most tourists skip visiting this mosque.

We enjoyed our visit to Suleymaniye Mosque more than the Blue Mosque as the Blue Mosque is under renovation and is covered with scaffolding .

As explained above, strict dress code is applicable for everyone visiting the mosque and visitors are not allowed during prayer hours .

The lane behind Suleymaniye Mosque has a lot of rooftop cafes and nargile joints . Stop by for some Turkish tea before heading out to our next destination.

Balat is one of the most Insta-famous colorful neighborhoods of Istanbul. The area has recently become very popular on Instagram because of its beautifully colored houses, rainbow colored stairs and artsy street murals.

Catch a 9-minute bus from Suleymaniye Mosque to reach Fener and walk along the colorful streets to reach Balat. Admire the street art and the hipster feel of the area covered with lots of cute, street-side cafes.

Click those great pictures for the ‘gram and sit down for brunch at one of the many bohemian style restaurants in the neighborhood.

Chora Church and Museum

A 15-minute walk away from Balat is Chora Church and Museum.

Chora Museum is probably my favorite museum in Turkey. I am not a big history fan but I enjoy looking at art and Chora provides plenty of it.

The walls and ceilings of the Chora Church are covered with mosaics of Jesus Christ . These mosaics were plastered off during the Ottoman empire but have been restored during the course of the last century.

Like the Hagia Sophia, Chora was built as a Church during the Byzantine era, converted to a mosque under the Ottoman Rule, declared as a museum during the formation of the Republic of Turkey and was converted back to a Mosque in 2020.

Take a Guided Walking Tour of Chora Church to understand the paintings and the history of this great monument.

Walls of Constantinople

A 10-minute walk from Chora Museum, will take you to one of the oldest walls built by the Byzantines to protect the city .

Most of the walls have been dismantled as the city outgrew its boundaries but a small portion of the fortification is still preserved. You can go up the walls on a free walking tour to understand the history that led to the fall of the city of Constantinople.

Turkish Hammam

Turkish bath or a Hammam, is one of the best experiences you can have in Turkey . These Hammams were a big part of Turkish culture during the Ottoman period.

Hence, it is the perfect way to end a hectic day of sight-seeing at the end of Day 3 of your 5 day Istanbul Itinerary.

While in Istanbul, you have the opportunity to experience the Hammam in one of the oldest Bath houses in the city. The Hammams are separated by gender and the experience usually takes about two hours . I have explained the entire Hammam experience in detail in our Best Experiences to Have in Turkey post, so feel free to check it out.

It is better to pre-book your Turkish Bath here as the slots are limited due to the popularity of the location.

Pro Tip: Transportation is included in this Hammam experience and the hammam location is in Sultanahmet. So you can arrange your pick up from the Walls of Constantinople (or any other tourist site you are at) and save some money on the ride back. After your Turkish Bath, you can ask the driver to drop you at your hotel in Sultanahmet instead of your earlier location and he’ll be happy to oblige.

Day 4 of Your 5 Day Istanbul Itinerary

Galata tower.

Take a 20-minute tram ride from Sultanahmet and get down at Karakoy tram station. Walk 500m on cobblestone streets with hipster cafes on each side to reach Galata Tower.

Galata Tower is a medieval stone tower that was built by the Byzantines as a light house.

Climb to the top of the tower to get sweeping views of Istanbul and also take a ride on one of the oldest subways in the world.

Karakoy is another beautiful neighborhood of Istanbul. The area boasts of chic street side cafes and I have not seen a single boring wall in Karakoy.

Almost every wall in Karakoy either has a colorful mural or is decorated with plants and lanterns to give that cool, bohemian vibe.

The famous umbrella street in Istanbul is also located in Karakoy. It is a great place to sit down for brunch and take some shots for Instagram.

Dolmabahce Palace

Take a tram from Karakoy tram station and reach the largest single block palace in all of Turkey – Dolmabahce Palace. The tram ride shall take approximately 15 min.

Dolmabahce Palace is one of the most decorated palaces that I have seen.

14 tons of gold leaf was used to adorn the ceilings and the famous 4.5-ton Bohemian Crystal Chandelier was a gift from Queen Victoria herself .

There is also a 150-year-old bear skin that was a gift from the Tzar of Russia .

I always recommend taking a guided tour of the palace like this one to get the most out of your visit. This was our favorite palace tour from our entire Istanbul itinerary.

💡 Pro Tip: If you are in Istanbul for 5 days you can save a lot of money and add a lot of value by buying The Istanbul Pass here. The tourist pass is a great way to experience a guided tour to all the locations without wasting any time in queueing and covers almost all the activities listed above including an airport shuttle! You can buy the pass for 2,3,5 or 7 days depending on how long you wish to stay and how many of the 40 attractions you wish to cover.

Ortakoy Mosque

Use your Bitaksi app to book a 15-minute cab to Ortakoy Mosque . You can also reach there in 20 minutes via public transportation from Dolmabahce Palace .

Ortakoy mosque is a beautiful mosque by the Bosphorus river. Visit the mosque to experience its serenity and beauty. The mosque has recently become an Instagram sensation esp. if you click a picture from the pier (like the one above).

 After visiting the mosque, you can go for a stroll along the Bosphorus riverfront and get an evening snack from one of the many Kumpir stands. (Check out our post here to understand what Kumpir is. You will absolutely love it! )

Ortakoy is also an amazing area to enjoy the night life of Istanbul. Head out to one of the many rooftop bars or underground clubs where the students and artists of Istanbul party.

However, if you want to make the most of your time and money, go for a Bosphorus Dinner Cruise.

Bosphorus Cruise

When we heard about the Bosphorus River cruise with Turkish show, we thought it was another tourist trap. However, on the insistence of one of our friends who had visited earlier, we booked this experience.

The cruise includes transportation from your Istanbul hotel, dinner on the cruise, about 7 to 8 Turkish folk dance performances, belly dancing performances and drinks (depending on your selection).

This experience is one of a kind and it depends majorly on the tour operator. Hundreds of agencies operate these shows but we recommend this one .

It is very important to opt for a recommended tour as many tours are infamous for serving stale food and the performances are not entertaining at all .

After the cruise, you shall be dropped off at your Istanbul hotel.

Day 5 of 5 Day Istanbul Itinerary

We dedicated the last day of our 5 Day Istanbul Itinerary to shopping and exploring the many bazaars of Istanbul. We were staying in the Taksim area during our last two days in Istanbul so we made the most of the day by following the below listed itinerary.

Galata Bridge

The Galata bridge isn’t a shopping district but it is on the way to our next destination, the Egyptian Spice Market.

However, instead of taking the usual tram, we recommend you to cross the bridge by foot. The distance isn’t that great as Karakoy and Egyptian market are located on either side of the bridge.

The bridge is a lively area where you shall see lines of men, fishing off the bridge itself with their fishing poles hanging by the side of the bridge. That along with all the other activities on the side like the restaurants serving fish sandwiches under the bridge and the youth skate boarding make the walk a worth the effort.

Alternatively, you can also cross the bridge on a bike if cycling is your thing .

Egyptian Spice Market

The Egyptian spice market is THE place to go to shop for anything related to food in Turkey .

It is the best place to get Turkish delight for your friends and family back home. It is also the best place to get some dry fruits and spices that may not be otherwise available or cost a lot higher in your home country .

Ensure that you have enough baggage allowance on your flight back as your luggage shall be a lot heavier than what it was when you arrived.

We bought 8 pounds of rare dry fruit, two pounds of Turkish Tea and Coffee combined and four pounds of Turkish Delight for our friends and family.

You can also buy Turkish towels, carpets, crockery and artistic lamps here but the collection is quite inferior to the one in the Grand Bazaar .

If time permits, head to the Grand Bazaar to get these. It is only a 10-minute walk away.

Istiklal Street

We didn’t have enough time on our hands to explore the 5,000 shops of the Grand Bazaar during our 5 days in Istanbul.

So, we headed to Istiklal Street, which has a good collection of Turkish Tea sets, Nargiles (water pipes), bath towels and Turkish Cutlery. The prices are almost at par with the Egyptian market but the quality is far better. No matter where you shop from, never pay more than 50% of the asking price.

After shopping, we had our lunch at one the many amazing street food stalls on Istiklal street and took a ride on the famous vintage tram in nearby Taksim .

If you’re staying in Taksim like we were at the end of your trip, it’s better to shop in Istiklal street at the end of your trip as you can quickly reach your hotel and catch a Havaist Bus from Taksim to reach the airport.

We hope this 5 Day Istanbul itinerary allows you to plan your trip to Istanbul perfectly. The itinerary is planned considering all age groups with allowances for meals, leisure activities like people watching and transit so that your trip to Istanbul doesn’t feel rushed.

If you find the pace of this Istanbul itinerary too slow or if you opt out of any of the above activities and have some spare time on your hand, consider visiting the many other attractions included in your Istanbul Pass .

Have a great trip and do let us know in the comments if this article helped you plan your vacation in Istanbul.

You Might Also Like

Ultimate Guide to Vegetarian Food in Turkey (with prices)

14 Best Experiences In Turkey You Need To Have

Last Updated on 5 months by Param Vithlani

USEFUL ISTANBUL TRAVEL TIPS FOR FIRST-TIMERS 2021

by Parnashree Devi | May 30, 2021 | Best of the Blog , Blog , Destination Promotion , Destinations , International , Travel , Travel Guide & Tips , Turkey | 1 comment

Istanbul is a vibrant metropolis, rich in history, cuisine, and culture. The picturesque city is a dream destination since it is situated on the equator of Europe, where east and west collide. Everything in Istanbul, from the architecture to the food, tells a narrative. What makes Istanbul so intriguing is that it is the world’s only cosmopolitan city that spans two continents. If you are traveling to Istanbul for the first time then you will find these Istanbul travel tips quite helpful.

Table of Contents

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL ISTANBUL

The months of March through May, as well as September and November, are ideal for visiting Istanbul. The crowds at the city’s attractions are manageable, accommodation prices are reasonable during these months. Therefore, it is considered as the best time to travel to Istanbul. The peak season begins in June and lasts until early September. During this time, hotel costs rise to meet the increased demand from visiting tourists.

ALSO READ: TRAVELING TO TURKEY ? FIND OUT TOP THINGS TO DO IN ISTANBUL

BOOK ACCOMODATION IN ADVANCE

Because Istanbul is a popular tourist destination in Turkey with millions of tourists, it is a good idea to reserve your accommodation ahead of time. You should certainly look for the cheapest hotels in Istanbul as it is better to have hotel information in advance. At the Dreamers B&B, you may stay in single or double rooms for terrific budget-friendly lodging. Peradays is a modern boutique hotel that is both inexpensive and stylish. Hammamhane, on the other hand, is a favorite choice for luxury hotels .

Therefore, booking your accommodation well in advance is one of the most useful Istanbul travel tips for global travelers.

DAYS TO SPEND IN ISTANBUL

We recommend staying roughly 5 nights if you want to experience Istanbul as stress-free as possible. That way, you’ll have ample time to see all of the major attractions as well as travel to Istanbul’s Asian side. Of course, having more time is usually preferable. Even if you remain longer in Istanbul, you will undoubtedly find new areas.

PURCHASE AN ISTANBUL KART (Istanbul Card)

Like many other large cities across the world, Istanbul revolutionized public transit in 2009 by introducing the Istanbul Kart, often known as the Istanbul Card. What more exciting is that the Istanbul card is accepted for all forms of public transit in Istanbul, including buses, metros, and ships. However, it has a one-time price of 10TL (Turkish Liras) and comes with 4TL preloaded. After that, you must continue to add credit to it in order to utilize public transit. In other words, the Istanbul Card is a must-have after you land in the beautiful city of Istanbul. Hence, this is one of the useful Istanbul travel tips for first-time travelers.

