Istanbul, Constantinople, Byzantium, The City on Two Continents: no matter what you call it, having the chance to spend 2 days in Istanbul is an opportunity to relish.
Istanbul is a place of history, legends, delicious food, and endless tea. It’s also impressively large, occasionally confusing, and utterly captivating.
We have been lucky enough to spend nearly two months “living” in Istanbul, which gave us time for not only traditional sightseeing, but to enjoy plenty of nooks, crannies, and tasty breakfasts along the way (plus a few random cultural experiences, like renewing our US passports and going to the movie theater!).
Based on our travel experiences, we’ve put together this efficient 2 day Istanbul itinerary.
If you’re headed to Istanbul on a time crunch and are wondering what to do, we have you covered here!
Table of Contents
- Planning your trip to Istanbul at the last minute?
- A Quick Note on Museum Passes in Istanbul
- An Incredible 2 Days in Istanbul Itinerary
- More Than 2 Days in Istanbul?
- Getting Around When Visiting Istanbul
- What to Wear in Istanbul, Turkiye
- What to Pack for Istanbul
- Where to Stay in Istanbul For 2 Days
- Read More About Visiting Turkiye + Beyond
Planning your trip to Istanbul at the last minute?
We’ll cover all of these incredible activities in Istanbul in much more detail below, but if you’re in a hurry, here are the absolute top tours and attractions we recommend within this itinerary:
- Tour the Hagia Sophia & visit the Blue Mosque
- Wander through the Grand Bazaar
- Explore Istanbul’s food scene (we LOVED this food tour)
- Marvel at the Topkapi Palace
- Visit the Bosphorus (this dinner cruise is a great option)
Looking for a great place to stay? Here are two memorable options:
- Tom Square Boutique Hotel (excellent breakfast, wonderful location, affordable option in Sultanhamet)
- Hotel Momento Golden Horn (luxurious retreat with gorgeous Bosphorus views a short walk from the Galata Tower)
Have more than a couple of days in Istanbul? Our detailed guide to the best things to do in Istanbul has dozens more ideas for places to visit!
On the other hand, only have one full day in the city?
This popular full-day tour of Istanbul will show you the biggest highlights in the city, including the Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, and more!
A Quick Note on Museum Passes in Istanbul
Over the last several years, Istanbul’s museums and attractions have dramatically increased in price. We’re talking a 700% increase for some spots in less than a decade!
Because of this, museum passes like this can now be an excellent deal if you plan to tour the interiors of several popular mosques and museums like the ones included in our 2 day Istanbul itinerary.
I recommend adding up the ticket prices for any included spots you plan to visit and deciding from there whether a pass is a better deal for your Istanbul travels. The passes have changed fairly frequently over the years, along with the base prices of tickets, so I’m not going to make a blanket recommendation for one in particular.
Just be sure to read the fine print carefully when shopping: some passes include guided tours and others don’t, and some more affordable options exclude top spots like the Hagia Sophia.
If you prefer to book tickets a la carte, don’t overlook guided tours! Options that include your entrance fee in the tour can be excellent deals.
Shop Istanbul museum passes today!
An Incredible 2 Days in Istanbul Itinerary
Day 1 in Istanbul: Sultanahmet (Old City)
Sultanahmet is effectively Istanbul’s old town and is the home of many of Istanbul’s iconic most iconic attractions, from Topkapi Palace to the Hagia Sophia.
In other words, it’s the perfect place to kick off your Istanbul itinerary!
To see the best of Sultanahmet on your first day in Istanbul, you’ll have to get an early start and end up with some achy feet… but it’ll be worth it.
Start at the Hippodrome and Egyptian obelisk.
Quirky, historical, and unexpected: there’s no better way to start getting a taste of Istanbul than at the Egyptian Obelisk near the Blue Mosque.
Originally built in Luxor around 1500 BCE, the obelisk was moved to Constantinople around the year 390 (not a typo) by the current Emperor.
And, the giant obelisk you stare up at in Istanbul today is estimated to only be around a third of its original height!
Going “wow” yet?
