With 4 days available in our schedule after our wedding but before our Honeymoon in Mexico, we decided to book 4 days in Istanbul! We found reasonably priced flights and had always wanted to see this highly regarded city. So, the spare 4 days we had seemed like the perfect moment to visit Istanbul for the first time!
Being on the cusp of Europe and Asia, and the home to thousands of mosques, abundant sunshine, and a load of sights, it made sense to take 4 days in Istanbul to see it all! Having returned from the trip – we can definitely attest to Istanbul being added to everyone’s bucket lists! It’s amazing! And we think spending 4 days in Istanbul is the perfect amount of time to see all of the sights, eat plenty of amazing food, and take in the vibe of what is one of the best cities in the world!
Our 4 Days in Istanbul Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 in Istanbul
- Arrive in Istanbul, check into hotel
- Sultanahmet Walking Tour
- Visit Blue Mosque
Day 2 in Istanbul
- Hagia Sofia Museum
- Topkapi Palace
- Basilica Cistern
- Bosphorus Boat Trip
- Dinner overlooking Galata Tower
Day 3 in Istanbul
- Hamami Experience
- Visit Grand Bazaar
- Visit Spice Market
Day 4 in Istanbul
- Walk Istiklal Boulevard
- View of Golden Horn from mountain cable car
Day 5 in Istanbul
- Sunrise and departure
What To Do In Istanbul
Sultanahmet Walking Tour
After checking into our hotel, we changed into our comfy shoes and walked over to the Sultanahmet to join a walking tour! We joined an English-speaking free tour , starting at the fountain at Sultanahmet. We spent 3 hours heading to all of the major spots of interest, whilst finding out about the history of Istanbul. It was a really interesting tour and gave us ample knowledge about customs and spots we wanted to visit whilst in Istanbul.
By the time the tour ended we were all exhausted since we’d had an overnight flight to Istanbul. We decided to to stop for a hearty delicious Turkish lunch nearby the end of the walking tour to regroup. *I’ve listed everywhere we ate below, so keep scrolling!
Visit Blue Mosque
After our lunch post-walking tour, we decided we just had to go to visit the Blue Mosque before leaving the Sultanahmet. The Blue Mosque is still used as a place of worship, so it’s closed to non worshippers for 30 minutes during the five daily prayers! Before entering the Blue Mosque’s courtyard, women must take a head scarf, and everyone must take a skirt if shorts/pants/skirts aren’t longer than mid-calf.
After we entered, it was interesting to see all of the decoration within the mosque. It is called the Blue Mosque because it has blue tiles on its exterior. The interior however has not many blue tiles which I was half-expecting due to its name. You can visit the Blue Mosque for free – so please don’t miss out on seeing this gorgeous place of worship.
Visit Hagia Sofia Museum
Located durectly opposite the Blue Mosque is the Hagia Sofia Museum. It is one of the most incredible buildings in the world! First built in 356AD, the current structure has been standing since 537AD!!! It’s been a Christian church until 1453, where it changed to become a mosque. Though since 1934 it has been a museum for the public to visit! AND it’s my FAVOURITE building in Istanbul!! It cost us just 60 Turkish Lira to enter the Hagia Sofia.
I recommend going towards the start of the day as it’s the most visited attraction in Istanbul. Also, it’s not a museum the way the Louvre is a museum. It’s the building that is the museum. Being able to see the way the mosque was used under different religions is very unique! You can look at christian art next to muslim art on the same wall.
Visit Topkapi Palace
There’s so much to love about Topkapı Palace in Istanbul!! The grounds, the views & the rooms are all stunning. My favourite area was the Imperial hall from the Harem where the sultan’s wives and concubines lived – just so boujee! Everything is extra at Topkapi Palace, from the smallest toilet room to the perfectly manicured gardens.
It takes about 2 hours to visit if you want to see everything and also take a breather at the cafe. The view from the cafe over the Bosphorus is fantastic and so is the Turkish coffee they serve. A visit to the Topkapi Palace will cost you 60 Turkish Lira.
Visit Basilica Cistern
A great spot to get away from the beating sun, we went underground to visit the Basilica Cistern. This unique tourist attraction is a water storage facility..! Created to make sure there was enough drinking water in Istanbul in the case of attack. It has an eerie feeling but most of all it is beautiful!
Bosphorus Boat Trip
After walking down to Eminonou waterside, where the Galata bridge is, you will find lots of boats! There are quite a lot of boat tours of the Bosphorous running all day, so just jump on a boat and take any of the tours. Our tour took us as far as Fatih Sultan Mehmetbrug and took 2 hours to complete.
The tours cost €10 per person and are a relaxing way to spend a few hours seeing Istanbul from another angle! As being a tourist is often quite taxing on the legs and feet, taking a whopping 20,000 steps per day, the boat trip is the perfect afternoon activity.
