Hence, to make the most of your trip, we have crafted the ultimate itinerary for your 2-day visit to Istanbul. From exploring the city’s ancient landmarks to indulging in its local cuisine and relaxing in its traditional hammams, our itinerary includes all the must-see attractions and activities in Istanbul. So grab your map and comfortable shoes, and get ready to discover this magnificent city in just 48 hours!

Day 1

HIGHTLIGHTS: Topkapi Palace > Hagia Sophia > Sultan Ahmet Mosque  > Cistern > Kapalı çarşı (Grand Bazaar)

After breakfast and coffee, a tour of Topkapi Palace. Topkapi Palace has been the center of the Ottoman Empire for centuries. The place where the sultan lived with his family and from where he led the empire. Keep in mind that a tour of Topkapi Palace requires a minimum of one hour, and most realistically two hours, because you do not want to just roar through its rooms and courtyards, but to stop for a while, look carefully and explore. At the very entrance to Topkapi there are guides who will offer you a guided tour of the palace. If you want to learn some behind the scenes stories, you can rent them, but if you did the reading alone, it will not be necessary.  Entrance to the palace itself costs about 17 euros and includes entrance to all rooms, including the Harem.

When you finish your tour of Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia is just a three-minute walk from the palace. We would note that Hagia Sophia does not mean Saint Sophia as many mistakenly think, but Holy Wisdom (in Greek sofia means wisdom).

Just across the street is the magnificent Sultan Ahmet Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque by the specific blue tiles it is decorated with. Pay attention to the minarets on this mosque. You will see that there are six of them, and behind that there is one interesting anecdote. Namely, when Sultan Ahmet ordered the construction of the mosque, he asked his architect that the mosque have an alti minaret, which means that it has golden minarets. However, the architect misheard the sultan and it seemed to him that he was looking for an altin minaret, that is, that the mosque has six minarets. It would not be so terrible if the rule that only the mosque in Mecca can have the largest number of minarets does not apply in the Islamic world, and at that time only it had six minarets. The problem was solved by the sultan ordering the addition of another, seventh minaret to the mosque in Mecca.

If you started the day at 10am, you should finish these tours by 2pm. So now take a break in one of the cafes located on the square or buy a bagel (simit) from one of the local vendors, sit on a bench by the fountain and enjoy the view. Nearby you may also visit Basilica, ie the Cistern which is located a few steps from the Hagia Sophia. The basilica was built in the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Justinian, that is, while Istanbul was Constantinople, and it served as an underground reservoir that supplied Istanbul with water centuries later. The ticket price for the Basilica is around 3 euros, depending on the euro-lira ratio.

After this half-day history lesson, it’s time for shopping. From the Basilica you can descend directly towards the Kapalı çarşı (closed market). Kapalı çarşı is one of, in our opinion, the most beautiful places in Istanbul. Once there, pay attention to the building itself, its corridors and vaults. It has been like this for several centuries and represents one of the oldest markets in the world.

After all that shopping, make sure to relax in one of Sultanahmet traditional restaurants.

Day 2

HIGHTLIGHTS: Bosphorus cruise > Galata bridge > The Tünel > Galata tower > Istiklal Street > Taksim Square

Start the second day of your stay in Istanbul by cruising the Bosphorus. From the port of Eminonu, which is located near the Galata Bridge, many tourist boats gather every day. Our recommendation is TURYOL which is located on the left side of the bridge. They have departures every half hour, and the price of the cruise costs around 2 euros. Of course, there are also options with lunch and music on board, but they are a bit more expensive. The cruise lasts about an hour and a half, and don’t forget to dress well because it’s always chilly on the boat.

When you return to the shore, you can immediately climb the Galata bridge and cross to the other shore and climb uphill to Galata Tower. We must mention here that it is a very strong climb, so if you are not used to walking, you better look for a taxi! You can also take a short funicular called The Tünel. This is a historic subway funicular line, located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn. It has two stations, connecting the quarters of Karaköy and Beyoğlu. Its tunnel goes uphill from close to sea level and is about 573 metres (1,880 feet) long. Inaugurated on January 17th, 1875, the Tünel is the second-oldest extant subterranean urban rail line in the world, after the London Underground (1863).

From here you can walk through Istiklal Street to Taksim Square. While this may seem like a bit of an activity in one day, trust me a good portion of the day will get lost once you walk all this places. Spend the rest of your day wondering Istiklal Street and Taksim area.