You can look down at your feet for more: the public gardens that the obelisk stands in today are what is left of the Hippodrome (aka chariot racing track) that was built in the city nearly 2,000 years ago.
This is a very quick stop in the grand scheme of your trip to Istanbul, but it’s an excellent place to start to get a feel for just how many layers this city has, and how they fit together.
Head to the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque).
1-minute walk from the Egyptian obelisk.
Completed in 1616, the Blue Mosque (which, incidentally, is not actually blue: the nickname comes from the blue tiles in its stunning interior) is easily one of the most famous landmarks in Istanbul. It is a must-see on any Turkey itinerary!
Approaching from the Hippodrome area, you’ll be able to get the full effect of the mosque as you approach. The building is intricate and beautiful inside and out, and you’ll likely find your jaw on the floor at least once or twice while admiring it.
Technically named the Sultan Ahmed Mosque after the sultan who had it constructed in the 17th century, the Blue Mosque is an unmistakable feature of Istanbul’s skyline and one of the prettiest sights in Istanbul.
The building is still a functioning mosque, so though it is open to visitors, it closes during prayers each day, and appropriate mosque dress (legs and shoulders covered, hair covered for women) is required to enter.
The Blue Mosque is free to visit independently, but it’s also a popular feature on guided tours.
As one of the most famous attractions in Turkey, the Blue Mosque is nearly always crowded. If you’re visiting independently, the earlier you can get there, the better (and with only 2 days in Istanbul, an early start is a great idea anyway).
Check out the Hagia Sophia.
4-minute walk from the Blue Mosque.
A church, a mosque, a museum. Originally built in 537 AD, the Hagia Sophia has had a long and storied life, and remains an impressive piece of world history!
Without a doubt, it is one of the most famous houses of worship in the world, and visiting the Hagia Sophia is easily one of the best (and most popular) things to do in Istanbul.
Today, the Hagia Sophia operates both as a museum and an active mosque.
Be sure to visit and admire the beautiful exterior, the detailed interior, the Christian mosaics that are revealed in pieces of the walls where the plaster has been scraped away, and the sensational views of the Blue Mosque from the second-story windows!
You can opt to visit independently or with a guide.
Pay a visit to Topkapi Palace.
3-minute walk from the Hagia Sophia.
As the home of around 30 Ottoman sultans over the course of nearly 600 years, the Topkapi Palace has certainly seen its share of history.
Devastatingly ornate and boasting beautiful views of Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait, Topkapi Palace is worth visiting for the architecture alone.
Definitely pay the extra fee to tour the harem/living quarters: it’s arguably the prettiest part!
The history, though, is also worth paying attention to. At its peak, the Ottoman Empire controlled large swathes of Eastern and Central Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and North Africa, and it all originated from Istanbul.
If you’re looking for some particularly wild artifacts collected throughout the empire, today’s Topkapi Palace has several objects on display that should raise eyebrows, like the sword of David, the footprint of Muhammad, the staff of Moses, and the robe of Joseph, among others.
Though the legitimacy of these items is somewhat in question (they would, after all, be ridiculously old and well-preserved), the general line of thought is that these particular items were probably already being celebrated by various Christians and Muslims throughout the empire, and that they were brought to Istanbul for the sultan with those identifications, accurate or not, already in place.
Regardless, it is a fascinating display.
If you’re only going to book a guided tour for one building in Istanbul, we recommend making it the Topkapi Palace. There is so much history here, and a guide can really bring it to life!
This popular tour of Topkapi Palace and the harem is detailed, well-reviewed, and perfect for a history buff! As I update this blog post in 2026, it’s also an excellent deal, as standard tickets for the Topkapi Palace have increased dramatically in price in the last several years.
Get underground at the Basilica Cistern.
6-minute walk from Topkapi Palace.
As the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul, walking into the Basilica Cistern feels a bit like walking into another dimension.
You’re underground, in the dark, and surrounded by beautiful, carefully placed columns (many of which were taken from out-of-use temples during construction in the 6th century).