Galata Tower
The Galata Tower sits high above the skyline of Istanbul on the north side of the Golden Horn. This medieval tower is open to the public for excellent views – and thankfully there is an elevator so you don’t need to climb up 60 metres of stairs! However, there is a long line to get into the Galata Tower! So, my tip is to go first thing in the morning when it opens!
We visited during golden hour, about 5pm and the line was extremely long! So, we instead went up to the top of the hotel next door to the Galata Tower for almost the exact same view – for free! The hotel is called Anemon – make sure you keep this as your plan B if the tower line is long!
Hamami Experience
The Turkish Hamami experience was something else! We chose to go to one of the oldest hamam’s in Istanbul (began 1584) as it had an excellent reputation and locals suggested that this was THE PLACE to go – better than the more famous hamam’s. Located not far from the Grand Bazaar, Cemberlitas Hamami has a stunning set up inside!
After entering the bathing room, we were instructed to lie on the giant circular slab of marble which heats due to the rooms temperatore to help your pores open. After this, a lady then must scrub your body head to toe for around 15 minutes, which is both invigorating and helps get rid of dead skin, bring a fresh new layer out!
After the scrub, then it was time for a face mask and oil massage. By the time this was all over, my skin was the softest its ever been and I was truly relaxed!
Visit the Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is an incredible place! It feels never-ending, with row after row of shops selling all kinds of items! The main products to find are rugs, lanterns, plate-ware, jewellery, scarfs, Turkish delight and trinkets.
The vibe inside is really warm and welcoming, yet intense due to the constant buying and deal-making happening around you! Try not to get carried away buying everything you see – as you’ll no doubt see it again a few stalls down!
Visit the Spice Market
The Spice Market was my favourite market to visit in Istanbul! It feels a bit more orderly, yet also just as much warm and welcoming as the Grand Bazaar. It is also smaller so it is easier to visit! We found some amazing Turkish delight and bought ourselves some spices unique to Turkey, too! You can’t leave Istanbul without buying some spices from the spice market!
Walk Istiklal Boulevard
Istiklal Boulevard stretches from Taksim Square down to Galata Tower and is car-free! Pedestrians can walk this long boulevard, only watching for the occasional Tram to pass through the middle of the street. Along Istiklal are some amazing shops as well as great food and is buzzing with people all day long!
View of Golden Horn from Pierre Loti Hill
If you have time, head to Pierre Loti and ride the cable car to the top of the hill to view the Golden Horn from an alternate perspective. The cable car is really cheap and only takes a couple of minutes to ride – but the views from the top are wonderful. It’s a great spot to relax, people watch and have a drink.
Dining & Drinking in Istanbul
We had an absolutely great time eating and drinking in Istanbul! Yes – we drank alcohol and visited during Ramadan! Here are all of the places I highly recommend after eating my way around Istanbul:
Şirvan Sofrasi
Located near the little Hagia Sofia, we ate here after finishing the walking tour we took on our first day in Istanbul. I had a glorious meal of chicken kebab and tomato rice.
Küçük Ayasofya, Küçük Ayasofya Cd. No: 71, 34122 Fatih / Istanbul, Turkey
Aura Terrace
Located close to the Blue Mosque, this terrace has an incredible view of the mosques of Sultanahmet, but an even more incredible host! We were also served large glasses of cold Stella Artois whilst we gazed out over the views. Their food menu look amazing, but we unfortunately never made it back for an evening meal – which I hope to do when returning to Istanbul!
Cankurtaran, Mimar Mehmet Ağa Cd. No: 13, 34122 Fatih / Istanbul, Turkey
Palatium Cafe & Restaurant
This restaurant was an ultimate find! On our first evening in Istanbul we found this place just behind our hotel and were so happy with everything about this restaurant! After our meal, our waiter offered to let us go to the crypt underneath the restaurant which has been excavated.
Cankurtaran, Kutlugün Sk. 33-35, 34122 Fatih / Istanbul, Turkey
Anemon Hotel Terrace
This restaurant is on the rooftop and overlooks the Galata Tower, having also the same view as what the Galata Tower has. We found the line to go up the Galata Tower too long, so we opted to head to this restaurant for a cocktail, and stayed for a wonderful dinner also! The ambience was wonderful, with a live pianist playing whilst we ate.
Bereketzade, Büyük Hendek Cd., 34421 Beyoğlu / İstanbul, Turkey
Pierre Loti Roof Terrace
After our Hamami experience at Cemberlitas, we stumbled upon this rooftop restaurant, which I’d love to have gone back to for dinner! The food was fantastic, as was the service – and of course, the view!