GET MUSEUM CARD

A museum pass can come in handy if you intend on visiting several museums and archaeological sites. The museum pass is available at any historical site that takes them, as well as online. Also, it is available for use in a number of museums and archaeological sites around the nation. If you just want to visit one city in turkey, you may save money by purchasing a regional museum pass rather than a national one.

LEARN A FEW TURKISH WORDS

Speaking some of the local languages is an exciting element of visiting a place for the first time. It would help you tremendously if you remember a few Turkish words for visitors. Locals will be ecstatic that you are attempting to communicate in Turkish. Since you will try to speak their local language, you will be encouraged and loved if you make even the tiniest effort. In other words, knowing a few Turkish words will rather enhance your experience there.

Here are a few words and phrases you should learn before you go.

● Thank you: Teşekkürler

● Yes: Evet

● Hello: Merhabā

● Good Morning: Günaydın

● Good evening: iyi akşamlar

● Please: Lütfen

● No: Hayir

● How are you: Nasılsınız

● I’m fine: İyiyim

● Good night: İyi geceler

● I don’t understand: Anlamadım

● Where is: Nerede

WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES

Prepare to have tired feet at the end of the day if you plan on doing all there is to do in Istanbul. Walking around the city in comfy shoes is a great idea. If you look around Istanbul, you will be hard-pressed to see a single individual wearing high heels. The majority of them walk in sneakers or sports shoes since they are simple to walk in.

BEST PLACES TO VISIT

ALSO READ: CITY GUIDE : WHAT TO DO & SEE IN ANTALYA IN TURKEY

Istanbul is home to a plethora of spectacular attractions, ranging from the world’s oldest church to heart-racing museums that attract thousands of people every day. Not just in the city, there are numerous places around Instanbul for day trips as well. Here are some of Istanbul’s must-see attractions.

● Blue Mosque is one of the iconic places in Istanbul. It was built in 1616 and it is known for its exquisite blue tiles that cover the whole interior.

● Topkapi Palace is a lovely building that once served as the Ottoman Empire’s administrative center. It features the Harem, which housed the Sultan’s mother, wives, and concubines.

● Basilica Cistern is an underground reservoir that dates back to the Middle Ages. It’s chilly and gloomy. Also, there are two Medusa heads if you look closely.

● Grand Bazaar is a joy to browse at, with its kaleidoscope of colored lanterns and maze-like passageways.

● Spice Bazaar was built in 1664; it is the city’s largest bazaar, selling everything from spices to caviar to dried fruits to Turkish delicacies and much more.

CLOTHS IN ISTANBUL

You’ve probably heard that ladies, in particular, should cover up completely when visiting Istanbul. However, it must be clarified that this is not entirely accurate. Yes, about 95% of Turks are Muslims, yet they are not very conservative. When attending a place of worship, however, you must cover your shoulders and legs. Although, summer dresses, tank tops, jeans, skirts, and shorts are all acceptable attire in Turkey. So, don’t miss this useful Istanbul travel tip while planning your trip.

FOOD TIPS IN ISTANBUL

Istanbul’s streets are lined with kebab stands, quiet eateries, tea cafes, and coffee shops. There are so many tastes, spices, and ingredients in Turkish cooking that it deserves its own blog article. Keep in mind that “Try Everything” is a good rule to follow. In Turkey, food is not costly; even a decent lunch in a fine restaurant in Istanbul will not set you back a fortune. Also, don’t miss traditional food in Istanbul.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE

Traveling to Turkey or anyplace else in Europe with valid travel insurance coverage is always a smart idea. Although Istanbul is a fairly secure city to visit, mishaps or theft may easily derail your trip if you don’t have travel insurance to cover your losses. Therefore, it is highly recommended to buy travel insurance for any trip abroad.

Enter your email address

Disclaimer :

The reproduction of any of the content, including the photographs without prior consent/permission of the writer, is strictly prohibited and a violation of the same will attract legal action.

PIN IT FOR LATER

Did you like the post?   Follow me on  Facebook ,  Twitter  &  Instagram,  and stay updated and notified about the latest posts.

For any kind of collaboration with  My Travel Diary , reach at  [email protected]

Be the first one to get notified about new updates from the blog.

Recent Posts

Essential caravan accessories for your next trip, maximising your yacht experience: a guide to off-season chartering, top destination wedding locations in india.

• ONE DAY, COUNTLESS MEMORIES: CREATING YOUR PERFECT NEW JERSEY ITINERARY
• LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK IN KENYA: AN AFRICAN BIRD PARADISE

Related Posts

Apr 21, 2024

Apr 16, 2024

Feb 27, 2024

Great Tourist place, Thanks for sharing such information with us.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

My Travel Diary is an Award Winning Travel Blog about destinations, lifestyles, people and cultures. The blog has been continuously featured by some of the most esteemed publications, TV channels, Radio station, online portals and newspapers.

QUICK LINKS

Destinations, latest posts.

A caravan trip can make up for a perfect mini-retreat. If you are planning one, check these essential caravan accessories for your next trip.

Planning a yacht vacation? Here is a complete guide to off-season chartering for you.

Copyright © 2024 Parnashree Devi . All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy

Terms of use.

Unveiling Istanbul: 20 Captivating Experiences

Istanbul, the enchanting bridge between East and West, is a city where ancient history meets modern allure. From the majestic domes of its historic mosques to the bustling markets of the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul offers a tapestry of experiences that will captivate and inspire. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll uncover 20 must-do experiences that will help you unlock the essence of Istanbul and create memories to treasure.

Introduction to Istanbul: Where East Meets West

Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a city that defies definition and delights the senses. Its skyline is punctuated by the iconic minarets of its mosques, while its streets buzz with the energy of a thriving metropolis. Istanbul’s rich history dates back thousands of years, with layers of Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman influence shaping its culture, architecture, and cuisine.

As you navigate Istanbul’s labyrinthine streets and historic neighborhoods, you’ll be transported through time and space, from the ancient walls of Constantinople to the vibrant markets of Beyoğlu. Whether you’re sipping tea in a traditional çay bahçesi (tea garden) or marveling at the intricate tilework of the Blue Mosque, Istanbul promises an unforgettable journey of discovery.

Istanbul Uncovered: 20 Must-Do Experiences

• Hagia Sophia : Step inside this architectural masterpiece, which has served as a cathedral, mosque, and museum throughout its storied history.
• Topkapı Palace : Explore the opulent halls and beautiful gardens of the former residence of the Ottoman sultans.
• Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) : Admire the breathtaking beauty of this iconic mosque, with its striking blue tiles and elegant domes.
• Grand Bazaar : Lose yourself in the maze of shops and stalls at one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets.
• Bosphorus Cruise : Take a scenic boat ride along the Bosphorus Strait, where Europe and Asia meet, and enjoy panoramic views of the city’s skyline.
• Basilica Cistern : Descend into the underground world of this ancient cistern, adorned with mysterious Medusa heads and elegant columns.
• Galata Tower : Climb to the top of this medieval tower for panoramic views of Istanbul and the surrounding area.
• Spice Bazaar : Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and aromas of this vibrant market, known for its exotic spices and Turkish delights.
• Dolmabahçe Palace : Marvel at the lavish interiors and elegant architecture of this 19th-century palace, once home to the Ottoman sultans.
• Istiklal Avenue : Wander down Istanbul’s most famous shopping street, lined with boutiques, cafes, and historic buildings.
• Chora Church (Kariye Museum) : Admire the stunning mosaics and frescoes that adorn the walls of this Byzantine church-turned-museum.
• Istanbul Archaeology Museums : Discover Turkey’s rich archaeological heritage at this expansive museum complex, home to artifacts from ancient civilizations.
• Süleymaniye Mosque : Visit this magnificent mosque, designed by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, and enjoy panoramic views of the city from its courtyard.
• Ortaköy Mosque : Admire the picturesque setting of this waterfront mosque, with its elegant architecture and stunning views of the Bosphorus Bridge.
• Istanbul Modern : Explore contemporary Turkish art and culture at Istanbul Modern, Turkey’s first museum of modern and contemporary art.
• Princes’ Islands : Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and take a ferry to the Princes’ Islands, where you can explore charming villages and enjoy panoramic views of the Sea of Marmara.
• Turkish Bath (Hamam) : Indulge in a traditional Turkish bath experience, complete with steam rooms, scrubbing, and massages, at one of Istanbul’s historic hammams.
• Balat and Fener : Wander through the colorful streets of Balat and Fener, two historic neighborhoods known for their picturesque architecture and vibrant street life.
• Rumeli Fortress : Explore this imposing fortress, built by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in preparation for the conquest of Constantinople.
• Cruise the Golden Horn : Sail along the Golden Horn, the historic inlet that divides the European side of Istanbul, and admire iconic landmarks like the Galata Tower and the Golden Horn Bridge.

Conclusion: Embracing the Spirit of Istanbul

As your journey through Istanbul comes to an end, you’ll find that the memories you’ve made and the experiences you’ve shared have left an indelible mark on your heart. Istanbul has offered you a glimpse into its soul, revealing the essence of what makes this city truly extraordinary. And should you ever long to return, Istanbul will be waiting, ready to welcome you back with its warm hospitality, rich history, and boundless beauty. Güle güle (goodbye), until we meet again in the City on the Bosphorus.

• Unveiling Kuala Lumpur: 20 Captivating Experiences
• Unveiling Tokyo: 20 Captivating Experiences

You May Also Like

How to Plan an Eco-Friendly Trip: 10 Strategies to Reduce Your Environmental Footprint

Discovering Tokyo: 20 Captivating Experiences

London’s Museum Marvels: Unveiling Art, History, and Nature

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Family. Food. Fun!

Travel Diary: How To Maximize 3 Days In Istanbul, Turkey

This article is a compilation of three previous posts based on my visit to Istanbul in 2013. Some infomation is updated to the present time.

Puffing, panting and sweating.

This was the first memories I have of Istanbul as I adventurously walked up the hilly and winding streets of Beyoglu, a somewhat quiet neighborhood that seems to wake up only after breakfast-time.

I dreaded taking long-haul flights so after a 10-hour sit-fest from Kuala Lumpur, a trek along the shores of the Bosphorus and a hike up to Taksim Square provides a welcome relief for my numbing legs and behind.

This was my first time in the great city of Istanbul, where I spent a three full days at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

Istanbul Modern

I began the day with a hearty brunch of lamb and rice, both cooked to fluffy perfection, before taking the crowded tram to Tophane on the other side of the Golden Horn.

My first stop was the  Istanbul Modern , a contemporary art museum birthed from the demise of a shipping warehouse. Giant metallic sculptures adorn the grounds of the museum while the exhibitions inside are mutually impressive – expressionist and postmodern art occupied the top floor while photography works were displayed along a long corridor at the ground floor.

I was attracted to the photography collection because pictures have a more realistic way of telling me a story than a painting or sculpture – it’s a good way to gain a bit of an insight into the lives of Turks and how they see the world through their lenses.

After a solid one hour at the museum, I dragged myself along the cobbled brick roads going uphill to the infamous Taksim Square, taking the time to observe the goings-on of the people of Beyoglu and take in the architecture of the neighborhood which was new to me back then.

As of 18 March 2019, Istanbul Modern has temporarily moved to the Union Francaise building in Beyoglu due to the construction of the new building .

