How To Spend A Perfect Day In Istanbul

East has met West in Istanbul for millennia. The mighty Bosphorus River surges through this modern-day melting pot, breathing new life into an ancient city. Here’s how to spend a perfect day exploring Istanbul‘s storied streets, from its iconic mosques to buzzing markets.

Want to explore Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar? Book Culture Trip’s 12-day group tour where you’ll get to haggle for souvenirs and sip Turkish tea in one of the largest covered markets in the world.

Morning

Head to Ortaköy on the outskirts of Istanbul and feel the cool morning breeze as the light dapples the Ortaköy Mosque and Bosphorus Bridge. Visit this serene spot before the tourists arrive and stop for brunch at one of the little cafés along the waterfront.

Republic Monument in Taksim Square, the heart of the city

Pick up a tram from Taksim Square and ride along İstiklal Caddesi, a pedestrianised shopping street that hums with activity. These bright red trams are noisy and bumpy, but there’s no better way to feel like a local than riding one of Istanbul’s gorgeous, nostalgic streetcars.

İstiklal Caddesi, Istanbul’s largest shopping street

The tram system in Istanbul is cheap and easy to use

Buying one tram ticket allows you to hop on and off as you please. Take advantage of this to explore the many ancient arcades that branch from İstiklal Caddesi. Go with the flow of people who wander through these cool, dark passageways piled high with leather goods, spices and souvenirs.

Head to İstiklal Caddesi for some great shopping opps

Hop off in the Galata neighbourhood and visit the Galata Tower. This 14th-century tower, one of the oldest and tallest in Istanbul, offers panoramic views of the city.

Galata Tower in the old town offers unmissable views

Afternoon

Take the bridge connecting Galata to the Old Town. This idyllic spot provides views of Istanbul’s skyline and is dotted with hundreds of fishermen. Make sure to stop at one of the floating restaurants for a fish sandwich (balık ekmek), a local favourite.

Once you’ve visited the Blue Mosque, head down to the waterfront for great views

Cross from Europe to Asia over Galata Bridge

Street-food vendors are a common sight across the city

Next stop is the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul’s market where people have traded for hundreds of years. Roam the narrow corridors and be sure to look up at the beautiful faded frescos. The passageways are especially atmospheric when smoke from the grills catches shafts of light afforded by the centuries-old architecture.

Prepare for some serious haggling at the Grand Bazaar

Afterwards head to the Sahaflar Çarşısı. Even if you’re not obsessed with books, this market is well worth exploring, not least of all for the street cats who are treated here as fellow citizens. Literature lovers will lose themselves in the piles of rare Arabic and English titles.

Sahaflar Çarşısı is a book-lover’s delight

Street cats are a part of everyday life in Istanbul

Evening

No visit to Istanbul would be complete without seeing the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, a former Greek Orthodox basilica and later an Ottoman imperial mosque. From 1935, the Hagia Sophia, once the world’s largest building, was a museum, but in 2020 it was turned back into a mosque. Anyone can still visit, even non-Muslims, but make sure you dress appropriately.

The Blue Mosque is lined with 20,000 blue tiles

There’s no better way to end a day in Istanbul than watching the sunset from the Süleymaniye Mosque or Golden Horn Metro Bridge. The sunsets here are unparalleled, framing the silhouette of the city’s skyline while the evening call to prayer echoes all around.

Take a sunset ferry or cruise across the Bosphorus

Looking for the perfect place to start and end your day?

1. Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center

Chain Hotel

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Located in Istanbul’s central Şişli district, Hilton’s luxury hotel offers easy access to Taksim Square and İstiklal Caddesi. There’s an indoor pool and a seasonal rooftop pool for relaxing, as well as a spa and fine dining with 360-degree views of the city’s unmistakable skyline.

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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