It’s quite the eerie place… minus the crowds of tourists and gaudy photo opportunity at the entrance, that is.
Definitely take a moment or two to soak in the atmosphere in a quiet spot. The Basilica Cistern was one of our favorite places that we visited in Istanbul, and we highly recommend it!
Also, don’t forget to check out the two Medusa heads at the bottom of columns near the back of the cistern! Their origins remain a bit of a mystery to this day.
You can visit the Basilica Cistern as a standalone attraction, and it’s also popularly included in combo tours with the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, like this well-reviewed one.
Stroll over to the Grand Bazaar.
12-minute walk from the Basilica Cistern.
Founded in 1461 and nearly constantly busy ever since, the Grand Bazaar is one of our favorite places in Istanbul. It’s beautiful, it’s hectic, it’s bursting with color, and it sets every single sense alight!
If you’re looking for souvenirs, a cup of tea, a Turkish lamp, jewelry, or just about anything else, you can find it here. With more than 4,000 shops covering 60 streets, this is a place that truly has something for everyone.
Haggling is absolutely expected here, so come prepared. Shop owners will beckon you into their stores, but we’ve found they’re very quick to listen to a polite “no” (even more so if you crack a joke with them).
Some shop owners may ask you to have tea with them. This is perfectly normal and a typical experience in Turkey!
It will up the pressure to buy something, though, so you may want to wait to accept the offer from a shop owner that you plan to purchase from. However, you are under no obligation to purchase simply because you accept tea.
Step inside the Spice Market.
7-minute walk from the Grand Bazaar.
Yes, it’s definitely worth visiting 2 markets back to back!
The Spice Market is another one of our favorite spots in Istanbul. It’s beautiful, it smells amazing, and it’s a fantastic place to do a little (edible) souvenir shopping.
This market isn’t enormous: you can wander through most of it in an hour, even half an hour if you don’t stop much, but be sure not to leave empty-handed! The Turkish delight and baklava alone are worth paying attention to.
If you’d like a view from above, there’s a little cafe near the entrance that has a second-floor sitting room. Order a cup of tea and enjoy watching the people go by!
Day 2 in Istanbul: Taksim, Galata & the Bosphorus
Start with a Turkish breakfast.
The best way to kick off your second day in Istanbul is with a classic Turkish breakfast!
Turkish breakfasts are famous for being hearty and delicious, and they definitely live up to their reputation.
Made up of many different spreads and breads, along with olives, several cheeses, honey served with clotted cream, eggs, and copious amounts of tea, no 2 days in Istanbul would be complete without a full Turkish breakfast.
There are tons of great Turkish breakfast spots around the city, but given the Istanbul itinerary for the day, we recommend starting with well-reviewed and popular Van Kahvalti Evi (Kılıçali Paşa Mahallesi, Defterdar Ykş. 52/A, 34425).
You’ll find a great mix of tourists and locals here, along with an excellent breakfast and competitive prices (especially given the restaurant’s excellent reputation).
Looking for a very filling alternative? You could opt to spend a good chunk of your second day in Istanbul enjoying the Taste of Two Continents Food Tour, which is one of our favorite food tours we’ve taken anywhere on the planet!
That tour includes a scrumptious Turkish breakfast, and much, much more. It’s well worth the time spent, though it might mean you need to trim a couple of other stops from your 2 day Istanbul itinerary.
Wander along Istiklal Street.
10-minute walk from Van Kahvalti.
A shopping street at heart, popular Istiklal Street is always crowded with locals and tourists alike.
If you’re hoping to shop at major retailers like Gap, H&M, Sephora, etc, while in Istanbul, this is the place to do it.
Looking for traditional goods and souvenirs? Those are here, too.
Food? Plenty of it.
Movie theatres? Several.
Istiklal is also home to a historic, adorable red tram that runs the length of the road. Hop on for a quick ride, or simply enjoy watching it go by, complete with the local kids who tend to literally jump on and off.
Pay a visit to Taksim Square.
Roughly a 15-minute walk along Istiklal, depending on where you start.