Istanbul Modern Admission Fee: TL 60, TL 40 (Students & seniors) Google Map s 10:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday), 10:00 a.m – 8:00 p.m (Thursday), 11:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m (Sunday)

Taksim Square

The near-claustrophobic streets finally opened up to the vast expanse of Taksim Square with its centerpiece “Monument of the Republic” proudly gleaming around hordes of camera trigger-happy tourists and locals on their lunch break. Before I can take a breather, a bunch of protesters climbed the monument and started shouting about the corrupt government (I asked a local there to translate) before the police brought them down, in an ordeal which lasted a cool half an hour.

The open dissent wasn’t a surprise to me since the adjacent Taksim Gezi Park was the site of major protests a few months earlier in June 2013 when news got out that there were plans to redevelop the park into luxury apartments and retail spaces. The nationwide mass protests led to the cancellation of the development and the preservation of the park. I didn’t see any signs of destruction at the park as if the demonstrations did not happen but I did chanced upon a small memorial remembering the activists who lost their lives in the Occupy Taksim movement.

Istiklal Caddesi

“Independence Avenue” reminded me of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile or Melbourne’s Bourke Street when it comes to glitz.

It is a pedestrian street mall filled with every retail and entertainment outlet, including your McDonald’s and Starbucks’ but the wealth of architecture from Neo-Classical to Art Nouveau on display on both sides of the avenue made it palatable to my eyes. I could imagine how pretty Istiklal Caddesi would look at night when street lamps lining the whole length of the avenue are complemented by the colorful displays of each store.

The Lonely Planet travel guide recommended me to stop by Balik Pazari (“Fish Market”), a part of Istiklal Caddesi, to try a street delicacy: Midye Tava, deep-fried mussels on skewer dipped with a garlic pine-nut sauce. This artery-clogging dish was easy to find as most of the restaurants serve it by the street side. There’s not much to explain when it comes to deep-frying food but thumbs up to the garlic pine nut sauce that complements really well with the batter-covered mussels.

Read Also: 10 Foods To Try For A Wholesome Nishiki Market Experience

Sufi Mevlevi Lodge Museum

A quick detour off Istiklal Caddesi took me to the Sufi Mevlevi Lodge in what is to be my first hand experience with the Sufis.

Sufism is a mystical branch of Islam believing that their oneness to Allah SWT is the purest original form of Islam, and the one here is run by a sect called the Mevlevi Order. The lodge is a simple white-washed wooden house hosting a collection of artifacts depicting Sufi culture – their musical instruments, clothes and wardrobe, manuscripts and their daily routine.

I was eager to learn more about the Mevlevi Order who are known for their Whirling Dervishes. The dervishes would recite zikir, short prayers said repeatedly, while entering into a state of trance by whirling themselves in a circle. This was apparent when I entered the ceremonial hall connected to the lodge – the hall war circular and beautifully decorated with iron-wrought frames and scriptures from the Quran.

The dervishes still perform at the lodge but only as an attraction and not a real ceremony.

Galata Mevlevihanesi Muzesi Admission: TL 10 Google Maps 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m Daily except Mondays

Galata Tower

My final stop in what seemed to be a long day was climbing (via an elevator) up the Galata Tower.

This stone tower marks the end of Istiklal Caddesi and the start of the Galata neighborhood. This cylindrical structure was originally named Tower of Christ after the Genoese of Constantinople built it in 1348. The tower’s non-conforming shape compared to the surrounding buildings made it easy to spot from across the river, making it an iconic landmark on the other side of the Golden Horn.

The line was quite long as I took 30 minutes to finally get on the elevator.

At the top, I had to climb two flights of stairs to get on the two-tier observation deck of the tower to a view that I can simply describe as breathtaking. The tower looked to be not that high but I somehow caught a 360 bird’s eye view of the metropolis. You could really feel that you’re at a highpoint of the continental divide, a place so majestic many major powers covet it over the centuries, through peace and war.

Galata Kulesi Admission: TL 25 Google Maps 9:00 a.m – 8:30 p.m, Daily

I was quite amazed at myself for covering that much of an area on my first day in Istanbul. At the end of the day, I was too tired to walk and slept as early as 8:30 pm after another hearty meal of lamb and rice. The Beyoglu and Galata neighborhoods are comparably new since I spotted shiny new skyscrapers north of Taksim Square, as compared to the old quarters (we’re talking about centuries old) which I explored on Day 2.

I think I had inadvertently arranged my Istanbul itinerary to be done in a somewhat reverse chronological order – my first day in Turkey was spent marveling at a collection of Istanbul’s modern art, tracing the remnants of the Occupy movement at Taksim Square and peeking into the life of the Sufis at Mevlevi Lodge.

On the second day, I traveled further back in time to the tip of the Golden Horn, the coveted peninsula overlooking the Bosphorus, to witness centuries-old monuments that were once part of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman empires once gloried by their peoples.

The Blue Mosque

The grand mosques in Istanbul are a dud on the outside – the multi-dome design with four-cornered minarets is replicated throughout the city while it is painted in a dull and drab color, making them blend in too well with the surrounding buildings.

The mosques do look impressive as it strongly stands out from afar but this was still a far cry from the  many unique mosques  I grew up to admire back in Malaysia. As it turns out, the character and identity of a Turkish mosque is elaborated on the inside by its many colorful adornments.

Sultan Ahmet Mosque was completed in the year 1616 under the auspices of Ahmet I, on the site of a former Byzantine palace. It gained the moniker of “Blue Mosque” due to the generous use of Iznik tiles on the interior of the mosque.

Once in the prayer hall, I could not help but gaze at the intricate floral designs of the tiles and lines upon lines of Islamic calligraphy called “khatt” encircling the many domes of the mosque. Much thought and labor was put into creating this masterpiece that it could be still be enjoyed by people like me 400 years after it was built.

S ultan Ahmet Camii Admission: Free Google Map s 8:30 a.m – 11:30 a.m, 1:00 p.m – 2:30 p.m, 3:30 p.m – 4:45 p.m, Daily for non-Muslim visitors

Right across the park lies Aya Sofya, a former Byzantine cathedral converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and now a museum.

It looks like just another mosque from the outside with the main dome and minarets being the defining features but the mood totally changes once you step into its hallowed chambers. My senses were telling me that I am surrounded by Roman columns and marbled walls but each pillar had a banner with the name of “Allah,” “Muhammad,” or one the Prophet’s four khalifahs.

Away from the main hall, I wandered around the second floor of Aya Sofya to look for the mosaic murals crafted by the Byzantines throughout the centuries.

At first glance the murals look like paintings but a look closer showed that tiny mosaics were meticulously arranged on to form a visual canvas of Christ and other Byzantine luminaries. The gold mosaics that act as a background to the characters would glow a luminous hue upon contact with sunlight, creating an aura of awe to the unsuspecting onlooker.

Ayasofya Muzesi Admission: TL 60 Google Maps 9:00 a.m – 7:00 pm (April – October), 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m (November – March)

Read Also: Labuan, Malaysia – Unraveling A Colorful Past

Basilica Cistern

Another amazing Byzantine construction is the Basilica Cistern, a subterranean structure used as a reservoir for the city’s water supply.

This out of sight cavern is not too far from Aya Sofya and it takes two full flight of stairs to descend into darkness. The water has been drained out up to the knee-level and walkways have been built for visitors to roam around the forest of pillars.

I love how some sections of the cistern as poorly lit to create an atmosphere of eeriness, especially the route that leads to Medusa’s head.

One of the far corners of the cistern holds two scary-looking Medusa’s Heads as column bases. These two heads were placed in an odd manner: one upside down while the other on its side.

The two mysterious bases were theorized to come from a Roman building and were conveniently used to support the columns during the construction of the cistern. The Medusas creep the heck out of me and I couldn’t imagine how the maintenance crew back then would dread going down there.

Yerebatan Sarnici Admission: TL 20 (Foreigner), TL 10 (Local), TL 5 (Students) Google Maps 9:00 a.m – 6:30 p.m, Daily

Topkapi Palace

My final stop in Sultan Ahmet is the immense palace right at the tip of the cape. Topkapi Palace was used by the Ottoman emperors for about 400 years, consisting of sprawling courtyards mixed with gorgeously ornamented buildings and an equally large harem.

The blue Iznik tiles feature prominently on the walls of the palace and I spent hours taking photos of the motifs on every nook and cranny. The best ones are reserved for the sultan’s and chambers but the tiles in the harem are just as beautiful as the royal rooms.

There’s also a small gallery in the Privy Chamber where sacred relics of the Muslim world can be viewed like Muhammad’s cloak, Moses’ staff and Joseph’s turban. The Topkapi Palace is so huge that it takes 2  – 3 hours to cover the grounds so do make time to wander around the complex.

I ended the day by lounging at the cafe overlooking the Sea of Marmara while snacking on the local combo of baklava and Turkish coffee. And that was the day my visual senses were rightfully overloaded with splendid architecture across the ages.

Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi Admission: TL 60 (Museum), TL 35 (Harem) TL 30 (Hagia Irene) Google Maps 9:00 a.m – 4:45 p.m (October – April), 9:00 a.m – 6:45 p.m (April – October) Daily except Tuesdays

I’m not a person who likes to shop so I would often skip going to local bazaar on my travels. My aversion to these places stem from the feeling of being drowned in a sea of shoppers, having only enough budget for “essentials” and lacking enough backpack space for the long haul.

But Istanbul’s bazaars are another beast.

These markets are hundreds of years old and has been virtually untouched since their inception. The shops may look new after countless renovations to keep up with the times but the hustle and bustle of the bazaar made me feel like I was a merchant with a shipload of goods ready to be bartered with the honest but wary traders of Istanbul.

Here’s how on my third day, Istanbul changed my mind about going to bazaars.

Grand Bazaar

As far as naming goes, the  Grand Bazaar  does live up to its moniker.

This covered market is somewhat hidden among the throes of street-side stalls since I could only find an entrance after wandering around for a good 10 minutes. I thought that the bazaar would be a very long street where I would come out to the light at the end of the tunnel but after hitting a number of cross junctions with equally long streets, I came to realized that I was about to enter a labyrinth.

I later found out the Grand Bazaar has up to 5,000 shops scattered along 60 streets selling all kinds of items.

It is like an ancient departmental store where stuff are sold according to sections, from jewelry at Kalpakcilar Caddesi to carpets at Sahaflar Caddesi. It was really fun to just stumble upon a specific section of the bazaar only to act really clueless once the shopkeepers started imploring me to enter their premises and start hawking their products at “good” prices. I would politely decline and told them I was just looking around while snapping photos.

My subject of interest was handicrafts made with a Turkish flair – lanterns ruled the roost while in need of something more colorful, I came across the ceramics side of the bazaar. After being wowed by the blue and green Iznik tiles at Topkapi Palace, the plates and saucers on display was like a bed of flowers exuding a multitude of bright colors of red, yellow of orange. The blue-only Iznik designs still dominate but the contemporary ones were more liberal in the usage of colors, creating complex yet pleasing patterns.

The saucers were like blooming flowers to a honeybee and this little bee decided to break his self-imposed rule of not buying any souvenirs. So, I ended up with an ancient-looking Iznik tile that doubles up as a coaster. Bazaar 1-0 Danial.

Kapali Carsi Google Maps 9:00 a.m – 7:00 p.m, Daily except Sunday s

Read Also: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok – A Penchant For Originality

Spice Bazaar

The second largest covered market in Istanbul is the  Spice Bazaar  located close to the Galata Bridge in the neighborhood of Eminonu.

Unlike the maze-like Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar was built to be one long corridor lined with open air shops selling the all kinds of spices and tea. The scene feels more like a marketplace where traders would cajole their potential customers into entering their store followed by serious rounds of haggling and price negotiations.

