4 Days in Istanbul Itinerary: See the Best of Istanbul

Napoleon Bonaparte said: “If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.” The only city in the world that spans across 2 continents, Europe and Asia, Istanbul is truly something special. With about 15 million people living there, it’s safe to say there’s a lot you can do there. In this travel guide I am sharing with you my 4 days in Istanbul itinerary which is perfect for first time visiting and to see the best of Istanbul.

The itinerary will mainly focus on the European side, with one full day on the Asian side.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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📖 Read my 19 Amazing Things to Do in Istanbul on Your Visit blog post for more.

How to Get to Istanbul

Given the popularity of Istanbul and the fact that it’s a home to one of the most prestigious airline companies – Turkish Airlines, it is very easy to fly to Istanbul from wherever you are in the world.

✅ Check the flight prices here.

One thing to note though, there are 2 airports in Istanbul. The first one is Istanbul Airport, which is the main international airport in the city, and is on the European side. The second one is Sabiha Gökçen International Airport which is on the Asian side and it is mainly used for budget airlines.

The best way to get to the city centre (and your hotel) is to get a private transfer or to arrange it through your hotel.

If you’re landing at Istanbul Airport (European side) and you want a budget option to the city centre, then take a shuttle bus. There’s also a shuttle bus from Sabiha Airport.

I don’t recommend using Uber in Istanbul because it is not reliable and the drivers often try to pull scams or increase the fare willy-nilly.

📖 Read my Does Uber Work in Istanbul? (+My Personal Experience) blog post for more.

How to Get around Istanbul

Even though Istanbul is a large city, it is very easy to explore it on foot.

For some larger distances we were using Bitaksi, but most often we were just walking because the whole city feels like an open-air museum.

You can obviously use the public transport if you’d like too, and if you’re crossing on the Asian side (which you have to do), then you can use a public ferry which costs about £1-£2 (very cheap!).

Where to Stay in Istanbul

Firstly, I recommend you to stay on the European side because most of your time you’ll spend there.

In terms of the best neighbourhood, I personally loved staying in Sultanahmet, which is the historic centre of the city where Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace are located.

Karakoy is a great choice too, especially if you love going out at night.

📖 Check my 10 Best Istanbul Hotels with Hagia Sophia View & 11 Best Istanbul Hotels with Beautiful Bosphorus View blog posts for more.

When to Visit Istanbul

While Istanbul is generally good to visit throughout the year, I would only avoid the winter months from January to March because of the sand storms that frequently occur in that period.

Otherwise, any other months are great, although it can get really hot in the summer months.

I visited Istanbul at the end of November and we had daily temperatures of about 15 C (59 F) degrees with sunshine (and some windy days too).

Next time I would love to visit in late spring or early autumn, so hope that helps you out!

How Many Days in Istanbul is Ideal

If you can, I would aim for the 5 full days in Istanbul to really explore it as it deserves.

But as we are all limited in time, 4 days is the ideal amount because you will get to see the best of Istanbul without feeling rushed.

✅ Consider getting this Istanbul Tourist Pass to save money.

Day 1 in Istanbul

On your first day of this 4 days in Istanbul itinerary, you will explore the historic area, also known as Sultanahmet neighbourhood.

✅ Consider taking this best rated Sultanahmet Walking Tour.

Hagia Sophia

No sightseeing in Istanbul can start without visiting Hagia Sophia first.

As a Historian, I always wanted to visit Hagia Sophia because of its cultural significance. Built in 537 AD Hagia Sophia is the first church ever that constructed a fully pendentive dome, which changed the history of architecture and influenced many buildings in the world, including the Blue Mosque on the opposite side of it.

Even the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, couldn’t demolish it when he conquered Constantinople because of its outstanding beauty.

Which is to no surprise that Hagia Sophia was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Because of its might, when conquered, Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque. In 1935 it was turned into a museum, but then president Erdogan turned it into a mosque again in 2021.

That means if you’d love to visit inside (which is a must really), you need to cover yourself as a woman and dress properly no matter the gender.

✅ I recommend buying tickets online to skip waiting in lines.