Istiklal Street dead-ends into Taksim Square, also known as the center of modern Istanbul.
Home to everything from a monument to Ataturk (the founder of the modern republic of Turkey) to tourism companies to thousands of tulips in the spring, Taksim Square is a sight worth adding to your 2 day Istanbul itinerary.
It’s also a convenient spot for seeking out public transportation, thanks to busy Taksim Station (home to both a funicular and metro) and, generally speaking, having plenty of taxi drivers hanging around.
Soak in the views from the Galata Tower.
22-minute walk, will include some doubling back along Istiklal. Alternatively, you can get there in 8 minutes using the underground funicular located in Taksim Station.
Originally built in the 14th century as a watchtower, the Galata Tower is one of Istanbul’s best-known landmarks and is home to some of the best views of the city and the Bosphorus Strait!
From the top, you can easily pick out features like the grounds of the Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque.
Climb the tower (an elevator takes you most of the way, so it’s not even strenuous) for beautiful views of Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait.
If you’d like to stay and relax for a while, there’s even a restaurant on the top floor!
The neighborhood surrounding Galata Tower is also beautiful. Here, you’ll find cobblestone streets, tiny restaurants, and lots of shops.
Stroll across the Galata Bridge.
10-minute walk from Galata Tower.
From the Galata Tower, make your way to the Galata Bridge.
This modern bridge is a must-see during your 2 days in Istanbul and is home to some iconic Istanbul sights.
Admire the dozens of fishing poles over the water (it’s a popular fishing spot), the views of the Galata Tower and the surrounding area, and then make your way under the bridge, where you can buy one of Istanbul’s best-known street food snacks: a fish sandwich made from the catch of the day.
Wrap up your 2 days in Istanbul with a cruise on the Bosphorus.
Depending on which company you use, the starting point will likely be located within a few hundred yards of the Galata Bridge.
The finale of your 2 days in Istanbul deserves to be epic, and a cruise on the Bosphorus definitely lives up to those expectations!
After all, how often can you say that you had dinner between two continents?
Book a Bosphorus dinner cruise, and you can enjoy watching the sunset over the city while you indulge in a delicious meal that takes place not in Europe or Asia, but in a fleeting place in between the two.
For a more budget option, you can also hop the ferry over to Kadikoy (a neighborhood on the Asian side of Istanbul). You’ll find plenty of dinner options there, as well!
This well-reviewed Bosphorus Cruise includes dinner, drinks, entertainment, and amazing views!
More Than 2 Days in Istanbul?
Istanbul is positively bursting with things to do. You could live here for a year and not cover it all, so definitely don’t worry about getting bored if you’re lucky enough to have more than 2 days in Istanbul!
With additional time, consider spending an afternoon in a Turkish hammam (spa), strolling along the former walls of Constantinople, taking a day trip to the Prince Islands, paying a visit to the Suleymaniye Mosque, heading over to Asia to check out the bustling neighborhood of Kadikoy, visiting the Valens Aqueduct, going to see the stunning Chora Church, or seeing a Whirling Dervish show.
Here are our top 44 suggestions for things to do in Istanbul!
With more time, you could also consider traveling further afield to visit more incredibly interesting Turkish destinations. Short trips to Cappadocia or Ephesus, for example, are easy to take from Istanbul, either individually or as part of a multi-day tour.
You could also head to beautiful Pamukkale, or down to the coast. From resorts to hostels, there are beautiful places on Turkey’s coast for all kinds of travelers!
Getting Around When Visiting Istanbul
Istanbul is enormous. As the home of more than 16 million people spread across two continents, getting around Istanbul requires more than walking from place to place (though we did structure this 2 days in Istanbul itinerary to allow as much walking as possible).
Other than walking, here are some popular options for getting around Istanbul, along with the pros and cons of each.
Taxi
Taxis are extremely common (and reasonably priced) in Istanbul, but the drivers do have a reputation for trying to exploit tourists.
As of 2026, the starting fare for a taxi is 65,4 lira, with a minimum fare of 210 lira. This guide covers what to expect from taxi charges in Istanbul in detail.