I was on a mission to procure spices ordered by my mother so instead of doing a full lap and figuring out which shop had the best prices, I randomly picked one that looked okay and straight away asked for the types of spices needed. The shopkeeper was glad to show the different grades of spices by telling me that the best ones are very aromatic and has smooth texture so I compromised by settling on the medium quality ones, with a “best price discount” as well. Throw in a couple of boxes of apple tea and I was good to go.

With the score settled at Bazaar 2-0 Danial, I had to admit defeat.

Sure I still have a dislike of swimming in a crowd of people at a market but I wouldn’t learn a bit more about the character of a city if I hadn’t gone into one. The Grand Bazaar was spectacular for delivering the same types of good for hundreds of years, preserving Turkey’s culture in the form of its arts and craft while the Spice Bazaar helped be hone my haggling skills, which I can proudly say was put to good use in my other market experiences.

Misir Carsisi Google Maps 9:00 a.m – 7:00 p.m, Daily

Although I covered the all most-visited places in Istanbul, three days just barely touched the tip of the iceberg. There were so many past relics, mosques and museums to discover and I haven’t even crossed the Bosphorus to the Asian Side! Istanbul is a wondrous city and you should really take your time exploring it like I did – step by step along the cobbled streets surrounded by buildings as old as time permits.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Kale by LyraThemes.com.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, 21.06.2023

Because we would be in Europe for longer than 90 days (the length of our visitor’s visa), it was important to leave the Schengen Area at some point, hence our trip to Istanbul for a week. I had visited back in 2011 but Bruce had never been, and the iconic city probably should be on most people’s bucket list for a visit at some point in their lives. We flew from Zagreb to Belgrade, Serbia, and then on to Istanbul on the same day. Our first impression, as we flew into the new International Istanbul Airport, which opened in April 2019 replacing the old Ataturk Airport, was the massive size of the city – 15 million inhabitants and spread out for miles. Once again, Bruce had done an outstanding job at booking an Airbnb on the Golden Horn, right underneath the Galata Tower and with a view of people on the top of the tower from our kitchen window. We were excited to be the first in line for tickets to enter the tower early the morning after our arrival and appreciated a quiet and peaceful viewing of the city with its famous landmarks spread out before us. Istanbul is absolutely full-on and crowds throng at every tourist site, prompting us to start early on our daily excursions. We got to know the locals with businesses nearby and tried to support them as best we could – the all-family affair in the breakfast/lunch café underneath and another new one which was opening and starting up that week. We enjoyed chatting to the proprietors (those who could speak English), quizzing them about life in Turkey.

Insert from Bruce: "On the 23rd of June, I visited the Gallipoli Peninsula with a company called 'Crowded House Tours', an appropriate name I thought. Nick had visited 12 years ago and recommended the experience. It was a long day, with a 6.00 am pick up and return 14.5 hours later, but you had to do it for the 'Diggers' who fought there. There was an hour-long presentation (abbreviated version) provided by the excellent guide as to the background of the battles. Unfortunately, the whole operation was a complete failure and there were approximately 380,000 casualties over a nine-month period from all sides, including 7900 from New Zealand. We visited many sites over five hours and were provided with an explanation of each battle, and the various memorial cemeteries, many were previously mass graves. The landing location, (now named ANZAC Cove) was incorrect and the mistakes just multiplied from then onwards. It was a complete 'stuff up' but we were invading Turkey. The background was to enable the supply lines of armaments to Russia so they could assist in defeating Germany. Slightly ironic now of course. The day sent a chill down my spine as the explanations

unfolded, they were doomed from the beginning. The guide said that this battle started the process for Turkey to become an independent nation and New Zealand and Australian troops would never again be under the command of another country. In many ways, the growing independence of New Zealand and Australia as well. A lot of young Kiwis and Australians were on the tour, the first Kiwis travellers I had met so far on our trip. Put this on the list if you ever reach Turkey, it was a great experience, and makes ANZAC day more relevant". Highlights of Istanbul: Walking tour with Purin: Long and hot but we enjoyed the local knowledge and historical anecdotes. Hagia Sophia (means Holy wisdom): Firstly, a Christian Byzantine Basilica erected between 532 and 537 AD; converted to a mosque after the Ottoman Conquest in 1453; converted to a museum by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1935;

then back to a mosque by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July 2020. The good news being that entry to the mosque is now free rather than quite pricey while still a museum. The only issue was the crowds all wanting to see the magnificent building and finding the best time to avoid waiting for hours in the hot sun. The Blue Mosque: Named for the blue tiles dominating the interior, finished in 1620, a magnificent building complex. Sitting in the courtyard and hearing the call to prayer emanating from the minarets was quite an experience. Most mosques have four minarets and the anecdotal reason for the six minarets on the Blue Mosque is as follows - The sultan supposedly had asked to have altın minare (minarets in gold) and the architect understood altı minare (which means six minarets). Lost in translation perhaps? Topkapi Palace: The largest and oldest surviving palace in the world, construction started in 1465 and served the Ottoman state for four hundred years. Huge complex, incredible opulence, fascinating to visit. We didn’t visit the Harem (Nicola did in the past). Loved the clothing/costumes section – the colours, designs, fabrics are spectacular. Galata Tower: Built by the Genoese in the mid-1300s to add to their wall for defence purposes. Multiple uses since, including as a dungeon for slaves, and fire lookout tower. Provides a majestic view across to the skyline of the old city. The Grand Bazaar: Was actually a cooler relief from the hot sun and not chock-a-block with shoppers at the time. Interestingly, there were several TV crews outside the money changer stalls at the entrances to the bazaar, reporting on the dramatic fall in the Turkish Lira at the time. They were surrounded by crowds of stressed-looking men yelling into their phones and

all vying for the attention of the moneychanger. It was very tricky buying transport tickets, as vending machines are often only in Turkish and frequently don’t work anyway! At one point, Nicola was stranded outside the entry gates for the tram and Bruce was inside and powerless to help – amazingly she managed to recharge the transport card by pressing buttons randomly, more good luck than anything. She did not want to contemplate the long hot walk back to our accommodation! Fashion tip for kiwis for the coming summer season – we both noted a real trend in Europe this summer for matching, vividly-patterned and coloured tops and bottoms for both females and males – shirts and shorts, shirts and trousers, previously old-fashioned trouser suits, shirts and skirts – absolutely anything goes, so get in quick folk and become avantgarde fashionistas!

Grey Digital Nomads on Tour 2023

Latest blog from travel diaries.

Denmark 09.02.2023

What to Do in Copenhagen - A Magically Beautiful City in Winter (and Summer)

Get started right away.

What are you waiting for? Capture your adventures in a digital diary that you can share with friends and family. You can switch between any of your devices anytime. Get started in our online web application.

Visit Istanbul Turkey : 14-Day Trip Plan Like Locals

Turkey is a country with a rich and diverse history, culture, and natural beauty. From the stunning coastline along the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas to the bustling cities and historic landmarks, Turkey offers a wide range of experiences for travelers. Some of the most popular destinations in Turkey include Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Ephesus, Bursa, Canakkale, and more.

Each of these destinations offers unique experiences, from exploring ancient ruins and landmarks to enjoying traditional food and culture. One of the highlights of traveling in Turkey is the hospitality and warmth of the local people. Turkish culture places a high value on hospitality and welcoming guests, so visitors can expect to be treated with kindness and respect throughout their travels.

Day 1 and Day 2 in Turkey

Arrival in Istanbul, explore Istanbul, including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar.

Istanbul, located on both sides of the Bosporus Strait, is a unique city that is both in Europe and Asia. With its rich history, stunning architecture, and bustling street life, it is no wonder that it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Here is a 500-word guide to help you make the most of your trip to Istanbul.

Explore Sultanahmet

Sultanahmet, also known as the old town, is the perfect place to start your journey in Istanbul. You will find many of the city’s most famous landmarks located in this area, including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. The Blue Mosque, named for its blue tiles, is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Completed in 1616, it is one of the largest mosques in the world and offers a stunning example of Ottoman architecture. The Hagia Sophia, on the other hand, is a former Byzantine cathedral that was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire and is now a museum. It is famous for its dome and mosaics. Topkapi Palace was the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years and offers a glimpse into the lavish lifestyle of the Ottoman court. Visitors can explore the palace’s courtyards, harems, and exhibitions showcasing the treasures of the Ottoman Empire.

Walk through the Grand Bazaar

After exploring Sultanahmet, head to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With over 60 streets and over 4,000 shops, the bazaar is a shopper’s paradise, offering everything from spices and textiles to jewelry and souvenirs. Visitors should be prepared to haggle with vendors and to get lost in the maze of narrow alleyways.

Explore the Asian Side

Take a ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul to explore a different side of the city. Visit the Camlica Hill, the highest point in Istanbul, for panoramic views of the city and the Bosporus. Take a stroll through the Kadikoy district, a vibrant neighborhood with street art, street vendors, and a bustling street life. Visit the Moda district for a more laid-back vibe and the chance to relax in one of its many cafes.

Visit the Chora Church

The Chora Church, also known as the Kariye Museum, is a Byzantine church that has been converted into a museum. The church is famous for its Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, which offer a glimpse into the religious and cultural life of medieval Constantinople. Visitors should not miss the chance to see the iconic depiction of the Last Judgment in the church’s dome.

Istanbul is a city with a rich history and culture, offering something for everyone. Whether you are interested in history, architecture, or shopping, you will find what you are looking for in this bustling city. With its friendly locals, delicious food, and stunning landmarks, Istanbul is a city that will leave a lasting impression on you.

Take a ferry to the Princes’ Islands and spend the day exploring

The Princes’ Islands are a group of nine islands located in the Sea of Marmara, a short ferry ride from Istanbul. These islands were once a popular summer retreat for Ottoman princes and offer a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul.

Take a ferry from Istanbul to Buyukada, the largest of the Princes’ Islands. Rent a bicycle and explore Buyukada, visit the Ayios Dimitrios Church and the Monastery of the Virgin Mary. Take a horse-drawn carriage tour of the island, passing by its Victorian-era mansions and stopping at the beach for a swim. Visit the nearby island of Heybeliada, also known as the “Island of the Chestnuts”. Explore its monasteries, parks, and beaches. Take a ferry back to Istanbul, but not before enjoying a seafood lunch at one of the island’s fish restaurants.

Travel to Cappadocia, visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, and see a hot air balloon show

Cappadocia is a unique geological region located in central Turkey, famous for its fairy chimneys, cave dwellings, and hot air balloons. The Goreme Open Air Museum is a must-visit site in Cappadocia, offering a glimpse into the region’s fascinating history and culture.

Arrival in Cappadocia and check-in at your hotel. Take a hot air balloon ride over the fairy chimneys and valleys of Cappadocia. Visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and explore its rock-cut churches and cave dwellings. Visit the nearby village of Cavusin, known for its old cave dwellings and rock-cut houses. Take a scenic hike through the valleys and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Day 6: Departure from Cappadocia.

The Goreme Open Air Museum is a highlight of the region and a must-visit for anyone interested in history and archaeology.

Take a guided tour of Cappadocia, including the Red Valley, Love Valley, and the Uchisar Castle.

Cappadocia is a beautiful region in central Turkey known for its unique geological formations, historical landmarks, and cultural heritage. Here is a suggested tour of the region, including the Red Valley, Love Valley, and the Uchisar Castle:

Start your tour with a visit to the Red Valley, which is named for its stunning red rock formations. The valley is one of the most popular hiking spots in the area and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes and plenty of water, as the hike can be challenging in some areas. Next, head to Love Valley, which is named for its unique and phallic-shaped rock formations. The valley is a popular spot for photography and sightseeing, and you can even take a hot air balloon ride over the valley for a bird’s-eye view of the formations.