💡Hagia Sophia is currently undergoing restoration works and is covered in scaffolding. There is no known timetable when the work may end, so double check before your trip.

📖 Read my 19 Amazing Things to Do in Istanbul on Your Visit blog post for more.

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque, or as it’s officially called Sultanahmet Camii, was built in the 17th century during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I.

It is hard not to notice the influence of Hagia Sophia on the Blue Mosque (or pretty much any other Ottoman-style mosque).

The mosque was super impressive, but sadly during our visit the interior was completely in scaffolding, including the one of the minarets. Fortunately, the restoration has been completed, so you’d be able to admire it during your visit.

Blue Mosque is also on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list under the name of Historic Areas of Istanbul.

It is free to visit the Blue Mosque, but you need to dress modestly.

📖 Read my 7 Days in Turkey Itinerary: Istanbul & Aegean Region blog post.

Hippodrome of Constantinople

The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, today known as Sultanahmet Square.

There are only a few remains from the Byzantine times, including the Serpent Column and Obelisk of Theodosius.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace was the main residence of Ottoman sultans and the administrative centre from the 1460s to 1856 when they moved to Dolmabahce Palace.

The palace is pretty impressive and quite large, so expect to spend 2-3h there.

My favourite parts were the Harem, Privy Chamber and Iftar Kiosk.

Harem is where the sultan’s mother, wives and concubines lived. Privy Chamber is where they keep the sacred relics, including the Staff of Moses, but it is not allowed to take photos inside + you have to cover yourself as a woman. Iftar Kiosk has the best views of the Golden Horn.

✅ As the lines are pretty long, I recommend getting tickets online.

Next to Topkapi Palace is Gülhane Park which is free to visit.

Istanbul Archaeological Museums

If you have time, I recommend visiting Istanbul Archaeological Museums.

It consists of 3 museums: Archaeological Museum, Museum of the Ancient Orient and Museum of Islamic Art.

I loved the Museum of the Ancient Orient the most as it displays the fragments of the famous Ishtar Gate of Babylon.

✅ I recommend getting tickets online.

Basilica Cistern

And lastly, don’t miss Basilica Cistern, a huge underground Roman water source with 336 marble columns.

Sadly, this was also closed for restoration during our visit, but it has opened since.

✅ I recommend getting tickets online.

Seven Hills Bar & Restaurant

There’s no better way to end your first day in Istanbul at Seven Hills Bar & Restaurant.

The terrace they have is one of the best in the city, and definitely best when it comes to the views with Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.

We came here twice, once for tea and cake and the second time for dinner.

You can also stay there as it’s a hotel too.

Day 2 in Istanbul

On your second day in Istanbul of this itinerary you will explore the Fatih neighbourhood, which was my 2nd favourite after Sultanahmet.

Grand Bazaar

The best way to start the day is by visiting Istanbul’s most famous market – Grand Bazaar, which was built in the 15th century.

Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with 61 covered streets and over 4000 shops!

It’s definitely one of the best places to experience the hustle and bustle of Istanbul and a great shopping place. I got myself fridge magnets there, but you can really find anything and everything there. Just make sure to bargain as it’s part of Turkish culture.

Spice Bazaar

Spice Bazaar, or as it’s officially called the Egyptian Market, is another great shopping place near Grand Bazaar.

As the name says, it’s famous for a variety of spices you can find there.

Suleymaniye Mosque

Maybe it’s because the Blue Mosque was in scaffolding, so I couldn’t experience it properly, but the Suleymaniye Mosque was my favourite in Istanbul.

It is so beautiful, especially the main courtyard.

The mosque was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century and designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan.

It is therefore the resting place of both Suleiman and his famous wife Hurrem.

And for some reason, the mosque was not as visited as the Blue Mosque and we could really enjoy it; from the courtyard and the interior to the terrace area that overlooks the city.

Definitely don’t miss this place when you’re in Istanbul, especially as it’s free to visit!

Taht Istanbul

Dressing up in costumes and having photoshoots have become very popular in Istanbul, so much so that I got shocked that they doubled the prices since the last time we were there!

However, this was one of the most fun and unique experiences we had in Istanbul, so I definitely recommend doing it.

