I built this for a group of friends who want to see the big sights and still have fun: a Turkish bath, an island bike ride and late night food. You stay around Taksim, where the streets stay lively until after midnight.
A real Turkish bath from 1584Biking on car free BüyükadaKadıköy street food and a Moda sunsetBest in Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
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Hotels, 3 nightsShown for your dates when you make it yours
Prices are checked when you open the plan, a month ahead. They are never saved in it.
Day 1 Arrive, İstiklal and a grill house dinner
14:00Land at Istanbul Airport, transfer to TaksimA van is cheaper than two taxis once you are four or more with bags.Istanbul Airport · about 1 hr · 470 TRY per person to 3,500 TRY per van
15:30Check in near TaksimDrop the bags and grab an Istanbulkart at the Taksim metro.Taksim · about 1 hr 15 min · FreeArrive by transfer
17:00Walk İstiklal AvenueThe city's main walking street. Duck into the side passages, and stop at Mandabatmaz for a tiny, thick Turkish coffee.Beyoğlu · about 1 hr 30 min · FreeWalk, 5 min
18:45Galata Tower at sunsetThe balcony runs all the way round. Expect a queue at sunset, so join it by 18:30.Galata · about 1 hr · Approx 1,500 TRY per person (priced at 30 EUR)Walk downhill, 10 min
20:15Dinner at Zübeyir OcakbaşıSit at the grill counter and watch the chef work the coals. Book ahead on weekends. Alcohol is served here; the meat is halal.Beyoğlu · about 1 hr 30 min · 900 to 1,500 TRY · Order: Adana kebab and lamb shish off the grillWalk uphill, 20 min
22:15Late night dürüm at DürümzadeA tiny late night wrap shop that everyone ends up at after a night out on İstiklal.Beyoğlu · about 30 min · 250 to 400 TRY · Order: Chicken or beef dürüm wrapWalk, 6 min
Tip: One Istanbulkart can be tapped for several people, but it is easier if everyone loads their own.
Day 2 Old city, the Grand Bazaar and a Turkish bath
09:00Hagia SophiaVisitors use the upper gallery entrance. Dress modestly; women need a headscarf.Sultanahmet · about 1 hr 15 min · Approx 1,300 TRY per person (priced at 25 EUR)
10:30Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)Shoes off, knees and shoulders covered.Sultanahmet · about 45 min · FreeWalk, 5 min
11:30Basilica CisternWalkways over the water between hundreds of old columns, with the Medusa heads at the back.Sultanahmet · about 45 min · Approx 1,950 TRY per personWalk, 6 min
13:00Lunch at Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim UstaGrilled köfte since 1920; fast, cheap and filling.Sultanahmet · about 45 min · 350 to 600 TRY · Order: Köfte with piyaz (white bean salad)Walk, 3 min
14:15Grand BazaarSplit up for an hour and meet at a gate. Bargain hard but friendly; start around half the first price.Beyazıt · about 2 hrs · free to enterWalk, 12 min
16:45Turkish bath at Çemberlitaş HamamıA real hamam built in 1584, with separate sections for men and women. Go for the scrub and foam wash.Çemberlitaş · about 1 hr 30 min · Approx 3,000 to 4,500 TRY per personWalk, 8 min
19:30Dinner at Hamdi RestaurantBig plates of kebab for the table and a Golden Horn view from the top floor. Book ahead.Eminönü · about 1 hr 30 min · 900 to 1,600 TRY · Order: Pistachio kebab, Ali Nazik and lahmacun to shareT1 tram to Eminönü, 10 min
Tip: Bring swimwear or shorts for the hamam; they give you a peştemal (cotton wrap) and a towel.
