One day in Istanbul
5 stops, about 29 min of walking in total.
- Day 1: Sultanahmet and the old city · Galata and BeyoğluTopkapı Palace and Harem → Hagia Sophia → Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) → Galata Tower → İstiklal AvenueOpen in Google Maps
Turkey
Istanbul itineraries
Istanbul sits on both shores of the Bosphorus, and the old city of Sultanahmet holds most of the big sights within a short walk. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Basilica Cistern fill a first day. Ferries join the European and Asian sides, and crossing by water is part of the trip.
- 16 stops checked
- 2 to 4 days
- 3 to book ahead
- Best in April to May and September to October
Data checked on November 2, 2026
Itineraries for Istanbul
Each plan is built from the stop base, with visit time, the walk between stops and a lunch break. Open one and set your pace and arrival day.
2 days in Istanbul
10 stops, about 1 h 29 of walking in total.
- Day 1: Sultanahmet and the old city · Bazaars and SüleymaniyeHagia Sophia → Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan) → Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) → Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) → Galata Tower → İstiklal AvenueOpen in Google Maps
- Day 2: Sultanahmet and the old cityTopkapı Palace and Harem → Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) → Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) → Istanbul Archaeological MuseumsOpen in Google Maps
3 days in Istanbul
14 stops, about 1 h 49 of walking in total.
- Day 1: Sultanahmet and the old city · Bazaars and SüleymaniyeHagia Sophia → Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan) → Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) → Süleymaniye Mosque → Galata Tower → İstiklal AvenueOpen in Google Maps
- Day 2: Sultanahmet and the old cityTopkapı Palace and Harem → Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) → Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) → Istanbul Archaeological MuseumsOpen in Google Maps
- Day 3: Bosphorus and Beşiktaş · Bazaars and SüleymaniyeDolmabahçe Palace → Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) → Chora Church (Kariye Mosque) → BalatOpen in Google Maps
When to go to Istanbul
April, May, September and October are the most comfortable months, with mild temperatures and fewer rainy days than winter. June to August is hot and the busiest, with the longest lines at Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and the Grand Bazaar. January and February are cold and have the most rainy days, though the queues are shorter.
- Best months
- April to May and September to October
- Busiest months
- June to August
9.6° Jan
10.2° Feb
12.4° Mar
17.4° Apr
22.3° May
27.1° Jun
29.7° Jul
29.7° Aug
25.9° Sep
20.6° Oct
16.1° Nov
11.8° Dec
Climate averages: Meteoroloji Genel Müdürlüğü.
Istanbul by season
Spring
9 to 17 °C · about 10 rainy days a month
Highs rise from about 12 C in March to 22 C in May, with showers and bright spells. The sights fill up from April.
What to wear: Bring a light jacket and an extra layer for the ferry.
Summer
20 to 29 °C · about 4 rainy days a month
Highs reach 27 to 30 C from June to August, and queues are at their longest.
What to wear: Wear light clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the mosques, plus a hat and sunglasses.
Autumn
14 to 21 °C · about 9 rainy days a month
Highs fall from 26 C in September to 16 C in November, and rain returns from October. Crowds ease.
What to wear: Bring a light waterproof and comfortable shoes for wet cobbles.
Winter
5 to 11 °C · about 15 rainy days a month
Highs are 10 to 12 C and lows near 4 C, with rain on roughly half the days. The sights are quiet.
What to wear: Bring a warm coat, a hat and waterproof shoes.
If it rains
Rain days are most frequent from November to March. Indoor sights still work: the Archaeological Museums, Dolmabahçe Palace, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar and the Basilica Cistern. Keep the Bosphorus cruise and Galata Tower for a clear day.
Stops under a roof
If it is hot and sunny
July and August highs near 30 C feel hotter in the stone courtyards of Sultanahmet. Do the open-air sights, such as the Topkapı courtyards and the Hippodrome, early, and spend the middle of the day in the Grand Bazaar, the cistern or a museum. Carry water.
Better outdoors
What Istanbul costs
Per person, without the hotel. Tickets are the prices of the stops in each plan, read on the official sites. Food and transport come from the city figures.
| Plan | Tickets | Transport | Food | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | TRY 2,750 | · | TRY 1,419 to TRY 2,388 | TRY 4,169 to TRY 5,138 |
| 2 days | TRY 2,750 | · | TRY 2,838 to TRY 4,775 | TRY 5,588 to TRY 7,525 |
| 3 days | TRY 4,750 | · | TRY 4,256 to TRY 7,163 | TRY 9,006 to TRY 11,913 |
Stops with a ticket whose price we could not confirm are left out of the sum.
- Meal in an inexpensive restaurantTRY 600
- CoffeeTRY 218.83
What to eat in Istanbul
Simit
A ring of bread covered in sesame, sold from street carts at any hour. It is a common breakfast with tea.
Balık ekmek
A grilled fish sandwich eaten by the water near Eminönü and Karaköy.
İskender kebab
Sliced doner on bread with tomato sauce, butter and yogurt, a classic lunch.
Turkish breakfast
A spread of cheeses, olives, eggs, jam and bread, served with tea. It is a long, slow meal.
Baklava
Layered pastry with pistachio and syrup, eaten in the afternoon with tea or coffee.
Turkish tea and coffee
Tea comes in small tulip glasses all day. Coffee is made in a small pot and served with the grounds.
Besides the sights
- 1
A traditional hamam
A bath with a scrub and massage in a historic bathhouse in the old city. Book ahead in the high season.
- 2
Galata Bridge at sunset
Walk across at dusk, past the anglers, with the skyline of mosques ahead of you.
