3-Day Istanbul Itinerary

Hotel check-in in Sultanahmet

Check into a hotel in the Sultanahmet old town, within walking distance of Istanbul's great monuments.

Hippodrome and Sultanahmet Square

Wander the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople, past its Egyptian obelisk and German Fountain.

Turkish breakfast spread

Sit down to a kahvaltı spread of cheeses, olives, honey and simit at a Sultanahmet çay bahçesi.

First night Ottoman dinner

Try slow-cooked testi kebab or İskender at a traditional restaurant near the old city walls.

Hagia Sophia interior visit

Step inside the nearly 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia, marveling at its soaring dome and gold mosaics.

Sultanahmet Square crossing

Cross the park between the two great domes, past fountains and tulip beds framing both monuments.

Blue Mosque courtyard and interior

Admire the six minarets and over 20,000 handmade İznik tiles inside the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

Rooftop tea with mosque views

Watch both mosques light up at dusk from a rooftop terrace over tea or a glass of Turkish wine.

Topkapi Palace courtyards

Tour the courtyards and Treasury of Topkapi Palace, former seat of Ottoman sultans for 400 years.

Harem quarters and Sacred Relics

Visit the ornately tiled Harem apartments and the chamber holding relics attributed to the Prophet.

Istanbul Archaeology Museums

See the Alexander Sarcophagus and ancient artifacts at the nearby Istanbul Archaeology Museums.

Gülhane Park sunset and dinner

Stroll Gülhane Park's tulip gardens before dinner at a family-run lokanta serving home-style stews.