If you're all set to jet away for a vacation in Turkey, chances are you've already got a few ideas in mind on what you'd like to cover during your stay. You're up to speed on your must-know Turkey facts, you've got your passport and eSIM ready to go - and you're keen to get deep into what makes Istanbul, one of the region's most popular cities, so memorable.
If you've been following our journals over the past few months, you'll have seen that we've taken something of a deep dive into the best of what Turkey has to offer, and Istanbul is certainly a highlight. In this guide, however, we're going to focus on how to build an Istanbul itinerary - that is, what to include and how to make the most of your time here.
Whether you're short of ideas or are keen to structure your next trip to Istanbul, be sure to use this guide as a simple starting point.
Istanbul itinerary overview
Whether you have a broader Turkey itinerary or are simply visiting Istanbul outright, we think you can easily spend three to four days in the city alone without getting bored - and that's honestly an estimate! Plenty of people, some of the SIMOVO team included, visit the city for up to a week or more.
That said, what you add to your Istanbul itinerary is entirely up to you. This guide, much like other itinerary advice we've offered in the past, gives you a few starting suggestions and offers you room to add your own ideas depending entirely on what you'd like to do out here.
For example, Istanbul is fantastic for history and food lovers, meaning you might want to build your itinerary around either of those areas before you board a plane. Or, you might prefer to take a more balanced approach so you can enjoy as much of the city as possible.
Regardless, we've picked out a few must-see spots in Istanbul that are worth packing into any trip, no matter how long you're staying for. One of the biggest plus points to building an itinerary for Istanbul is that it's fantastically well-positioned if you want to go on further adventures across Turkey - you can fly direct, and use it as a base for other Mediterranean itineraries, too.
Top places to visit in Istanbul
We've put together a guide to things to do in Istanbul that goes deep into what the city has to offer, but as part of this itinerary, we're going to do a quick lightning round - meaning if you'd like to know more about them, do check out the article linked.
Whether you're here for that fabulous Turkish food or are keen to tour the world-famous architecture that people keep telling you about, here are our top picks of what to include in your Istanbul itinerary before you travel.
Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO landmark that's a colossal active mosque - and it was once famous for being one of the biggest cathedrals worldwide. You can tour the amazing internal architecture year-round, but do remember to respect Islamic rules and that it is regularly used for prayer each day.
Topkapi Palace
The Topkapi Palace is an absolute must-visit if you are keen to learn more about the Ottoman Empire and its legacy in Istanbul. While it was once the Sultans' official residence, it's now a living museum, full of internal, secret spaces and hidden courtyards.
Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque is another of Istanbul's famous holy buildings, and it's so-called thanks to its striking color against the skyline. Many people visit purely for the architecture, but it is naturally popular with visiting Muslims, too.
Galata Tower
Istanbul's Galata Tower has stood for centuries as one of the tallest buildings on the block - at 67 meters high, it offers an amazing vantage point across Istanbul and its city limits, meaning if you prefer to check out the sights from up high and far around, make a beeline here first.
Grand Bazaar
If you'd love to experience Turkey's famous market scenes up close and personal, the Grand Bazaar should have a priority spot on your Istanbul itinerary. This labyrinthine series of stalls and vendors is quite unlike any other across the region - be prepared to get a little bit lost, and to haggle (it's expected of you - don't just expect to pay the price tag!).
Istanbul itinerary for 2 days
If you're heading to Istanbul for a couple of days, we really recommend splitting the experience in half - meaning you could cover the historic streets and buildings one day, and the more modern sights, sounds, and tastes the day after.
For example, it's perhaps worth exploring the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia on day one, then saving day two to really dive into the culinary scene - meaning exploring street food and haggling through the Grand Bazaar.
We only suggest you do things this way because, for a first-time traveler, Istanbul can be a little overwhelming - especially if you intend to do it all. We don't think two days is the sweet spot for itineraries across the city, but if you're low on time, do history one day, and modern sights the next.
Istanbul itinerary for 3 days
We think a three-day trip to Istanbul is much more reasonable. And, you can easily split trips to historic sites, street vendors, and do some bazaar wandering across all three days. For instance, you might head to Hagia Sophia on day one, the Blue Mosque on day two, and Topkapi Palace on day three.
You could also squeeze in a fabulous cruise on the Bosphorus the day before you leave the city - it's a great way to explore Istanbul at night when everything is lit up in focus. Balance this, perhaps, with a trip up the Galata Tower earlier in your itinerary, so you get to see as much of Istanbul as possible from down low and up high.
Istanbul itinerary travel tips
As always, there are some must-dos as well as must-sees when it comes to building city break itineraries and exploring some of the most fabulous locations in Turkey. Here are a few tried-and-tested ideas you'll want to take on board before you book flights.
- Naturally, we recommend you take up an eSIM for Turkey so you're always connected to the best internet speeds and stability across the city. That means you won't have to hunt around for local WiFi or SIMs, and you don't have to come home to high roaming bills.
- Travel here (or at least plan to) in the fall/autumn or spring if you want to avoid huge crowds, and if you prefer milder weather. In the summer, things tend to get pretty hot here, and it also tends to be peak travel season.
- Always take safety precautions in groups and lock away your valuables - especially if you're set on covering as much ground across the city as possible.
- Remember that many of the sites we've mentioned in this guide are places of sacred holy worship. Therefore, always dress modestly, and be sure to follow Islamic rules if you choose to explore mosques as a visitor, or if you'd like to pray.
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