After Love Valley, head to Uchisar Castle, which is a towering natural fortress and one of the most iconic landmarks in the area. The castle was carved into the rock by early Christians in the 4th century, and it offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Take your time to explore the castle and learn about its history. Finally, make your way to the Goreme Open Air Museum, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to a collection of stunning rock-cut churches and monasteries. The museum is one of the best-preserved examples of Byzantine art and architecture in the region and is a must-see for anyone interested in history and culture.

Day 6 and 7

Explore antalya, including the old town, düden waterfall, and the antalya museum, check into a hotel and relax.

Antalya is a beautiful city on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, known for its stunning beaches, historical landmarks, and rich culture.

Start your tour in Antalya’s Old Town, also known as Kaleici. This charming neighborhood is filled with winding streets, historic buildings, and small shops selling local goods. Be sure to visit the old harbor, which offers stunning views of the Mediterranean. Next, head to Hadrian’s Gate, a beautifully preserved Roman-era archway that was built in honor of Emperor Hadrian’s visit to the city in 130 AD. The gate is one of the most iconic landmarks in Antalya and is a must-see for anyone interested in history and architecture.

After Hadrian’s Gate, visit the Antalya Museum, which is one of the best museums in Turkey. The museum features exhibits on the history and culture of the region, including artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Ottoman periods. Be sure to see the stunning mosaic exhibits. Finish your tour with a visit to Konyaalti Beach, which is one of the most popular beaches in Antalya. The beach offers stunning views of the Mediterranean and is a great place to relax and soak up the sun. Be sure to try some local Turkish cuisine at one of the many cafes and restaurants along the beach.

Drive to Pamukkale, visit the Hierapolis ancient city and the travertine terraces

Hierapolis is an ancient city located in the Denizli province of Turkey, near the city of Pamukkale. It is famous for its travertine terraces, natural hot springs, and well-preserved ruins.

Start your tour by visiting the famous travertine terraces, also known as the Cotton Castle. These natural terraces were formed by the hot springs in the area and have been a popular tourist attraction for thousands of years. Be sure to walk on the terraces, take pictures, and dip your feet in the warm water. After exploring the travertine terraces, head to the ancient city of Hierapolis. This city was founded in the 2nd century BC and was an important center of Roman culture and religion. The city was destroyed by earthquakes in the 7th century but has been well-preserved and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Be sure to explore the ruins of the city, including the ancient theater, the necropolis, and the Apollo Temple.

After visiting the ancient city, head to the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum, which is located near the entrance of the site. The museum has a large collection of artifacts from the ancient city, including sculptures, pottery, and mosaics.

Finish your tour with a visit to the Pamukkale Thermal Pools, which are located near the Hierapolis site. These natural hot springs have been used for thousands of years for their healing properties and are a popular destination for tourists looking to relax and unwind. Be sure to take a dip in the warm water and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Take a day trip to Aphrodisias, visit the ancient city and the museum

Aphrodisias is an ancient city located in the western part of Turkey, known for its well-preserved ruins and the beautiful sculptures that were created there.

Start your tour by visiting the Aphrodisias Museum, which is located near the entrance of the ancient city. The museum has an extensive collection of artifacts from the site, including sculptures, mosaics, and pottery. Be sure to see the famous “Aphrodite of Aphrodisias” statue, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful sculptures in the world. After exploring the museum, head to the ancient city of Aphrodisias, which is located nearby. The city was founded in the 2nd century BC and was an important center of art and culture in the Roman Empire. Be sure to explore the ruins of the city, including the Temple of Aphrodite, the theater, and the stadium.

Be sure to also visit the Sebasteion, which is a unique monument in the ancient city of Aphrodisias. It is a large building covered with reliefs and sculptures depicting the emperors and gods of the Roman Empire. The Sebasteion is considered to be one of the most impressive structures of its kind in the world.

Finish your tour with a visit to the Aphrodisias Stadium, which is one of the best-preserved ancient stadiums in the world. The stadium could seat up to 30,000 spectators and was used for gladiator fights, athletic competitions, and other events. Be sure to walk on the stadium, imagine yourself as an athlete in ancient times and take some photos.

Drive to Selçuk, visit the ancient city of Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary

The ancient city of Ephesus is located in the Aegean region of Turkey and is one of the most well-preserved and visited archaeological sites in the country.

Start your tour by visiting the Library of Celsus, which is one of the most impressive buildings in the ancient city. The library was built in the 2nd century AD and could hold up to 12,000 scrolls. Be sure to take photos in front of the library and appreciate its impressive architecture. After visiting the Library of Celsus, head to the Great Theater, which is one of the largest theaters in the ancient world. The theater could hold up to 25,000 spectators and was used for a variety of events, including plays, concerts, and gladiator fights. Be sure to walk on the theater, imagine yourself as an actor or spectator in ancient times and take some photos.

Next, visit the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. While the temple is now in ruins, it is still an impressive sight to see and a testament to the ingenuity of ancient architects. Finish your tour with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, which is located on a nearby hillside. According to Christian tradition, this is the house where Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her final years. Be sure to explore the house, enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and take some time for reflection.

Take a day trip to the city of Izmir, visit the Konak Square and the Alsancak district

Izmir is a vibrant and historic city located in western Turkey, known for its beautiful waterfront, bustling markets, and cultural attractions.

Start your tour by visiting the Konak Square, which is located in the heart of Izmir. The square is home to the famous clock tower, which is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. You can climb to the top of the clock tower and enjoy a panoramic view of the city or simply wander around the square and enjoy the local atmosphere. Next, head to the Kemeralti Bazaar, which is located near Konak Square. The bazaar is a bustling market where you can find everything from textiles and spices to handmade crafts and souvenirs. Be sure to bargain with the vendors and sample some of the local delicacies.

After exploring the market, head to the Alsancak district, which is a lively neighborhood that is popular with locals and tourists alike. The district is known for its beautiful architecture, lively cafes, and trendy boutiques. Be sure to walk along the seaside promenade, enjoy the sea breeze and take some photos. Finally, finish your tour with a visit to Kordonboyu, which is a beautiful waterfront promenade that runs along the Gulf of Izmir. Here you can enjoy the view of the sea, take a leisurely stroll, and enjoy some local snacks at the numerous cafes and restaurants in the area.

Drive to Bursa, visit the Green Mosque and the Green Tomb, and explore the city

Bursa is a historic and picturesque city located in northwestern Turkey, known for its stunning architecture, rich cultural heritage, and beautiful natural surroundings.

Start your tour by visiting the Green Mosque (Turkish: Yesil Camii), which is one of the most iconic landmarks in Bursa. The mosque was built in the early 15th century and is famous for its beautiful green tiles and intricate calligraphy. Be sure to explore the mosque, admire the decorative features, and take some photos. After visiting the Green Mosque, head to the Green Tomb (Turkish: Yesil Turbe), which is located nearby. The tomb was built in the late 14th century and is the final resting place of Sultan Mehmet I, who commissioned the construction of the mosque. The tomb is known for its beautiful tiles and elaborate decoration, and is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Ottoman architecture.

Next, head to Koza Han, which is a historic caravanserai located in the heart of Bursa’s old city. The building dates back to the 15th century and is now home to a bustling market where you can find everything from textiles and spices to traditional handicrafts and souvenirs. Finally, finish your tour with a visit to Bursa Castle, which is a historic fortress that dates back to the Byzantine era. The castle offers panoramic views of the city and is a great place to take photos and enjoy the scenery.

Take a day trip to the city of Canakkale, visit the Troia ancient city and the Gallipoli battlefields

Canakkale is a historic city located in northwestern Turkey, known for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

Start your tour by visiting the Troia ancient city, which is one of the most important archaeological sites in Turkey. Troia is famous for its association with the Trojan War, which was famously described in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad. Be sure to explore the ruins of the ancient city, including the city walls, the amphitheater, and the temple of Athena. After exploring Troia, head to the Gallipoli battlefields, which are located just across the Dardanelles strait from Canakkale. Gallipoli was the site of a major battle during World War I, where Turkish forces successfully repelled an Allied invasion. The battlefields are now a popular destination for history buffs and military enthusiasts, and offer a somber reminder of the horrors of war.

Next, visit the Canakkale Martyrs’ Memorial, which is a striking monument located on a hill overlooking the Dardanelles strait. The memorial is dedicated to the soldiers who died during the Gallipoli campaign, and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area. Finally, finish your tour with a visit to the Canakkale Archaeological Museum, which is located in the heart of the city. The museum is home to a wide range of artifacts and exhibits related to the history and culture of the Canakkale region, and is a great place to learn more about the area’s rich heritage.

Return to Istanbul, last minute shopping, and departure

Overall, a trip to Turkey is a great way to experience a fascinating blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient ruins, relaxing on the beach, or enjoying the local cuisine and hospitality, Turkey has something to offer for every traveler.

beautiful places in istanbul , places to visit in istanbul , places to visit near istanbul , places to visit in istanbul at night , fun things to do in istanbul , places to visit in istanbul with family , istanbul travel covid , unique things to do in istanbul

You might also like

Bhutan diary’s happiest country in the world 2020.

Traveling to Bhutan the Happiest Country in the World 2020!! I went on my second solo trip this month to visit the small country squeezed between the two most populated countries on the planet the place is phased with lots of Saronic pressure and so with an open mind and loss of questions then my …

12 Must-See Destinations In Dubai

Despite the fact that Dubai is spectacular in and of itself, these spots inside it are genuinely incredible, and you just must see them for yourself to believe them. High-rise buildings and retail malls have turned this city from a desert outpost into a destination du jour, attracting travelers looking for discounts, sunlight, and family …

The Mangrove Forest of the Sundarbans

The Mangrove Forest of the Sundarbans Bangladesh, For the finest experience, these are the top things to do. Take a stroll around the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest. From Kochikhali to Kotka, there is a route that passes through the rainforest, open fields, and the Jamtola sea beach. This 10-kilometer walk will offer you with a wonderful …

Simple But Splendid

Travel diary… Istanbul

Posted on July 23, 2020 December 1, 2020

Our trip to Turkey was quite an unexpected one. We were due to take a big family holiday and the destination was up for discussion. Up until this point all family holidays had been in Africa or Asia so I was definitely keen to change things up a little.

Many people at my office had started visiting Istanbul and after a little research I knew that it was a place that my parents and siblings would all enjoy.

Our hotel was ideally situated within walking distance of both the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. Naturally, these stops were first on our list of sights to see. Both are breath taking to say the least. I felt privileged to be in the presence of such grandeur with a lot of the intricate and elaborate design still intact.

Next up Basilica Cistern which has been around for nearly 17 centuries and is still in remarkable condition. These underground waterways are so legendary that movies have even been filmed here. Another definite must see. We also took a boat trip on the Bosphorus, wondered around Taksim and went up to Galata Tower to take in the sights from above.

Finally, the shopping… multiple hours were spent meandering through the little aisles of the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. The colours, the smells, the people, the food… If there was one thing that made me fall in love with this city, these simple markets were it. Unbelievable pyramids of Turkish delight around every corner and it’s not the rose flavoured jelly stuff we grew up eating. Every flavour you can think of and each one more delicious than the one before.

The food stalls in the little alleyways served the best Doner kebabs and chips I have ever eaten packed with flavours and spices that we could see all around us.

One of my very favourite things about Turkey has to be the kaleidoscopic lamps made from stained glass. This more than anything else reminds me so much of this beautiful country no matter where I see it.

