These daily Istanbul itineraries describe a full week of activities in Istanbul. I have listed these out in my order of priority – if I only had three days in Istanbul I would do the itineraries for the first 3 days listed below, etc.
Bosphorus Bridge
Day 1: Sultanahment area
Visit the Blue Mosque before the lines form and well before noon prayers, then head across the park to visit Aya Sofya (where you will find a line at any time of day). Stroll through the Hippodrome before grabbing lunch in the neighborhood.
After lunch, visit the Basilica Cistern before heading over to Topkapı Palace and visiting the main palace and the harem
Have dinner in the Taksim area and experience Istiklal St at night
Day 2: Kariye and the Bazaar District
Start the morning at Kariye Museum. Consider treating yourself to a fabulous lunch at Asitane right next door. While you are in the neighborhood, visit (and climb on) the old city walls.
Take a taxi to the Grand Bazaar and get lost strolling around for several hours
If you don’t make it to the Spice Bazaar on Day 2 it would also be convenient to do it before your boat trip – it opens at 8am and the boat doesn’t leave until 10:30am.
After Dolmabahçe, take the bus, a taxi or walk up to Beşiktaş, Ortaköy, Rumeli Hisarı, or other northern neighborhoods. Have lunch in Ortaköy at the House Cafe or act like the locals and enjoy a kumpir.
Day 5: Beyoğlu
Stroll around posh Nişantaşi in the morning and do some people watching from a cafe
Walk over to Taksim, explore Istiklal St and have lunch in the area
Walk down to Galata Tower and head to the observation deck for great views. Afterwards, keep walking down the hill to Karaköy for baklava at Güllüoğlu. Walk across the Galata bridge to Eminönü – another chance to visit the Spice Bazaar or the “New” Mosque.