The best thing about Taht Istanbul Studio is that they have a nice rooftop and carpet area with Bosphorus views, so rest assured that nothing is photoshopped there.

My favourite rooms were the carpet area with the views, Ottoman throne and light room.

You can reserve your spot online or wait in the queue. Even if you book an online spot, you will still pay in the studio by cash or card. We waited in the queue for about an hour before it was our turn, but there’s also a cafe where you can spend your time waiting.

P. S. In the area next to Taht, there are a lot of bars and restaurants with beautiful views.

Day 3 in Istanbul

On your third day in Istanbul, you will cross Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn and explore Galata, Dolmabahce and Taksim Square areas.

✅ Consider taking this Galata, Taksim, Istiklal & Karaköy Walking Tour.

P. S. This is a very hilly area of Istanbul, so prepare for some leg work!

Galata Bridge

Crossing Galata Bridge is quite a unique experience as all along the bridge, there are fishermen working on their daily catch.

This is also a popular place for getting a fish sandwich if you’re hungry.

Galata Tower

Galata Tower is a medieval Genoese tower built in the 14th century.

You can visit the tower, but I didn’t find it particularly amazing. The views are nice, though I still enjoyed the views in Sultanahmet and Fatih rooftops way more.

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace became an Ottoman residency and administrative centre in 1856 (before that it was Topkapi).

It was built by Sultan Abdul Mejid I who wanted it to resemble the Versailles Palace in Paris. Personally, I loved it even more than Versailles, so definitely don’t miss it!

✅ I recommend getting your tickets online.

Taksim Square & Karakoy

End your day by visiting Taksim Square which is full of shops and Karakoy for bars and restaurants.

Day 4 in Istanbul

On your last day of this 4 days in Istanbul itinerary, you will cross over to the Asian side. The best known neighbourhoods are Kadikoy and Uskudar.

✅ Consider taking this Asian Side Walking Tour with Ferry Ride.

Ferry

While you can take a Bosphorus cruise to see Istanbul from the water, you can also have that same experience (minus the food and drinks) on the local ferry that connects the European with Asian side.

The ride is really beautiful and takes about 20-30 minutes, which is enough to soak up the views.

If the weather allows, I recommend sitting at the top deck, though watch out for the seagulls (one of them pooped all over me and my husband lol, but the local lady said it means luck!).

The views of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are so beautiful from the ferry.

The ferry goes both to Kadikoy and Uskudar, so you can do the route below either way.

Kadikoy

Kadikoy is a hipsterish neighbourhood in Istanbul’s Asian side with many interesting shops and cafes. It reminds me of Shoreditch in London.

You will notice it’s way calmer and definitely more local than the European side of Istanbul.

Sakirin Mosque

As you’re heading from Kadikoy towards Uskudar, I recommend making a stop at Sakirin Mosque.

It is the first mosque designed by a woman!

The style is more modern and definitely different from other mosques you’ve seen already, and while not my favourite, it was still beautiful to visit.

The entrance is free.

Hafiz Mustafa 1864

Hafiz Mustafa 1864 is one of the most popular cafes and dessert shops in Istanbul.

There are many locations in the city, but we tried the cakes on the Asian side. I definitely recommend it to you.

Uskudar

Uskudar is a lively neighbourhood on the Asian side with beautiful views of the European side.

The most famous attraction there is the Maiden’s Tower.

According to the legend, an oracle warned an emperor that his daughter would die from a snake bite on her 18th birthday. He built a tower in the Bosphorus to protect her. But on her birthday, a snake hidden in a fruit basket bit her and she died in his arms, which gave the tower its name.

From there, you can take a ferry back to the European side.

Is Istanbul worth Visiting

Istanbul is a great intro into the Middle East world. It’s exactly how I started exploring this beautiful region.

It’s not only about the geography, Istanbul is truly a perfect mix of Europe and Asia. The architecture is beautiful, the food is amazing and there are beautiful views everywhere you go.

It’s not the cheapest destination, but it is very affordable to travel there.

Turks are one of the most hospitable and nicest people I have ever met and not even a second I felt that it wasn’t safe.

No matter if you’re travelling solo, with your partner or with kids, Istanbul is a destination worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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