These days, it’s also recommended to use BiTaksi, which works similar to a local ridesharing app but hails taxis instead.
Be sure to insist on using the meter wherever you go! Odds are that you’ll get at least a few drivers trying to get you to agree to a set fare.
This was our most common method of getting around Istanbul when we couldn’t walk.
Uber
Prefer to use an app you already have rather than BiTaksi?
If so, Uber is the most commonly used international ridesharing app in Istanbul. For future trips, we’ll probably download both and price compare between the two for each ride.
Tram
Trams exist in some areas around Istanbul, too.
With this 2 day Istanbul itinerary, you may want to use one in Sultanahmet to get from Topkapi Palace to the Grand Bazaar, though you can also walk.
The tram that runs down Istiklal is more of a tourist attraction than a source of transportation, but feel free to jump on if the mood strikes.
Ferry
Riding the ferry between Europe and Asia on the Bosphorus Strait is a popular thing to do in Istanbul.
You likely won’t have time to do this with only 2 days in Istanbul, but if you have your heart set on it, it’s an option!
Metro
Istanbul has an expansive and modern metro system.
If you need to cover large distances and want a more affordable option than a taxi or Uber, the metro is a great choice. You can even take it between the continents, which we thought was a wild experience!
Don’t rent a car in Istanbul.
Istanbul’s traffic is notoriously terrible, and its streets are generally packed.
Save yourself a headache and don’t even consider renting a car in Istanbul.
What to Wear in Istanbul, Turkiye
Curious about what to wear in Turkey?
Istanbul is the very definition of a multicultural city, and wardrobes vary wildly. At any given point walking down Istiklal, you’ll be able to see women in abayas and women in miniskirts (at least in the summer, that is: visiting Turkey in winter means you won’t need to worry much about what to wear at all), and everything in between.
I would say that for women, it’s most common during the summer to see women with either their knees or shoulders exposed, but not both (so wearing a short dress with a conservative neckline or a tank top with pants), but I feel perfectly fine walking around in my usual summer dresses that end above the knee and are usually tank top style.
Istanbul is very fashionable, so if you like to dress up, this is definitely the place for it. Both men and women tend to dress very intentionally, and heavy makeup on women is common.
In general, you should feel perfectly comfortable in whatever your normal wardrobe is while in the touristic parts of the city you’ll be visiting on this 2 days in Istanbul itinerary.
The exception, of course, is visiting mosques, including the Blue Mosque.
For visiting mosques, you’ll need to dress very conservatively.
For men, this is simple: wear pants (no shorts) and a shirt that is not a tank top. In some more traditional mosques, men will need their arms covered as well, but the Blue Mosque doesn’t require it.
For women, there are a few more things to think about. Bring a scarf for your hair (some mosques have them, but it’s better to come prepared), wear a long dress or skirt (a maxi is perfect here, if you wear pants they need to be loose and ideally covered by a long shirt/short dress), and cover your arms and chest.
Unlike in some parts of the Muslim world, women don’t need to wear an abaya to enter, but you do need to plan your wardrobe ahead of time!
What to Pack for Istanbul
For the purposes of spending a couple days in Istanbul, our detailed Europe packings lists (we have spring, summer, fall, and winter versions) mostly have you covered.
However, to get started, here are a few travel essentials you’ll want to bring, including a couple that are specific to Turkiye!
Mosque-Appropriate Clothes — The Blue Mosque (and most other touristy mosques) have items available to borrow, but you’ll be more comfortable (and feel more prepared) if you bring your own.
Travel Adapters for Turkiye — If you’re coming from outside Europe, you’ll need adaptors for your electronics. Turkiye uses standard European plugs and voltage.
Cell Phone eSIM or SIM Card — Back in our backpacking days, we spent more than a year traveling without working cell phones, just relying on wifi… and while that’s completely fine, we would never go back.
Consider buying an eSIM, purchasing an international plan for your cell phone (most carriers offer them), or, if you have an unlocked phone, you can just buy a local SIM card once you land in Europe.