- 3
A whirling dervish ceremony
A short evening performance of Sufi music and turning, shown in several venues in the old city.
- 4
A day on the Princes' Islands
Ferries leave for the car-free islands in the Sea of Marmara, a quieter day away from the city.
- 5
A craft workshop
Short classes in lamp making, perfume or Turkish coffee, offered by local studios.
Arriving
Istanbul Airport is served by IETT H-line buses, such as the H-2 to Mecidiyeköy and the H-3 to the Halkalı Marmaray station, and by Havaist shuttles. From Sabiha Gökçen a Havabus runs to Taksim in about an hour and a half depending on traffic, and an IETT bus to Kadıköy links with the ferry to Eminönü. Check the operators' timetables before you travel.
Getting around
The T1 tram links Sultanahmet, Eminönü, Karaköy and Kabataş, and the M2 metro serves Vezneciler, Şişhane and Taksim. Ferries cross to Kadıköy and Üsküdar. Most of the old city is walkable, and one rechargeable İstanbulkart covers trams, metro, buses and ferries.
Where to stay
- SultanahmetBest for a first visit, with the main sights on foot, though evenings are quiet and restaurants cater to tourists.
- Galata and BeyoğluSuits travellers who want cafés, nightlife and the M2 metro, with steep streets to climb.
- BeşiktaşClose to Dolmabahçe and the Bosphorus waterfront, with ferries and the tram nearby.
- KadıköyA residential area on the Asian side, with good food and a ferry to the old city.
Before you go
- Check closing days before you plan: Topkapı is closed on Tuesdays and Dolmabahçe on Mondays.
- Foreign visitors to Hagia Sophia use a separate entrance and pay a fee, so allow time at the booth.
- Cover shoulders and knees for the mosques, and carry a scarf if you want to cover your hair.
- Look up prayer times before visiting a mosque, since visits pause around them.
- Use the ferries to cross the water, because taxis are slow in traffic across the bridges.
The 16 stops in Istanbul
Every stop has its own page with opening days, ticket price, how to get there and where it fits in the itineraries.
-
Sultanahmet and the old city
Hagia Sophia
The 6th century domed church, now a mosque. Foreign visitors use a separate route, pay a fee and walk the gallery level.
Booking advised -
Sultanahmet and the old city
Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque)
The early 17th century mosque with six minarets and blue tiles inside, facing Hagia Sophia across the park. Entry is free.
-
Sultanahmet and the old city
Topkapı Palace and Harem
The palace of the Ottoman sultans, built around four courtyards. The Harem and Hagia Irene inside the grounds have their own tickets, and a combined ticket covers all three.
Booking advised -
Sultanahmet and the old city
Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan)
A 6th century underground water cistern, with rows of columns rising from shallow water. It changed operator in June 2026, so check the current status.
Booking advised -
Bazaars and Süleymaniye
Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)
A covered market of shops, inns and lanes, begun in 1460 and rebuilt after the 1894 earthquake. It is free to walk through.
-
Bazaars and Süleymaniye
Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
An L-shaped covered market of 86 shops, built in the 1660s beside the New Mosque, selling spices, dried fruit, tea and sweets.
-
Galata and Beyoğlu
Galata Tower
A 14th century Genoese stone tower above Karaköy, with a museum inside and a viewing gallery near the top.
-
Sultanahmet and the old city
Istanbul Archaeological Museums
Three museums beside Gülhane Park: archaeology, the ancient Orient and the Tiled Pavilion, with close to a million objects.
-
Bazaars and Süleymaniye
Süleymaniye Mosque
Sinan's 16th century mosque on the Third Hill, with a large dome, a wide courtyard and a view over the Golden Horn. Entry is free.
-
Bosphorus and Beşiktaş
Dolmabahçe Palace
The 19th century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus shore. One ticket covers the Selamlık, the Harem and the Painting Museum.
-
Bosphorus and Beşiktaş
Bosphorus ferry cruise
A ferry trip up the strait past palaces, wooden mansions and the bridges. Short and long tours leave from Eminönü.
-
Sultanahmet and the old city
Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square)
The long park between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque that follows the line of the Roman chariot track. It holds an Egyptian obelisk and other monuments.
-
Golden Horn: Balat and Chora
Chora Church (Kariye Mosque)
A Byzantine church known for its mosaics and frescoes, reopened in May 2024 as a mosque. It sits near the old city walls, away from the centre.
-
Golden Horn: Balat and Chora
Balat
A neighbourhood on the Golden Horn with steep cobbled streets, coloured houses, old churches and a synagogue, and many cafés.
-
Kadıköy and the Asian side
Kadıköy and Moda
The residential neighbourhood on the Asian shore, reached by ferry, with market streets, cafés and the Moda seafront.
-
Galata and Beyoğlu
İstiklal Avenue
A pedestrian street of about two kilometres from Taksim Square down toward Galata, with the red heritage tram.
Common questions
Is one day in Istanbul enough?
One day covers Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern, plus Topkapı Palace if you start at 09:00. The bazaars, Galata and a Bosphorus ferry need a second day, and the Asian side a third.
Do foreign visitors pay to enter Hagia Sophia?
Yes. Since January 2024 foreign visitors use a separate entrance and walk the gallery level, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism set the fee at 25 euros. Buy the ticket at the booth opposite the Fountain of Ahmed III and confirm the amount on the day.
Which days are the big sights closed?
Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays and Dolmabahçe Palace on Mondays. The Archaeological Museums and Galata Tower open every day. Mosques are open daily but pause visits at prayer times.
What is the best way to cross between Europe and Asia?
The ferry from Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy takes about 25 minutes and is the most pleasant way across. You need an İstanbulkart for the ferry.