Istanbul is a magical city, with so much to discover – especially for somebody with an interest in history and architecture. Four days is a great amount of time to get to know Istanbul and explore its different sights and areas. Here’s my itinerary of the top things to see and do in four days.
What’s in this blog:
Day one: Explore Sultanahmet
Sultanahmet is the oldest part of the city, and many of Istanbul’s main sights are concentrated here. There is a lot to see and do in this part of this city, so I’ve suggested spreading it over two days.
The Hagia Sophia
Start with Istanbul’s most famous building, the Hagia Sophia. This iconic Byzantine church-turned-mosque is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It was built more than 1,500 years ago – and for almost 1000 years, it was the world’s largest cathedral. Following the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453, it was converted into a mosque. Its influence across Christian and Islamic architecture was huge.
Allow yourself at least an hour to visit the Hagia Sophia, maybe longer. This is because it’s very popular and queues can be long. However, by arriving early in the morning you can beat the crowds. As of 2024, the Hagia Sophia costs about £25.
The Blue Mosque
Facing across the square to the Hagia Sophia is the much newer (built in the 1600s) Blue Mosque, arguably the most beautiful building in Istanbul. It’s officially called the Sultan Ahmet mosque – named after the sultan who commissioned it. But most commonly it’s known as the Blue Mosque, so-called because of the thousands of blue tiles that make up its stunning interior.
The mosque is free to visit, but it’s very popular so queues can be long. It’s also a working mosque, which means that it closes to tourists during prayer times. You can find out more about the Blue Mosque and its history here.
The Hippodrome
The square outside the Blue Mosque is called Sultan Ahmet Square. Once, though, this was the location of the Hippodrome – the sporting, social and political heart of ancient Byzantium.
There’s not too much to see now, but a number of the important monuments that once adorned the Hippodrome can still be found in the square, including the Egyptian Obelisk – which is more than 3,000 years old, and was brought to Istanbul by Emperor Theodosius. You can find out a bit more about the Hippodrome here.
The Basilica Cistern
If you’re not too tired of sightseeing, head to one of Istanbul’s most unusual sights: the Basilica Cistern. This underground marvel, known as the Sunken Palace, once provided water to the ancient city. It was built under Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD, making it more than 1,500 years old and one of the oldest surviving structures in the city. Considering this, the Cistern is in excellent shape.
It’s propped up by more than 300 columns, many of which were shipped from across the Empire, from even older pagan temples. Flooded with atmospheric lighting reflecting off the now-shallow pools of water, it’s an eerie walk. In one corner, you’ll find two giant stone heads of Medusa, adding to the atmosphere. It’s well worth going to see it.
Half an hour is probably plenty of time to see the Cistern – but as with many of the other sights in the city, leave time to queue. As of 2024, it costs 800 Turkish lira – about £20. It also opens at night – from 7.30pm to 11.30pm. But the price is hiked up for the late shift, to 1300 Turkish lira. Find out more about the Basilica Cistern here.
Explore where to stay in Istanbul
Day two: Topkapi Palace and traditional Hammam
On day two, head back to Sultanahmet, but beeline to the Topkapi Palace. This palace complex was the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century until the 19th.
The Palace is made up of four large courtyards, across which you’ll find countless exhibitions, stunning rooms and buildings and the sultan’s private Harem. There’s nowhere better to learn about the Ottoman Empire and how it worked.
The Topkapi Palace is huge, and you could easily spend half a day here, or even longer. It’s one of the most popular attractions in the city: make sure to arrive early to beat the crowds. As of 2024, the Topkapi Palace and Harem costs a very steep £40. If you’re interested in history and architecture, this is likely worth it, as it’s one of the best things to do in Istanbul.
If you do decide to visit the Topkapi Palace, read my guide of top things to see here.
Traditional Hammam
After traipsing around the gigantic Topkapi Palace, you’ll need a bit of a respite. Head to one of Istanbul’s many traditional hammams. Hammams originated in the Ottoman Empire, meaning the Turkish bath ritual goes back centuries. Today most of them have evolved into luxurious, relaxing places, but the traditional ritual remains. This includes the famous ‘scrubbing’ ritual, where you’ll have dead skin rubbed off. Of your body, and a bubble massage – where you’ll be absolutely covered in bubbles and given a massage. You’ll come out feeling like a new person.
There are many hammams across Istanbul, several of which go back hundreds of years and in many cases were commissioned by sultans. We went to the Hurram Sultan Hammam outside the Hagia Sophia. It was commissioned by Hurrem Sultan, wife of Suleyman the Magnificent, and designed by Mimar Sinan, the most famous Turkish architect. Prices start from about £70, and it’s a wonderful experience. Cheaper hammams are available elsewhere in the city.
Most hammams have separate spaces for men and women.
Day three: the Bazaars and Galata
Grand Bazaar
What to say about the Grand Bazaar? One of the oldest shopping malls in the world, and one of the largest covered markets. It has also previously topped lists of the world’s most visited tourist destinations. Simply, it’s one of the most emblematic places in Istanbul. Across more than 61 covered streets you’ll find (literally) thousands of shops. So my best advice is, simply, get lost. Eventually you’ll find your way out. Just explore, take in the sights, and enjoy it.
Make sure to check the Grand Bazaar is open when you visit. It’s closed on Sundays, and is also closed on public holidays. Plenty of tours are available of the Bazaar, which are a great way to explore it too.
