4 Days in Istanbul

Istanbul formerly known as Constantinople is largest city and the financial capital of Turkey. It was the capital of both the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

Day1: Galata Tower and Taksim

Visit Galata tower, there is a lift inside the tower which takes you upto the 7th floor. You have to walk up the last two floors to the observation desk which is the best place to take photos. Walk around the neighborghood streets in the area stop by in a cafe and enjoy Turksh coffee and some baklava. Then continue on the walking street to Taksim square.

Day2: Sultanahmet Area

Visit the major attractions of this area namely the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophi, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar. Visit the 7 hills restaurant for some amazing views of Hagia Sofia. You can also try feeding the sea gulls.

Day3: Bosphorus cruise

Sail around the Bosphorous river and try having a lunch around Eminönü at one of the many seafood restaurants located at the start of Galata Bridge. Watch the numerous fishermen fishing from the top of the bridge. You can also visit the New Mosque, Eminonu Bazaar, Mısır Çarşısı and Süleymaniye Mosque.

Day 4: Bebek, Ortaköy and Hammam

Try something out of the beaten track. Try having a meal in Bebek, enjoy the view from one of the cafes/restaurants and walk along the boardwalk.

Visit Ortaköy Mosque which has amazing Neo-Baroque architecture. There are several shops and cafes in this area. Not to miss out on is the local fast food called Kumpir (baked with various fillings). There are also several Waffle Stores which are not to be missed out on! If your into museums Archaeology Museum and Kariye Museum could be of interest.

Get scrubbed in a Turkish Hammam to refresh yourself before your trip back.

For shopaholics Istanbul has a lot of malls and the prices are fairly affordable specially the local brands. So if you are looking for a shopping experience you might want to extend your stay by a day or two.

Stay:

Taksim: Heart of modern Istanbul located in the European part. It is filled with restaurants, shops and hotels.

Sultanahmet: The old part of the city close to the main attractions like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophi, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar.

Transport:

Taksim: Heart of modern Istanbul located in the European part. It is filled with restaurants, shops and hotels.

Sultanahmet: The old part of the city close to the main attractions like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophi, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar.

Istanbul Card can be bought in a local kiosk and costs about 15 Turkish Liras. As of 2021 you can only use Istanbul card that is linked to a valid HES code.

Metros, buses and ferries: All these can only be accessed if you have a active Istanbul card. Entire Istanbul is quite well connected with all the three modes of public transport and a single journey normally costs in the range of 2.5-4.5 TL. Google maps seems to work pretty accurately with the timetables.

Taxis: Taxis are plentiful and fairly cheap specially if you compare it with other western countries. Taxis normally run on meter however they may not agree to go by meter if there is heavy traffic so make sure you have a price range in mind to negotiate. A taxi fare from Istanbul Airport to Taksim Square (Approx 42 Kms, 40-50 min ride in low traffic hour) can cost somewhere around 160-180 TL (18-20€).