Day 3 Island day and Kadıköy by ferry
09:00Ferry from Kabataş to BüyükadaGet to the pier 20 minutes early in summer and grab seats on the open deck.Kabataş · about 1 hr 30 min · Approx 80 to 150 TRY per person with Istanbulkart
10:45Büyükada and Aya Yorgi hillNo cars on the island. Rent bikes near the pier and ride up toward Aya Yorgi hill for views over the Sea of Marmara.Büyükada, Princes' Islands · about 2 hrs 30 min · Bike hire approx 250 to 500 TRY per personFerry, 90 min
13:15Fish lunch on the Büyükada seafrontThe restaurants lined up along the harbour all grill the catch of the day; compare menus and prices before you sit.Büyükada · about 1 hr 15 min · 800 to 1,500 TRY · Order: Grilled fish of the day and fried calamariBike back to the pier, 15 min
16:30Kadıköy market streetsFishmongers, pickle shops, coffee roasters and street food. Try midye dolma (stuffed mussels) from a street cart.Kadıköy · about 1 hr 15 min · FreeFerry from Büyükada to Kadıköy, 60 to 75 min
18:00Sunset on the Moda seafrontLocals sit on the rocks and grass with tea at sunset. A relaxed, very Istanbul evening.Moda · about 1 hr · FreeWalk, 15 min
19:30Dinner at Çiya SofrasıRare Anatolian home dishes that change with the season. No alcohol; ask the staff what is fresh today.Kadıköy · about 1 hr 15 min · 700 to 1,200 TRY · Order: Kebabs and stews from the counter, then candied vegetable dessertsWalk, 15 min
Tip: Ferries from Kadıköy back to Karaköy and Kabataş run until late; the night crossing is half the fun.
Day 4 Breakfast, Dolmabahçe, Beşiktaş and home
09:30Breakfast at Van Kahvaltı EviA long Turkish breakfast spread to share; order one serpme for the table plus extras.Cihangir · about 1 hr 15 min · 700 to 1,200 TRY · Order: Serpme kahvaltı (breakfast spread) with menemen
11:00Dolmabahçe PalaceGold, crystal and a Bosphorus garden. No photos inside the rooms.Beşiktaş · about 2 hrs · Approx 2,000 TRY per person for both sectionsWalk downhill, 20 min
13:30Lunch at Karadeniz Döner Asım UstaA cult döner shop in the Beşiktaş market. It can sell out by mid afternoon, so do not be late.Beşiktaş market · about 45 min · 250 to 450 TRY · Order: Beef döner in half a loaf of breadWalk, 10 min
14:30Ortaköy waterfront and mosqueThe classic group photo: the mosque right under the Bosphorus Bridge.Ortaköy · about 45 min · FreeTaxi, 10 min
15:30Collect your bags at the hotelHave the hotel hold your bags at checkout and book the van for 16:15.Taksim · about 45 min · FreeTaxi, 20 min
16:15Transfer to Istanbul AirportBe at the airport 3 hours before your flight; it is huge and passport lines can be long.Istanbul Airport · about 1 hr · 470 TRY per person to 3,500 TRY per vanPrivate van or taxi, 50 to 65 min
Tip: If day 4 is a Monday, Dolmabahçe is closed; walk the Bosphorus shore from Bebek to Arnavutköy instead.
Where to stay
Istanbul, Taksim and Beyoğlu · nights 1 to 4Walk out of the door onto İstiklal; metro, funicular and late food all close by.
Divan Istanbul luxury · about 11,000 to 18,000 TRY a night A long running Istanbul favourite with big rooms, a short walk from Taksim Square.
The Marmara Taksim mid · about 6,500 to 10,500 TRY a night Right on the square above the metro, with city views from the upper floors.
Georges Hotel Galata mid · about 7,000 to 11,000 TRY a night Small and stylish by Galata Tower, at the quiet end of İstiklal.
Hotel prices are typical. Make it yours to see today's prices for your dates.
What to eat
Adana kebabat Zübeyir Ocakbaşı, Beyoğlu Meat grilled over coals in front of you.
Pistachio kebabat Hamdi Restaurant, Eminönü Big sharing plates and a view of the Golden Horn.
Köfteat Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta, Sultanahmet The old city lunch since 1920.
Dürüm wrapat Dürümzade, Beyoğlu The late night stop after İstiklal.
Döner in breadat Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta, Beşiktaş Locals queue for this one; get there before it sells out.
Anatolian home cookingat Çiya Sofrası, Kadıköy Dishes you will not find anywhere else in the city.
Turkish breakfast spreadat Van Kahvaltı Evi, Cihangir A huge shared breakfast to start the last day.
İstiklal and Kadıköy stay busy until after midnight with street food, music shops and late cafes, so you do not need bars for a good night out.
Why it is planned this way
I put the Turkish bath at the end of the bazaar day, when your legs will need it most.
Day 3 is one big ferry loop, Kabataş to the islands to Kadıköy, so you never sit in traffic.
I added a late dürüm stop on the first night because everyone gets hungry again by 22:00.