Itineraries
Start at the Hagia Sophia early to beat both the heat and the crowds. Cross the square to the Blue Mosque, checking prayer times in advance since it closes briefly to visitors five times a day. In the afternoon, visit Topkapi Palace, the Ottoman sultans’ primary residence for nearly 400 years, with genuinely extraordinary views over the Bosphorus from the palace grounds.
DAY 2: THE BAZAARS AND THE BOSPHORUS
Spend the morning in the Grand Bazaar — give yourself real time to get pleasantly lost among the 4,000-plus shops. In the afternoon, walk to the Spice Bazaar nearby, then take a Bosphorus ferry cruise, genuinely one of the best ways to see both the European and Asian sides of the city from the water, with the skyline doing most of the work for you.
DAY 3: BEYOND THE OLD CITY
Cross to the Asian side via ferry for a different, more local pace, particularly around Kadıköy’s market streets. Back on the European side, explore Galata Tower and the surrounding Karaköy and Beyoğlu neighbourhoods for Istanbul’s more contemporary, café-and-gallery side, a genuine contrast to Sultanahmet’s historical density.
ONE THING WORTH KNOWING: Istanbul’s tram and ferry network covers the major sites efficiently, and the ferries specifically are worth treating as sightseeing in their own right rather than pure transit.