Personally, these days we simply buy an eSIM before each trip, and marvel every time at how much easier using our phones abroad has gotten since we started traveling!
Reusable Water Bottle — Save both money and plastic during your two days in Istanbul, and add a reusable water bottle to your packing list! I love this metal one.
Reusable Travel Cutlery
Comfortable Day Bag — We currently use Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for this trip, that’s totally understandable.
Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used a Northface backpack leftover from my school days for years and loved it as well.
Comfortable Walking Shoes — Istanbul is built on several hills, and this 2 day Istanbul itinerary requires lots of walking. Save your feet and bring shoes that are easy to walk long distances in and are already broken in!
Where to Stay in Istanbul For 2 Days
There are dozens of neighborhoods in Istanbul, but with only 2 days in Istanbul, we think that there are really two options to look at.
Option one: stay in Beyoglu (over by Taksim Square or the Galata Tower). This is the more modern side of Istanbul, and there is more nightlife here.
Option two: stay in Sultanahmet (near the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, etc.). This is the home of more of Istanbul’s classic sights, but it tends to be pretty dead after dark. There will be plenty of restaurants open, but they won’t be busy.
We’ve stayed on both sides twice, and tend to think that Beyoglu is best for longer trips to Istanbul, and Sultanahmet is better for shorter trips where you need to cover the major sights more quickly.
For this 2 days in Istanbul itinerary, we’d recommend staying in Sultanahmet if nightlife isn’t a big deal to you, and Beyoglu if it is.
Hotels in Sultanahmet
We personally stayed in and enjoyed both of these Sultanahmet hotels during our visits to Istanbul.
Tom Square Boutique Hotel — With spacious, beautiful rooms, a great location (it’s a short, if steeply uphill, walk to the Grand Bazaar), and one of the best included hotel breakfasts we’ve ever had, we loved our stay at Tom Square Boutique Hotel and would immediately check back in on a return visit to Sultanahmet.
Emirhan Inn Apart Hotel — Located just a short walk from iconic Istanbul attractions like the Blue Mosque, the Emirhan Inn features cozy rooms, a friendly proprietor, and it makes a solid choice for a short trip to Istanbul.
Hotels in Beyoglu
During our longer trips to Istanbul, when we stayed in Beyoglu, we have always stayed in Airbnbs or rented apartments.
However, if you’d like to stay in a hotel in Beyoglu, we’d recommend somewhere close to the Galata Tower for convenience during your 2 days in Istanbul.
Here are a couple of well-reviewed properties to consider!
Hotel Momento Golden Horn — With clean, modern rooms and an excellent location (around a 5-minute walk to the Galata Tower), Hotel Momento is a luxurious and memorable choice for your trip to Istanbul.
One of its biggest selling points? Many rooms boast views of the Bosphorus Strait!
Bankerhan Hotel Galata — Set on a quiet street in the trendy Karaköy neighborhood (we love the coffee shops in this area!), Bankerhan features beautifully decorated rooms in a wonderful location–you’ll be just a short walk away from Galata Tower and a tram station.
Read More About Visiting Turkiye + Beyond
Excited to keep planning a trip to Istanbul… and maybe beyond?
If you found this Istanbul blog post helpful, we’d love to continue to be part of your trip planning here on Our Escape Clause!
You can browse all of our Turkiye blog posts here, or check out these guides:
- What to Eat in Istanbul: 29 Must-Try Dishes (+ Cool Food Experiences!)
- Traveling to Europe for the First Time: Your 13-Step Trip Guide
- What is Traveling to Cappadocia Like? (Our Experience!)
- 15 of the Most Beautiful Places in Turkey to Visit
- Our Amazing Athens Food Tour (+ What to Eat in Athens!)
HI,
Thanks for this post. I am on a 10 day visit to Turkey wherein I land at Istanbul on 8th, plan to visit Bosphorous cruise and Galata Tower on 8th itself. 9th morning proceed to Pamukale and then stay there for a night and proceed for Antalya on 10th. Stay at Antalya overnight and proceed for Capadoccia on 11th and stay on till 14th when I land again at Istanbul till the 17th evening.