Süleymaniye Mosque
A short walk from the Grand Bazaar is another of Istanbul’s beautiful buildings: the Süleymaniye Mosque. The mosque crowns one of Istanbul’s many hills. It’s well worth the steep walk up, though. From the terrace outside the mosque you’re greeted with sweeping views across the Golden Horn and towards Galata. The building itself is stunning, another of Istanbul’s monumental imperial mosques. The Süleymaniye Mosque predates the Blue Mosque, and was designed by Mimar Sinan – the greatest architect from the Ottoman Empire. Aside from its obvious beauty and impressive size, it was a very significant and influential building.
The Süleymaniye Mosque is free to enter. The same rules apply as to the Blue Mosque and others in the city – it will be closed during prayer times. Find out more about the building here.
Spice Bazaar
Close to the Grand Bazaar you’ll find the much smaller – much more sensory – Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar. Here is where you’ll find those famous images of stalls with spices piled up high. It’s a great place to try and buy food, including olives, Turkish delight and – of course – spices.
Like the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar is hundreds of years old. It was built in the 17th century and has a long history as the centre of Istanbul’s spice trade.
The Galata Bridge
The Spice Bazaar opens up onto the square Eminonu Meydani, where you’ll also find the New Mosque (another of Istanbul’s beautiful mosques!) and the Galata Bridge. You can walk across the Galata Bridge to to the other side of the Golden Horn, where you’ll find the Galata Tower and Istiklal Caddesi (see below).
It’s a pretty walk, where you’ll get great views to both sides of the river, including of Suliymaniye Mosque domineering over the skyline. But be warned, the fish restaurants along the bridge will hassle you to get you to come in, and most of them are tourist traps.
Galata Tower and district
Across the river, I’d suggest taking the funicular up the hill. This will take you up to the Beyoglu district, where you’ll find another of Istanbul’s iconic landmarks: the Galata Tower. Built in the 14th century as a watchtower by Genoese merchants, who had a colony in the area, the Galata Tower was the tallest building in Istanbul for hundreds of years. It still has a prominent position in the skyline, visible from much of the city.
You can go up the tower, where you’ll be rewarded with 360 degrees views of Istanbul. But this is pretty expensive (about £25, 30 euros). Instead you could opt to go to a rooftop bar, where you’ll be rewarded with equally extraordinary views across the Golden Horn for the price of a drink. One such bar is at the Bank Hotel.
Istiklal Caddesi
One of Istanbul’s most famous streets, and the bustling heart of ‘new’ Istanbul. Handsome Ottoman-era buildings (mostly 19th and 20th centuries) line the pretty street, now filled with chain shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants. Jutting off it are countless narrow streets to get lost in, also filled with interesting shops, bars and restaurants. Make sure to pop into the Cicek Pasaji, a beautiful covered arcade.
Taksim Square
Istiklal Caddesi ends at Taksim Square, one of the main squares in the city. This is where many protests and demonstrations have taken place. At its centre you’ll find the Republic Monument, built to commemorate the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
Day four: Explore the Bosphorus
For us, one of the absolute highlights of Istanbul was exploring the Bosphorus. The whole way along the strait, which separates Europe and Asia, you’ll find palaces, fortresses and many other types of stunning and important buildings. Going on a ferry tour of the Bosphorus is a must.
You could dedicate a whole day to exploring the Bosphorus. You can either get a full day ferry tour – some of which go all the way to the Black Sea – or opt for a shorter tour and explore some of the main sights by land.
Some of the key landmarks that you’ll see on a ferry tour, or that you could visit on land, include the Rumeli Fortress – an imposing stone fortress built by the Ottomans as part of their conquest of the city – and the Dolmabahce Palace – a beautiful Ottoman baroque palace, which was the administrative centre of the Empire for a period in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are also plenty of charming neighbourhoods along the Bosphorus to explore.
Here’s my guide to top things to see on a Bosphorus cruise. And here’s my guide for your key options when planning how to explore the Bosphorus.
If you didn’t have time to fit everything in on one of the other days, or there’s something else that takes your fancy (see the list below), you can opt for a shorter tour – such as two hours or half a day.
Other great things to do in Istanbul
The itinerary in this blog is just one suggestion, based on my experiences of Istanbul. But there are plenty more things to see in the city. Some of the other main sights which you might want to dedicate time to include:
The Istanbul Archeological Museums – an enormous museum complex (technically three separate museums) showcasing more than a million artefacts from throughout human history.
The Pera Museum – One of Istanbul’s main art galleries, with a focus on 19th century art.
Istanbul Modern – Turkey’s first museum dedicated to modern art, with a focus on Turkish artists, in a building by famous architect Renzo Piano.
Dolmabahçe Palace – A 19th century palace, inspired by Western Architecture, with many lavish rooms. It cost so much to build it contributed to bankrupting the Ottoman Empire.
Chora Church/Kariye Mosque – a 14th century Byzantine church which has since been turned into a mosque. The church is famous for its almost entirely intact interior and stunning mosaics.
In this guide I’ve covered the top attractions in Istanbul. But there is so much more to discover in Turkey’s biggest city. Read a guide to the unique and less-touristy things to do in Istanbul here.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Istanbul, I always use booking.com to try and find the best deal.
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