Turkey had left a lasting impression on me and should feature on your travel list if a dose of culture and delicious food is what you are looking for.

Published by

Simplebutsplendid

View all posts by Simplebutsplendid

Sisters Before Misters- Our Istanbul Travel Diary!

Our sisters-only trip to Istanbul was like an eye-opener for both of us. Pickyourtrail made our lives easier! – says the one who goes around the globe with her sister.

My sister actually went on her honeymoon via Pickyourtrail. She found it so good and that’s how I got to know about it. I and my sister were contemplating what place to choose when I suggested that I want to explore some architectural, Heritage oriented city. Since Turkey has always been in mind, we just zeroed on Istanbul and went ahead with our plan.

We had our Delhi to Istanbul flight with a fuel stopover in Doha. Finally, we arrived in Istanbul around 18:20 local time. The airport to hotel ride took approximately one and a half hours. The hotel was perfect the way it was and it had just the right amount of space that we needed for two people.

Istanbul Tour Package @ ₹27,217*

Explore the stunning Hagia Sophia. Go for a Short Guided Bosphorus and Golden Horn Boat Tour. Discover the colours of Grand Bazaar

Day 1: SEA LIFE ISTANBUL

After relishing an amazing breakfast at the hotel we were out for our first activity. I and my sister are ardent likers of anything related to wildlife and sea life. So as per our wish, our trip started amazingly. My sister’s nickname is Sharks which is derived from her name itself. This drove us even crazy and apparently we were that people who go insane seeing underwater creatures!

The Sealife Aquarium is in the Forum Istanbul mall where we spent shopping later on. Do not forget the IKEA store. We went crazy hoarding the decors and other beautiful stuff there.

We had just one activity that day. So we went on a self-exploration session to Taksim square . This place was a pure shopping paradise. It was massive and majestic with locals in large numbers. We also tried the famous baklava sweet at Hafiz Mustafa. It was flavorful and so damn tasty. 

Day 2: HAGIA SOPHIA, BLUE MOSQUE, BOSPHORUS SUNSET CRUISE

Our second day started off with an amazing walk to Hagia Sophia and blue mosque . It was a group walking tour. We were simply WOW-ed at the finest architectural mosque building. The history behind, and the breathtaking skyline adorning the museum left us speechless. Words can’t describe the beauty of this architectural marvel. Our half-day tour ended at the Grand Bazaar. 

The Bosphorus sunset Cruise tour activity during sunset was really stunning and awe-inspiring. The Boat departed at a city called Kabatas, a central point at the Bosphorus. We hired a taxi to get to this place. It was really nice exploring the Bosphorus lane.

During the night, we had a self-discovery of quaint little Indian cafe to satisfy our home-sick cravings near the topi Kapi palace amidst hustling crowd due to Iftaar. In spite of the chaos, there was a feeling of serenity and satisfaction to visit this beautiful city.

Day 3: THE GRAND BAZAAR

It was a day off for us. We really wanted to explore grand Bazaar . So our day started early on a trip to the Spice Market. Beautiful, busy, and fragrant can be the three words to describe the spice Market.  A great place for getting souvenirs, antiques, and whatnot. You name it, you find it. 

Our lunch was at this amazing cafe – loti cafe and dining. The best place to have lunch at Sultanahmet. Then we started our trail to Grand Bazaar again where we really had our time having Turkish tea. It was the best way to end our day.

Day 4: PRINCESS’ ISLAND

Our last leg of the tour was a trip to Princes’ island in the Sea of Marmara. Heybeliada was just heaven. It is a must-visit place for all nature lovers. We went on an hour ride on horse carriage over the entire island. We enjoyed looking at all pretty old houses and the greens. The best part of this trip is the beautiful view of the sea at the very top. The carriage driver was so kind and gave us all the time to take our photos. Buyukada island was the biggest one out of all islands overwhelming with the crowd. We really had one helluva time getting to know our group and having lunch with them. Easily the best activity on our entire trip.

This was the day when we discovered an amazing cafe that stole our hearts. Ozi pizza – the cafe was right next to our hotel. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to visit Istanbul. Our day was totally made.

Day 5: SULTANAHMET

It was our last day and we had no activity. We roamed around Sultanahmet for shopping. By the time we realized, it was already time to pack our bags and leave this beautiful city. We had our flight from Istanbul to Delhi. We landed around 8 am in the morning.

In the beginning, we had our own doubts about safety like we were just two girls exploring things on their own. But after experiencing right there I would say it’s safe and comforting. It wouldn’t have been possible without Pickyourtrail . I would choose a trip to Istanbul if given a chance again in a heartbeat. You can find everything you need in your Istanbul tour package from India . Romance, history, Excitement, Heritage, Kindness, Wonderful hotels, Alluring views, Just a perfect mix of everything.

Amirthavarshini

186 posts published., related itineraries.

Blissful Istanbul Tour Packages

• Flights excluded
• 5 star accommodations
• 15 activities
• Shared transfer

₹ 36,263

Starting price/person

Epic 3 Night Istanbul Tour Packages From India

• Flights included
• 3 star accommodations
• 2 activities

₹ 74,227

Glorious 5 Nights Istanbul Packages

• 10 activities

₹ 27,216

Gorgeous Istanbul All Inclusive Packages

• 11 activities

₹ 77,561

Perfect Istanbul Tour Package From India

• 12 activities

₹ 33,314

Joyful istanbul family holiday packages.

• 13 activities

₹ 35,431

Fantastic istanbul all inclusive packages.

• 8 activities

₹ 80,270

Marvellous Istanbul Trip Package From India

₹ 30,515, refreshing istanbul packages from india.

• 14 activities

₹ 35,271

Rejuvenating istanbul turkey packages from india.

• 4 activities
• Private transfer

₹ 29,670

Related posts, the legendary hagia sophia of istanbul, turkey, ankara, turkey: explore this hidden gem in turkey, ani – an offbeat city of ruins that isn’t to be forgotten while visiting turkey, best things to do in bodrum – turkey’s port city, restaurants in turkey, what not to miss in turkey: explore turkey’s iconic landmarks, 8 must-do things in turkey for a spectacular turkey trip, pamukkale’s hot springs: a relaxing escape amidst natural beauty, best time to visit turkey – understanding weather across all seasons, 7 best things to do in fethiye turkey in 2024, 8 best things to do in didim, turkey in 2024, 8 best turkey beaches to visit for a perfect beach vacation.

Book a vacation completely online

Our community is growing fast

Sign up for exclusive PYT Club membership and access jaw-dropping deals before the rest of the world!

• Signup with Email
• Facebook community
• Telegram Community

Access exciting travel deals at best prices

• New Zealand
• South East Asia
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Switzerland
• Travelogues
• Travel News
• Guest Posts
• Write for us

Travel Diary: Istanbul Memoir

When DJ floated the idea of travelling to Istanbul in January 2019, I did not fancy it at all. January was going to be cold and wet and that’s not how I envisioned my time in Turkey.

Reluctantly I agreed and on a mid January evening, we were on the flight to Istanbul. When we landed at Ataturk airport, I did not get a sense of elation that I sometimes feel when landing in a new place.

We arrived at our Airbnb in Cihangir which offered a sweeping view of the Bosphorus. I had read and heard so much about it by now that I couldn’t help but smile when I caught a first glimpse of the river. Soon, we stepped out for breakfast, a short 10 min walk from where we were staying – to Kahve 6 Cihangir. The walk itself in the cold 3 degrees centigrade and at a slight elevation was refreshing – although just a tad strenuous after 18 hrs of travel. And the Kahve itself with the cozy seating at the back and the obese cat who sauntered around was inviting and the breakfast platter, simply irresistible.

The Fat Cat at Kahve 6

Later in the day, we took the tram to Eminönü Square and from there strolled on the Galata Bridge. It’s an iconic bridge where you can witness a buzz of activity – ferries and cargo ships plying in the river, men fishing on the bridge and further ahead, a small cluster of stalls selling seafood sandwiches and of course the cacophony of the gulls circling above them.

We walked further and after going through a a maze of an open street market, arrived at the Spice Bazaar. It was crowded but alive with the calls of spice peddlers who invited you to smell the spices and taste the different types of teas. On occasion you would see a tea vendor walking around selling çay to the shop keepers. We realised, the Turks love their chai just as Indians do.

DJ being the foodie that he is, bought five different types of spices, a chilli paste and a tomato paste to take back home. Once done, we stopped for some hot and delicious Turkish Pizza aka Pide. The day was cold and overcast and by now it had started to drizzle. In this weather, the piping hot Pide straight out of a traditional oven felt heavenly. Come to think of it, winter has its charms.

As it was still drizzling, we decided to sit at a traditional hookah aka nargile hangout we had shortlisted to visit, called Anadolu. Turned out it was located close to the Spice Bazaar, inside an alleyway right behind a small cemetery. When we entered, it was warm, welcoming and glowing in the light of several turkish lamps, the walls adorned with turkish rugs and the smell of apple and tobacco hanging in the air. Anadolu had only three items on their menu – nargile, chai and coffee. We ordered a double apple nargile with chai and settled in for an hour.

By evening, the weather had cleared and we found ourselves back on the Galata Bridge, gazing at a glorious sunset with Süleymaniye Mosque giving us the perfect backdrop for taking some photos. Standing there, as my fingers froze with cold on my camera shutter, I reflected that Istanbul had grown on me.

That night in Karakoy – after a delectable meal of falafel pita pockets – I felt genuinely happy as we walked down a cobbled path, lit with the yellow light emanating from street lamps with the radiant Galata Tower standing tall behind us.

This was going to be a memorable trip to Turkey.

Wander Bunnies

Travel diary: ataturk to cihangir, travel diary: nyc memoir, you may also like, pandemic travels, travel diary: athens memoir, leave a comment cancel reply.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

• The Netherlands
• Switzerland
• The Philippines
• South Africa
• The United States of America
• New Zealand
• French Polynesia
• Our destination wedding
• Budget tips
• Travel photography
• Packing lists
• Hotel guides
• Travel guides
• Itineraries
• Work with us
• Search for: Search Button

Travel tips Istanbul in Turkey: Our experiences + highlights of Istanbul!

In this blog you can read more about our time in Istanbul, Turkey. I also share some useful tips for Istanbul and I select the best hotels and hostels when you go backpacking and get through Istanbul!

We are in Turkey! After two wonderful weeks in the Netherlands (we could have easily stayed a week longer, it was so nice to be back after four months of travelling in Africa), we packed our backpacks again. They are very heavy this time: we have party clothes for a wedding with us and warm clothes for the Annapurna hike in Nepal. But first: Istanbul!

Four days of sightseeing and eating in Istanbul!

After a long travel day (something with strikes of the Dutch farmers and the Dutch railway system which couldn’t handle this) we arrive exhausted at Sabiha airport in Istanbul.

An hour later we are at our hostel. The coming nights we will sleep in the Jumba Hostel , a nice, quirky hostel in the middle of the central Taksim district. Everywhere around us are trendy restaurants and a few hours later we sit in one of them with our friends Willemijn and Jiri. Willemijn is a friend of mine from Maastricht. As a digital nomad, she and her friend Jiri travel the world full-time. Coincidentally they were now in Istanbul, we have not seen each other for almost two years so when she sent me a message for some drinks, that was quickly arranged. We have a lot to talk about and with four of us, it is a very pleasant evening!

Must read before visiting Cappadocia: highlights Cappadocia blog!