My question is 14th evening onwards till 17th evening I have planned the below:
14th Evening: The Folk dance show
15th- Entire day at Sultanahmet area covering everything that you have mentioned including pub crawl at night
16th- cover what you have mentioned and do the Hamam Bath in the evening
17th- Morning towards afternoon spend time at Grand Bazar and complete the trip
Is this fine?
Hi Arun,
Your Istanbul plans sound solid! Depending on what time you land it might be easier to save the Galata Tower until your second stop in the city, but don’t necessarily need to plan that far in advance.
Enjoy the city!
Many thanks Kate. Is it advisable to book any of the attraction tickets in Istanbul in advance? I dont think the queues would be longer in the dates i would visit right?
Also im landing on 8th April at around 11 am local time. So by the time i reach hotel and am fresh it would be around 3-4 PM. So Galata can be squeezed in?
Thanks Kate. Really helpful. One last thing, does it make sense to buy the ticket for the local dance show on the spot or earlier? Also, I land on 8th April at 11 Am local time. The cruise could be around 6 PM ish. Time till then i suppose should be ok to check out Galata Tower?
I’d book the whirling dervish show in advance, personally!
And yes, that should be plenty of time to check out Galata Tower. Cafe Privato is also near there and does an incredible Turkish breakfast, though it gets busy!
Awesome! that sounds like a plan. Hope you visit India and write a similar blog too 🙂
We’d love to!
This was really helpful and I will be travelling with my mother and niece, so wanted to know couple of things stay related.
We are planning to stay in Sultanahmet, but will we get to go out in the eve to dinner or walk around? Is it safe and will have enough eateries.
Hi Bidisha,
Yes, absolutely! It’s a very popular area, so while it’s not great for traditional nightlife, you’ll have plenty of options for dinner.
Kate, this is a wonderful description of a lovely city and its sights and sounds. We, from 6-19 June toured Turkey- Istanbul-2 days, Izmir, Pamukkale, Seljuk, Antalya, Cappadocia, etc.,. We had a fantastic and lovely time. This is one country no avid traveler can afford to miss.
Very informative and helpful. We’re planning to go on May of next year in Stanbul & Greece after our tour in Germany (the Oberammergau passion play 2022). Thank you so much.
Another very interesting article. Thanks!
James Bond fans would love Istanbul with no fewer than 3 films featuring this lovely city. “Skyfall” with its rooftop destroying motorcycle chase. “From Russia With Love” showing much of old Istanbul including the Basilica Cistern. “The World Is Not Enough” featuring the Maiden’s Tower as a villian’s hideout. An islands public ferry trip will get you close enough to the latter to get a nice photo.
Allegedly Istanbul was Ian Fleming’s favourite city.
Very cool! The only one of those I’ve seen so far is Skyfall. Istanbul is definitely a very filmable city.
Thank you so much for this amazingly helpful and insightful post. I am planning to visit in march and can only squeeze 2 days so this was great. Question is which tour companies to use for the bosphorous cruise and times?
Is it worth booking half board or only breakfast? thanks.
So glad it was helpful, Helen!
I have a well-recommended Bosphorus tour company linked in the post, but I’m afraid I don’t remember the name offhand.
Personally I’d book breakfast only, as Istanbul is a fantastic place to eat and exploring the restaurants is lots of fun, but that’s down to personal preference!
thank you very much for the most informative itinerary, you guys are great!
Thanks, Ohad!
Wow Kate! I am Pinning this one.
Such a detailed guide for 2 days in Istanbul. I would love to hear for more cities as i am also traveling to Cappadocia – Pamukkale – Fethiye & Alacati after Istanbul.
Thanks a TON for this beautiful post, once again, Pinning it 🙂
Cheers,
Sesh
Thanks so much, Sesh! Hope you have a wonderful trip!