Day 3

HIGHTLIGHTS: Pierre Lotti > Balat > Dolmabahçe Palace > Besiktas > Ortaköy

Start this day with a breakfast and coffe at Piere Lotti from where you can see the whole of Istanbul. To get up there you will eather need to take a taxi or a cable car. Of course, our choice is a cable car that you can pay with your Istanbul kart. After enjoying the vie and real Turkish breakfast (kahvalti), head towards Balat, one of our most favourite places in the city.

Balat has become very popular among tourists in recent years, and the reason for its popularity is the large number of Turkish series that are filmed here. Balat is known for its colourful streets, craft shops, cafes that are in retro style and its atmosphere that permeates through this area. Here, children are still playing on the street, and their mothers invite them to dinner from the window, women still share sugar and oil among themselves, and the shops look like they used to in the past. Get lost in the streets of Balat, sit on the steps and feed the street cats, treat the children on the street with sweets and they will return the big smile and bow. Make sure to visit Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church famous for its brick facade.

After Balat, continue your tour at Dolmabahçe Palace. The Dolmabahçe Palace was built in the 19th century by order of Sultan Abdulmajit, who, after traveling to Europe, was delighted with the splendor of the courts there and wanted the Ottoman Empire to have an equally magnificent palace. When the Ottoman Empire fell and the republic was proclaimed in 1924, Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish republic, lived here. Dolmabahçe Palace is easily reached by direct tram line from Sultanahmet. The price for Dolmabahce Palace with a ticket for the Harem costs about 15 euros.

After the tour, head towards Besiktas, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Istanbul, and just 20 minute walk from Dolmabahçe Palace. This region is located on the European part of the Bosphorus. It is considered one of the most famous and vital areas in the European section of the city. There you will find many restaurants, caffes and shops, perfect for relaxation after the palace tour. If you are a football fan, you can visit Besiktas stadium.

Finnish you day at Ortaköy neighbourhood, located by the Bosphorus coastline on the European side resembles a string of villages, each with their own individual character and attractions, and indeed that’s just what it was. Aside from the bustle of everyday life, there are several good reasons to come this friendly neighborhood. Look at any Ortaköy photos to see the beautiful Ortaköy Camii (Ortaköy Mosque); a neo-Baroque building, right on the waterfront that has recently undergone major renovation works. In the same area is one of Istanbul’s oldest hamams, built by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan in 1556, and the influential education establishments of Galatasary University and the Kabataş Erkek Lisesi.

Day 4

HIGHTLIGHTS: Uskudar > Çamlıca > Maidens tower > Kadıköy > Kadıköy Bazaar > Moda Tea Garden

The fourth day is reserved for touring the Asian side of Istanbul, at least as much as can be seen during one day. The easiest way to get to the Asian part is by ferry from Eminonu port. Make the most of the day by walking along the coast of Uskudar and drinking tea in one of the cafes by the water.

Here you will find the charming Tellalzade Street known for its craft shops and antique shops.

After that, we sugest to choose between the toy museum and Çamlıca because they are in completely different places of Uskudar. You can find the toy museum on Instagram as Istanbul Oyuncak Muzesi. In this museum there are incredible examples of toys that are over a hundred years old. On the other hand, Çamlıca is a mosque located on the highest point of Istanbul, which offers a view of the European part, or a completely different panorama from the one you saw from the Pierre Loti lookout. Also, while in Uskudar, visit the Maidens tower. The Maiden’s Tower (Turkish: Kız Kulesi), is a tower on a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait 200 m (220 yd) from the coast. After Uskudar, head to Kadıköy. There are restaurants, cafes, galleries, bars, pubs, shops and many other facilities that stand out from what you see on the European side. Many say that Kadıköy is a good place to escape and relax, so let’s get into the exploration. The first thing you should definitely try is to drink tea at the Moda Tea Garden. In addition to enjoying tea, here you will be enchanted by the spectacular views. Enjoy tea with beautiful sea views. Locals suggest that you come here in the evening and enjoy the sunsets.

There are also many hipster shops, mini markets, antique shops, souvenir shops. If you like sweets, visit Baylan Pastanesi, a patisserie opened back in 1961. Here you will surely be photographed for Instagram because the layout of the front window and interior is authentic.