Sleepwalking through the old city of Istanbul

With a lot of effort, we get up the next morning. During our last days in the Netherlands we didn’t sleep much, add to that a tiring travel day + two wines yesterday … we are actually still very tired. But we don’t have much time here in Istanbul so after breakfast we head out. Well… we head our for four times … I forget plasters, Ries forgets his sunglasses, and I forget to take my wedding outfit along to bring it to the dry cleaner. It’s clear: we are not really awake yet.

Sunset in Istanbul

And so we relax in our room during the hottest part of the day while watching The Big Bang Theory. At the end of the day, we have enough energy to go out and so we watch the sunset from a beautiful park and then eat the tastiest fish wraps ever!

Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia

After a wonderful night of sleep, we are much more rested! Time for a second attempt to visit the Blue Mosque. We are early and walk around through the beautiful building. Unfortunately, almost the entire inside is under construction, so, to be honest, this is a bit disappointing.

An hour later we arrive at the equally impressive Hagia Sofia. Hagia Sofia was originally a Christian church, was then converted into a mosque and got turned into a museum in the early twentieth century when there was disagreement among Muslims and Christians about its purpose destination. The structure is at least as beautiful on the inside as on the outside, with age-old mosaics, murals and stained glass. Furthermore, it’s so amazing to walk around in a building that is almost 1500 years old!

Tip: we bought our tickets for Hagia Sofia online in advance. This saves a lot of waiting time in line! Click here to also book tickets and a tour.

Hot air balloons in Cappadocia : The best locations to spot them!

Having a fight about Little Hagia Sofia

At noon, outside again on the large square where the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia are located, Ries proposes to take a short walk that is in the Lonely Planet and leads past the small Hagia Sofia. I agree although I notice that it is hot and I am starting to get a bit hungry … And whoever knows me a bit sees the ingredients for a cranky Charlotte in the above sentence.

And yes, there we go: Ries loses his way because the Lonely Planet does not describe the route well (and because looking at the map is not his strongest side). I feel the sweat dripping down my spine, my appetite has turned into hunger and after an hour of wandering around, I grab the phone from Ries’ hands and start walking also in the wrong direction angrily. Ries, in his turn, is insulted and so we wander through Istanbul for another hour while no restaurant is good enough …

Recognizable to someone? Those moments are also part of travelling. However, you hardly ever read about this because hey, who likes to air his dirty laundry outside? However, when I read these kinds of stories in other blogs I appreciate it too. It gives a better perspective of travelling in general. It is not always fun. That is why I share this too.

Read all about our Turkey itinerary in this blog!

The Grand Bazaar

After a baguette with feta and honey, the fight is settled quickly and the hunger satisfied. We do find out, however, that in we have some trouble with a cancelled pin transaction at a Turkish bank called Akbank. Although we cancelled it, the transaction is nevertheless debited and most likely the machined spewed our money out when we already left. Unfortunately, we get zero response from Akbank to our complaint.

One advantage: we literally have no money to be tempted to buy something in the grand bazaar. And believe me, that temptation is great because there are a lot of nice things. The grand bazaar surprises us a lot: it is much less crowded and chaotic than we expected and most sellers leave us alone. We stroll around, look around with big eyes and then go back to our hostel to cool off with a cold shower. In the evening we visit a local yoga school and take part in a very nice but hard yoga session.

Visiting Akbank and buying a new Fujifilm camera filter

Unfortunately, our problem with the Akbank ATM has not been resolved. And, so we have to visit the office. After waiting an hour and a half we are told that they cannot do anything for us. Pretty annoying and we definitly can advise against ever using this bank. Fortunately, at our next stop, Ries finds the perfect polarizing filter for his Fujifilm camera. A polarizing filter is often used in front of the camera lens in order to darken skies, manage reflections, or suppress glare from the surface of lakes of the sea. This allows him to take even better photos, especially in the mountains of Cappadocia and the Himalaya.

The rest of the day we take it easy, we do some shopping on the Kalverstraat of Istanbul: the Istiklal C.D. where the H&M, Zara and Decathlon are located. I need new sport shirts, some jewellery for the wedding of Axel and Gokce where we are going next week and Ries is looking for new slippers. Along the way, we stop for a cold lemonade on the terrace (it’s 30 degrees outside). It’s nice people watching and enjoying the beautiful weather. At the dry cleaner we pick up my wedding outfit and in the evening we eat traditional Turkish with a vegetarian twist.

Drinks with a view of Istanbul: a classic rooftop bar

We celebrate our last evening in Istanbul with a drink in the rooftop bar of hotel Marmara Pera . This hotel has a beautiful roof terrace from where you can see the entire city. Visiting roof terraces for a drink is something that we try to do when we visit big cities every now and then. It’s a way of getting away from the budget hotels and budget meals, dress up nicely and then chat with a glass of wine and cocktail about what the future will bring us. A very nice end to our wonderful time in Istanbul.

The next day we fly on to Cappadocia, a great place that will soon have a travel guide online. And then we enjoy the spectacular wedding of Axel and Gokce in Antalya for four days.

My top tips for Istanbul:

Four days is actually far too little to see this huge city. I have received many tips from readers about what we really should not miss in Istanbul, far too many to do unfortunately but here is a small selection of things that we really should not miss during a trip to Istanbul!

Eat fish wraps at the port

Every day there are dozens of fishermen on the Galata Köprüsü (Istanbul’s most famous bridge). You can eat their catch in the evening at one of the small street barbecues where the fish is grilled and then wrapped in a delicious wrap. Perhaps the tastiest food I ate in all of Istanbul!

See the sunset with a view of the Istanbul skyline

The Asian part of Istanbul is located across the Bosphorus. On day two we went by ferry to the hilly park Buyuksehir Belediyesi Fethipasa . After a steep climb to the top of the hill, we looked out at the Istanbul skyline during sunset. Recommended! Also nice to sail a bit over the Bosphorus by ferry (and a good budget tip, only € 0.60 round trip!)

Travel budget Turkey: What does a trip through Turkey cost?

Havabus: the shuttle bus from the airports to the city

Upon arrival in Istanbul, we took a way too expensive taxi to the city. It turned out that we could have travelled to the centre with Havabus just as quickly and considerably cheaper. So we did for the following flights. Havabus runs from both Istanbul airport and Sabiha for 18 TL per person to the centre.

Roasted corn cobs and Simit on the street

The Turkish version of the pretzel stand: everywhere in Istanbul you will find small stands where corn cobs and Simit, the Turkish pretzel, are sold. Delicious!

Buy an Istanbul Kart for public transportation!

Buy an Istanbul Kart for less than € 1.50, with which you can travel by public transport for much less money. You can buy this card at small kiosks on the street. If you hand in the card, you will also receive the purchase amount back.

Nice hotels in Istanbul

Hereby some good ho(s)tels for Istanbul that we visited ourselves or that we spoke to other travellers about!

Tip: book your ho(s)tels for Istanbul on time. Because booking.com is currently being blocked in Turkey, you cannot book accommodation if you are already in Turkey. So book from another country, then everything will go well!

Jumba hostel  €

We slept in this cozy hostel. Right in the center with a very nice atmosphere, a small roof terrace and both private rooms and dorms. From € 10 per person.

Eternity hotel €€

This modern hotel is located in the old center, within walking distance of all sights. The rooms are sleek and there is a roof terrace. From € 64 per person.

Galata 12 €

This nice apartment is located in the center of Istanbul, close to the metro and the Galata tower. It is in a quiet street and has good facilities. From € 38 for two people.

More blogs about Turkey

Must read before visiting cappadocia turkey: travel guide cappadocia, itinerary turkey: the ultimate itinerary for 2 weeks of traveling around in turkey, travel budget turkey: how expensive is backpacking and a trip in turkey, the best locations to view hot air balloons in cappadocia (turkey).

Istanbul is a really beautiful city, thank you for this article.

Hi Charlotte. Congratulations on the article. But I had a bad experience in Istanbul and I don't recommend a trip to this city. I don’t recommend Istanbul for a trip. I landed on the night of 10/17/2022 at Istanbul Airport (IST). Before the flight, I purchased a transfer service through Booking.com for the transfer from the airport to the hotel, for 32 pounds sterling. Upon arrival at the airport, I did not meet the driver at the agreed location (exit 13) and spoke with a driver who was there. I showed him the name and phone number of the person who was supposed to pick me up. He called then and on the other end of the line someone impersonated the driver who was supposed to pick me up, saying that there was a mistake and that I should make the ride with the one I had found. A price of 3590.00 Turkish Lira was placed and payment would be accepted by credit card. As I was very tired, it was late at night and I didn’t know the rate of the Turkish lira, I accepted it. On leaving the airport, the local called a colleague to accompany the trip. On the way, they stopped at the first ATM and I was forced to withdraw the money. At that moment, I saw that it was a coup and that my life was in danger. Upon arriving at the hotel, I took a photo of the license plate and asked the receptionists for help. I couldn’t sleep that night. The next morning I went to the tourist police station. I told him what had happened and the police officer only said that he would contact the owner of the vehicle and talk to him about returning the money. On the night of 10/19/2022, a representative of the vehicle owner went to the hotel and the hotel manager brokered the contact and negotiation. The two, representative and manager, said it would only fit me 85.00 euros as there would be fees to cover. I paid the equivalent of 225.00 euros for the criminal race and received only 85 euros at the end. No policial report was registered. I was coerced and robbed. This is all completely absurd. Crime and impunity prevail here. I hired a guide for a walking tour of the historic center, but he didn’t show up. I paid for a laundry at the hotel to deliver clean and ironed clothes but they only delivered clean ones. Anyway… a very negative experience. Tourism is done with transparency, honesty and trust. I leave Istanbul sad and very disappointed. I don’t recommend this city to anyone.

Hi Igor, Sorry to hear this but I think you might have just had really bad luck. I don't believe that since you had a lot of bad experiences, all toursim is done with transparency, honesty and trust. Also not in Istanbul. Again, very sorry to hear about your experience but I really don't think is the case for everyone going to Istanbul. Kind regards, Charlotte

Hi Charlotte, Thanks for sharing. I believe that such blog posts are very helpful especially for the first time visitors. Istanbul is very complicated, huge and crowded. Careful planning is needed. Reading Igor's comment, yes, bad experiences might happen but again, they can be avoided with good planning. Best regards,

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

• Auction Bids
• Auction Watchlist

Travel news, tips, reviews & videos of luxury hotels to help plan your vacation.

Bid & win a luxury hotel stay or travel item for your next vacation.

• Accessories
• Accommodation
• Experiences

Book a room with us for complimentary upgrades & VIP benefits like breakfast for two at your favorite luxury hotel.

• Find Out More

Recents Clear

Best Marriott Hotel In Istanbul

popular post today

Which is the best Marriott Bonvoy hotel in Istanbul? We have already reviewed the best Marriott hotels in Europe . In Italy, some of the best Marriott hotels can be found in Venice , but in Turkey, Istanbul has some excellent Marriott branded hotels, not least the Ritz-Carlton which is one of the best Ritz-Carlton hotels in Europe .

The best Marriott hotels in Istanbul are:

• The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul
• The St. Regis Istanbul
• Sanasaryan Han, a Luxury Collection Hotel
• JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
• JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea
• Orientbank Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection
• Burdock Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection

Read on to find out why we think these hotels are the best Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Istanbul.

1. The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul

The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul , pictured above, is located in the heart of Istanbul, in the prestigious Dolmabahce. This hotel overlooks the Bosphorus and has many of the city’s cultural attractions within walking distance. Istanbul Airport is only 40 minutes by car.

The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, has 239 guest rooms with Turkish-inspired style and décor, including 25 well-appointed suites, 57 Club Rooms, 1 Presidential Suite, 1 Nobu Suite, and 1 Ritz Carlton Suite.

