7 days in Istanbul

Day by day

1. Day 1: Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace

   Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace, then Istiklal Avenue in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hagia Sophia

      Sultanahmet · 1–1.5 hours · mid-priced. Queues for the visitor entrance build quickly in summer; arrive early in the morning or buy the ticket online where offered.

   2. Late morning

      Topkapı Palace

      Sultanahmet · 3–4 hours · mid-priced. Buying the ticket online or arriving at opening time avoids the longest ticket queues in summer.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Simit

      Red street carts on every busy corner, ferry piers and on board ferries; bakeries sell warmer ones in the early morning.

   4. Evening

      Istiklal Avenue

      Ride the historic Tünel funicular, opened in 1875, from Karaköy up to the bottom of the avenue and walk uphill towards Taksim.

2. Day 2: Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) and Basilica Cistern

   Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) and Basilica Cistern, then Beyoğlu in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

      Sultanahmet · 45 minutes · free.

   2. Late morning

      Basilica Cistern

      Sultanahmet · 45 minutes · mid-priced.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Turkish breakfast

      The breakfast street behind Beşiktaş market, cafés in Cihangir and Moda, and places on the Bosphorus shore at Rumeli Hisarı.

   4. Evening

      Beyoğlu

      Meyhanes in Asmalımescit and Nevizade, rooftop bars around Istiklal Avenue and live-music venues for Turkish rock and jazz.

3. Day 3: Gülhane Park and Grand Bazaar

   Gülhane Park and Grand Bazaar, then Karaköy in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Gülhane Park

      Sultanahmet · 45 minutes · free.

   2. Late morning

      Grand Bazaar

      Beyazıt · 2–3 hours · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fish sandwich

      The boats and stalls at Eminönü beside the Galata Bridge, and the fish restaurants under the bridge's lower deck.

   4. Evening

      Karaköy

      Cocktail bars and wine bars in restored warehouses around Kemankeş Caddesi, near the waterfront.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Princes' Islands (Büyükada)

   About 1.5–2 hours by public ferry each way. Getting there: Public ferry from Kabataş or Eminönü; faster boats from Bostancı.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Princes' Islands (Büyükada)

      About 1.5–2 hours by public ferry (Public ferry from Kabataş or Eminönü; faster boats from Bostancı); about 25 km.

   2. Day

      Princes' Islands (Büyükada)

      The largest, Büyükada, has wooden Ottoman mansions, pine woods and the hilltop Aya Yorgi monastery; visitors get around on foot, by bicycle or by small electric vehicles, which replaced horse carriages in 2020.

   3. Evening

      Back in Istanbul

      Dinner: try Meze and rakı.

5. Day 5: Galata Tower and Bosphorus by ferry

   Galata Tower and Bosphorus by ferry, then Kadıköy in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Galata Tower

      Galata · 1 hour · mid-priced.

   2. Late morning

      Bosphorus by ferry

      Eminönü · 20 minutes–2 hours · low cost.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Meze and rakı

      Meyhanes in Beyoğlu's Asmalımescit and Nevizade lanes, and on the Asian side in Kadıköy; book ahead on Friday and Saturday nights.

   4. Evening

      Kadıköy

      Kadife Sokak, known as Barlar Sokağı (Bar Street), is packed with student pubs and rock bars on the Asian side.

6. Day 6: Day trip to Bursa

   About 2.5–3 hours each way each way. Getting there: Fast ferry from Yenikapı to the Bursa coast, then bus or metro; or intercity bus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Bursa

      About 2.5–3 hours each way (Fast ferry from Yenikapı to the Bursa coast, then bus or metro; or intercity bus); about 150 km.

   2. Day

      Bursa

      It is the home of İskender kebab, and a cable car climbs towards Uludağ mountain.

   3. Evening

      Back in Istanbul

      Dinner: try İskender kebab.

7. Day 7: Spice Bazaar and Rüstem Pasha Mosque

   Spice Bazaar and Rüstem Pasha Mosque, then Beşiktaş in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Spice Bazaar

      Eminönü · 1 hour · free.

   2. Late morning

      Rüstem Pasha Mosque

      Eminönü · 30 minutes · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: İskender kebab

      Kebab restaurants throughout the city; for the original, take the day trip to Bursa.

   4. Evening

      Beşiktaş

      Cheap, lively bars around the market square, busiest on match nights when the local football club plays.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 7 nights, Sultanahmet keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Galata and Karaköy ($$$) suits couples, food lovers, first-timers and nightlife. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–17 hours of visiting over 7 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.2 hours in December to 15.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Istanbul
• 2 days in Istanbul
• 3 days in Istanbul
• 4 days in Istanbul
• 5 days in Istanbul

Questions travellers ask