5-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.

Grand Bazaar alleys

Haggle through 4,000 shops of carpets, ceramics and lanterns inside the covered Grand Bazaar.

Jewelry and leather quarters

Continue through the bazaar's gold jewelry row and leather workshops tucked in side passages.

Spice Bazaar tastings

Breathe in mounds of sumac and saffron at the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, sampling Turkish delight along the way.

Balık ekmek by the Golden Horn

Eat a classic balık ekmek fish sandwich from a boat vendor at Eminönü before dinner nearby.

Bosphorus cruise departure

Board a boat from Eminönü for a Bosphorus cruise, gliding between Istanbul's European and Asian shores.

Palaces and fortresses from the water

Pass Dolmabahçe Palace and the fortress of Rumeli Hisarı as the boat weaves up the strait.

Kumpir lunch in Ortaköy

Dock in Ortaköy for a loaded baked-potato kumpir lunch beside the waterfront mosque.

Sunset dinner on the Bosphorus shore

Watch the sun set behind the Bosphorus Bridge over dinner at a waterside meyhane in Ortaköy.