Dining facilities include Nobu İstanbul, where Nobu’s world-renowned Japanese-Peruvian cuisine is served in the heart of İstanbul, Bleu Lounge & Grill for all-day dining and cocktails, and The Roof at Ritz.

Featuring a relaxed ambiance with splendid views of the Bosphorus, Bleu Lounge is the ideal place to relax with friends and loved ones over casual snacks. At night, the unforgettable ambiance of the Bosphorus transforms Bleu Lounge into the place to be in Istanbul. Smooth tunes and live music programs also fill the venue, constantly raising the tempo before vibrant live performers play the latest hits.

The Roof at Ritz offers magical views of the Bosphorus and the entire Istanbul while promising an intimate atmosphere surrounded by lush greenery. This urban oasis has a definite wow factor. The open-air terrace is home to a sleek modern bar and a fantastic and refreshing rooftop pool with sprawling sundecks.

For relaxation, the spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, offers a rich menu of facial and total body treatments and massage therapies applied with world-famous products offered in its tranquil and soothing setting, spa also has an indoor swimming pool as well as authentic Turkish Hamam offering a traditional experience.

This Ritz-Carlton also features one of the best executive club lounges in Istanbul .

2. The St. Regis Istanbul

Taking residence at the Nisantasi district, Istanbul’s most vibrant neighborhood, the modernist Art Deco-influenced St. Regis Istanbul offers award-winning guest rooms and signature suites, uniting discreet luxury with timeless elegance.

Savor epicurean flavors at Spago by master chef Wolfgang Puck or at St. Regis Brasserie, serving a contemporary World and Turkish-inspired cuisine, both with comfortable outdoor seating capacities.

The prestigious Iridium Spa at St. Regis Istanbul presents restorative therapies and three pools. The state-of-the-art Exercise Room acts as an energizing all-hours escape. St. Regis hotels always offer a level of excellence within the Marriott brand, and this hotel is the second-best Marriott in Istanbul.

3. Sanasaryan Han, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Istanbul

As the inaugural flagship of Luxury Collection property in Istanbul, the exquisite Sanasaryan Han , iconic neo-baroque masterpiece, seamlessly blends the opulent grandeur of the Old Town’s cultural heritage with sophisticated contemporary touch.

Embracing the city’s rich cultural heritage, experience the ultimate culinary journey at fine dining restaurants, which artfully blend tradition with contemporary innovation, offering a symphony of opulent flavors that celebrate the richness of cultural heritage.

Inspired by the great library, Sanasaryan invites you to learn and discover more of the multicultural influences of Turkish culture at The Library Bar.

4. JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus is a historic hotel in the heart of the eclectic Karaköy district. Built 180 years ago by Italian architects, it has been artfully transformed from its marine legacy, retaining its original structure and exquisite 35-meter atrium, to emerge as one of Istanbul’s most elegant and contemporary properties.

Offering an insight into JW Marriott’s philosophy of mindfulness, the light-filled hotel is designed around its fin-de-siècle façade, offering a step back in time where thoughtful programming and diverse culinary experiences meet uninterrupted views of the Bosphorus.

Located in a neighborhood with a timeless past and rich future, the hotel takes inspiration from its surroundings. Entrepreneurial in spirit with a Bohemian flair, Karaköy hosts a varied array of boutiques, cafés, cocktail bars, and artisanal markets next to the much-anticipated newly-built Galataport with a cruise terminal.

5. JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea

With its unrivaled seafront location, JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea is the pinnacle of modern luxury in the tranquil and refined neighborhood of Ataköy, just 45 minutes from Istanbul’s center. This JW Marriott is not convenient if you want to walk Istanbul, but this is all priced in.

Make yourself at home in the 204 spacious and stylishly designed guest rooms and suites featuring 5-star amenities and scenic balconies facing the Marmara Sea or city skyline.

Savour delicious dining with seafront views at the contemporary specialty restaurant or all-day dining venue, gather for Afternoon Tea in The Pearl or relax with a refreshing cocktail in the Executive Lounge.

A haven for aficionados, the sophisticated Vitola Lounge showcases the finest cigars from around the world as well as an extensive collection of premium spirits. Relax and recharge in the indoor pool or the renowned Swiss brand La Vallée SPA. The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, Ceres, offers delicacies from the Mediterranean world in its breathtaking sea view location.

6. Orientbank Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection

Orientbank Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection has a 100-year history and retains its historic atmosphere. This hotel celebrates its Copper Terrace Dome, hand-crafted marble spiral staircase, railings, wooden revolving door, and side wooden door at the entrance, which are original and have been there for 100 years.

Inspired by its location in the center of the historical peninsula, The Orientbank Hotel is adjacent to the Spice Bazaar. It is within walking distance of the most important historical places such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar.

7. Burdock Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection

Burdock Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection has character that is based on an inspirational look that reflects luxury.

The Burdock Hotel is located on one of the most popular parts of the city, the historical and mystic route, surrounded by authentic and contemporary art, design, and artisanal workshop hotspots.

Copyright Luxury Travel Diary 2014 - 2024. Duplication outside of luxurytraveldiary.com is forbidden.

Image courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts.

Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.

Featured By

Join our mailing list

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Receive news on auctions & our most popular posts. Opt out at any time. See our Privacy Policy for details.

More From Forbes

Turkey and israel led heinemann’s travel shopping surge in 2023.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Istanbul Airport with its luxury shopping (shown here) has become a $1 billion location for Gebr. ... [+] Heinemann and its partners.

Retail joint-venture operations at airports in Turkey and Israel topped $1.1 billion and $500 million respectively last year helping to push one of the world’s biggest duty-free operators to record annual revenue of $3.9 billion (€3.6 billion) in 2023.

Despite some considerable economic and geopolitical challenges, Hamburg-based travel retailer Gebr. Heinemann managed to slightly exceed 2019 sales for the first time since the pandemic, with year-over-year growth of 25%.

The fifth-generation family-owned company is now looking very positively at 2024 after a strong first quarter that was 24% ahead of the same period last year and above budget forecasts. On Thursday, co-CEO Raoul Spanger said that €4 billion was within sight. He told gathered media: “Strategic investments in the group’s business portfolio from 2023 will come into full effect this year (and) turnover should reach a new all-time high in 2024 and exceed €4 billion.”

Those investments included the buyout of its joint venture business in Israel—mainly at Tel Aviv Airport but also some border stores—to take 100% control, and the establishment of a regional office in Dubai from which to spearhead distribution, and eventually store operations, in the Middle East and Africa. One target will likely be Angola's new airport in the capital, Luanda.

The company also won a retail concession for the first time in Saudi Arabia at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport with joint venture partners Jordanian Duty Free Shops and the diversified Astra Group ; and signed the contract for stores aboard Aroya, the first vessel from newly established cruise company Cruise Saudi.

WhatsApp Brand New iPhone Feature Just Launched That’s Much Easier To Use

Apple s iphone ai plans confirmed with new software release, packers complete safety overhaul with georgia s javon bullard, partnership model proves its worth.

“By entering into carefully selected new partnerships, expanding existing ones, and making strategic investments in other business segments and channels we continue to become more international,” said Heinemann’s other co-CEO Max Heinemann.

JV deals have long been a hallmark of Heinemann’s expansion strategy into new markets. With the global travel retail channel consolidating rapidly, as exemplified most recently by the huge Avolta/Dufry merger with Autogrill, Heinemann is taking steps to protect its market position.

Announcing Heinemann's 2023 results on Thursday (from left): co-CEO Raoul Spanger, chief commercial ... [+] officer Inken Callsen, and co-CEO Max Heinemann.

The travel retailer’s business is dominated by Europe with 59% of turnover (€2.1 billion) last year. The region—where the retailer’s top airport locations are Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Oslo, and Vienna—also had the fastest growth (24%), largely on the back of rising passenger numbers.

However, Norway, historically one of Heinemann’s biggest sales hotspots, was negatively impacted by the imposition of much lower limits on tobacco allowances and the devaluation of the Norwegian krone.

Stability in geographical diversity

Geographical diversification offers greater resilience when it comes to country legislative shocks and currency volatility, and also regional impacts. For example, last year, the continuing fighting in Gaza, triggered by a deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, came out of the blue and hit travel and retail sales at Tel Aviv Airport in the final quarter.

Heinemann’s sales director for Middle East Africa, Bernard Schlafstein said that it would have been a record year at Tel Aviv had the war not started. Naturally, this impacted the growth for the whole Middle East & Africa business which ended the year up 18%, but would have been higher.

Bernard Schlafstein described the retail performance at Istanbul Airport as “unstoppable.”

On the plus side, the nature of the shopping at Israel's biggest airport means that revenue has picked up quickly. Depressed tourism is not a major factor for store sales as it is outbound Israelis doing most of the buying, and collecting their purchases on return.

That non-reliance on foreign tourism is borne out by results this year. Schlafstein commented: “Our numbers are almost back to last year at around 85% to 90%, even though the passenger figures are much lower.” One key purchase driver is that pricing at the airport is significantly lower than in the domestic market. This has led to very high average transaction values (ATVs) in the core duty-free shop where about 80 pay-points are present to cater to the enormous demand.

However, the standout location was Istanbul Airport where Heinemann operates with its joint venture partners Unifree and ATU Duty Free. There, turnover surpassed €1 billion and Schlafstein described it as “unstoppable.”

With the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, rich Russians have been using the gateway—and also Dubai International (where they are the second most important nationality for Dubai Duty Free)—as a connecting route to other destinations. Their presence meant that last year at Istanbul, 40% of fashion turnover came from Russians. This year, so far, revenue at the Turkish Airlines hub is above budget for Heinemann.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

These 5 Arizona hotels were just named among the world's best. Here's why they stand out

Five Arizona hotels were just named among the best in the world for 2024.

Travel + Leisure unveiled its 2024 T+L 500 list of the world's best hotels, compiled based on ratings from its readers, in its May issue. The list includes five Arizona hotels, including four that made T+L's 2023 best hotels in Arizona ranking .

Readers evaluate based on their levels of quality, luxury, service and amenities. Here's a look at which Arizona hotels made the Travel + Leisure 2024 best hotels list.

For more hotels recognized as being among the best of metro Phoenix, read about the honorees in  U.S. News & World Report's 2024 ranking ,  Forbes' 2024 Star Awards , and  Esquire's best new hotels in the world .

Five Arizona hotels selected by Travel + Leisure

Readers of Travel + Leisure, America's largest travel media brand, selected five Arizona hotels on its 2024 ranking of the world's best hotels:

• Castle Hot Springs, Morristown.
• The Hermosa Inn, Paradise Valley.
• Mountain Shadows Resort, Paradise Valley.
• Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney's Resort & Spa, Paradise Valley.
• Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson.

“We’re honored to be recognized on the highly coveted T+L 500 List,” said Andrew Chippindall, general manager of Mountain Shadows Resort. “It’s a true testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional experiences for our treasured guests.”

How Travel + Leisure World's Best hotels 2024 were chosen

The T+L 500 list is derived from T+L's annual World's Best Awards, selected based on reader reviews and feedback. Readers were surveyed about their travel experiences around the world, including hotels, cities, islands, airlines, cruise ships and other experiences.

Readers rated hotels based on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and overall value. They scored each category on a scale from "excellent" to "poor."

The hotels recognized this year are favorites among the publication's readers, who named Castle Hot Springs the best Arizona hotel of 2021 and 2022 and the Hermosa Inn the state's best of 2023. All except for Tanque Verde Ranch were included on last year's list of the 10 best hotels in Arizona.

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at   [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:   @salerno_phx .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to  azcentral.com  today.