It’s so informative for the first timer. Excellent description. I am planning a three day trip and would want to get the best out of it. Could you provide some tips on how to travel from new airport up to the hotel that I book. I have never used metros and for sure wouldn’t want to try it as it sounds so confusing hence time consuming to me working out routes and jumping in and out of stations to catch the n cut route to your destination. I might stay in Sultanahmet or possibly at Beyoglu. Do we have any direct bus service to these areas from airport. If not, which is the best way taxi, Uber or shuttle service. If you have an easy one shot route of metro for these places, option can also be considered.
Secondly, I will need data for browsing and stay connected with my friends through social media are there any data devices available, what’s the cost and where to get one from.
How is the traffic around 11 am in the morning on a weekday. I will have to travel back to airport little early as I will have my next flight at 12 noon. If I stay at Beyoglu, how to get back to airport and how early should I leave from hotel.
Thank you and once again, I truly liked the way you described the short itinerary, one of the best I have found on net so far. What attracted me most is the sequence that you set and the traveling time you mentioned on top for the next spot.
Hi Hassan!
Yes, Uber, taxis, and shuttle services are all options for getting from either Istanbul airport to where you’re staying. We’ve used them all–Uber is easiest, shuttle service is most economical.
Data is easy to find, there are kiosks in the airport and also all over the city, including Isktilal. I don’t remember exactly how much we paid for ours, but it was very inexpensive. You will need your passport in order to register the SIM card when you buy it.
Traffic can be rough in Istanbul, I’d ask your hotel about the travel time to the airport at that point, as they’ll know best from their specific location. Most likely, you’ll use one of the three options mentioned for getting into town: Uber, taxi, or shuttle.
Hope you have a great trip!
Hi Kate.
I love the two day itinerary you have laid out. However, if I was to do a trip over to Kadikoy, just so I cross the Bosphorus to Asia, where would you recommend to fit it in on the two day itinerary?
Also, how long are Bosphorus tours?
Kind regards,
Mark Mason
Hey Mark!
Most Bosphorus tours are around 2 hours, I would say, but it varies, so doublecheck that the one you’re looking at is what you want before you book!
If you want to cross on your own (it takes about 35-40 minutes), I’d take a ferry from the area near the Galata Bridge when you’re there on day two. You can then take either a ferry or the metro back over when you’re done!
Thank you Kate , very useful . I am going on family vacation with the group of 8 in end of August .
So glad we could help! Hope all 8 of you have an amazing trip to Istanbul.
Can we pay the entrance tickets using credit / debit cards?
Hi Jade! Depends on the attraction. I’m fairly certain you can at the Hagia Sophia. Generally speaking, though, you’ll want to carry lira with you, as many places in Istanbul only take (or strongly prefer) cash.
We’re heading to Istanbul for 2 days with the family. This itinerary is so well laid out. We’re pretty much going to follow exactly:)Thank you for all the wonderful information!
Thanks so much, Sam! I hope you guys have a wonderful trip!
I had a very short amount of time to see the sights of Istanbul while there on a business trip a few years ago. Your gorgeous photos brought back a lot of amazing memories and made me feel good about all that I got to do and see with the time I had. The Hagia Sophia and a boat tour on the Bosphorus were definitely highlights for me!
Definitely! This is an amazing city. Jeremy is in love with the views from the Bosphorus, it’s one of his favorite spots in Istanbul.
Turkey is one place I havnt been and I kept believe I havn’t gone there yet! I love the art of this part of the world, and omg, that food looks amazing!
The food alone is worth the trip! I’m actually working on a post JUST about the food in the city.
I’ve been wanting to go to Turkey for some time now, and your fabulous photos made me wish I was there now. What a terrific post full of great tips for when I get there. Would December be a good time to go?
Thanks, April!
December will be chilly, but that’s no reason not to go–I say bring a coat and have a blast. 🙂
Istanbul has so many stunning and unique sights and your itinerary is perfect for covering them! I also loved prince islands which you mention as a destination if you have more time.
We’ve heard great things about the islands! Still need to make it out there ourselves.
Some super tips. I was over in Istanbul a while back but cannot remember that obelisk.
I almost missed it the first time, too! It’s very easy to overlook considering the Blue Mosque is right there and all. 😀