Binbirdirek, Piyerloti Cad. Pierre Loti Hotel No: 1, 34122 Fatih / Sultanahmet / Fatih / Istanbul, Turkey
Mitani Cafe
On the same street as our hotel, this restaurant and hookah bar was a constant draw-card. Everyday we passed it and the man who worked there always had time for jokes with us. So one night before heading back to our rooms after dinner, we stopped in for a drink and hookah. The man working taught us the art of blowing bubbles from hookah smoke
Cankurtaran, Akbıyık Cd. No: 34, 34122 Fatih / Istanbul, Turkey
Zencefil
In Istanbul you mostly come across meat on menus. It’s a really meat + bread + fries kind of dining experience, which I can’t fault because I absolutely loved the food in Turkey! However, we went to Zencefil near Taksim Square to enjoy some vegan food! It was a cute little cafe with a really lovely owner who makes homey local food with a vegan twist!
Şehit Muhtar, Kurabiye Sk. 8-10, 34435 Beyoglu / Istanbul, Turkey
Saray Muhallebicisi
This cafe is found along Istiklal, twice! Being a super old cafe, they have a great reputation! We went to their rooftop terrace and ate their amazing baklava with a side of vanilla Turkish ice-cream! Take me back!
Topkapi Palace
The people working at the Topkapi Palace waterside cafe are delightful! After we finished our time at the Palace we relaxed in the outdoor space of the cafe, drinking a traditional Turkish coffee, paired with baklava (of course!)
Nars Brasserie
For us – this place was by far the very best place we ate in Istanbul! Make sure you grab dinner at Nars if in Istanbul! The owner is a charming and humble man named Mehmet who is all about taking care of his guests! I think I would go back to Istanbul just to eat at Nars again!!
Alemdar, Divan Yolu Caddesi, Şeftali Sk. Numara: 10, 34110 Fatih, Turkey
Getting to Istanbul
We flew from Amsterdam to Istanbul on Pegasus, and our way back with Turkish Airlines. If there’s one thing I can recommend is DO NOT FLY PEGASUS! The flight with Pegasus was cheap, but it was just not worth the money saving! The flight attendants were rude and all 4 of us travelling had the worst time on the flight. Turkish Airlines however was a breath of fresh air! I can’t recommend them highly enough! If you are looking at booking flights into Istanbul, please try to avoid Pegasus and fly with Turkish instead!
Turkish Airlines also flies into the new Istanbul Airport (IST) which is a wonderful airport and a short drive away from the city. Whereas the Sabiha airport which Pegasus uses is quite far away!
Where To Stay (& not stay) for 4 Days in Istanbul
We stayed at a hotel within the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul – which was the best area to stay at, in my opinion! We were a stones throw away from the palace, the major mosques, and some great food, whilst also being within walking distance of the markets and the Bosphorus river.
Unfortunately, we stayed at the Emporio Suites, which ended up being a big let down. I had high hopes based on reviews and photos, but really it’s only redeeming qualities was its location, and that it has a lovely rooftop restaurant/bar overlooking both the Hagia Sofia and the Bosphorus. Actually, I couldn’t think of a better view!
The big problems for us with this hotel were the breakfast which was almost inedible. Thankfully the air-con within the hotel didn’t work so we weren’t hungry in the mornings since we were so hot. Actually, the air-con not working was the biggest issue. We would open the windows at night for airflow, but would be woken by stray dogs barking, late night party goers and the big one, the call for prayer. This wouldn’t have been an issue if we had air-con and our windows closed!
I do recommend staying within the Sultanahmet though – it’s very nice being so close to the main attractions.
Visiting Istanbul during Ramadan
We visited Istanbul right in the middle of Ramadan. Did this change our experience? Not really! During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink during sunlight hours. However, they serve food and beverages during these hours to the tourists. So, you will most likely not have a problem getting fed and watered during this time of year. When you hear call to prayer whilst you are at a restaurant, you may notice for a short period, the entire staff goes missing. This may be as little as 5 minutes and is so they can pray.
We found that since Muslims give themselves approximately one hour to complete their prayer moment, they will all take their short breaks after each other during that hour, so that service at restaurants can continue as normal.
Also, once the sunlight went down – dinner time for the Muslim waiters began. So we often saw them sat inside the restaurant having a massive feast! If we required help, the wait staff was attentive, though. We found at some restaurants there were also time periods where the staff could not serve alcohol to customers.
My advice is to be patient and understanding of the cultural differences! It is after all, part of the joy of travel – to experience differences in cultures! If this wasn’t interesting, we’d all stay at home.
Shout out to my parents for being awesome travel buddies in Istanbul!
Keen to head to Istanbul? Let me help you!
Make sure you get the cheapest flights via Skyscanner!
Need accommodation? Get your place booked on Airbnb! Or more of a hotel person? Search Booking.com!
Let me know if you are heading to Istanbul and if you have any questions for me!
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And above all – have fun!
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Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!
One thought on “How To Spend 4 Days In Istanbul”
Brought back so many memories, great blog