A straightforward look at navigating Istanbul’s landmarks and food scene over five days.
The scale of the monuments in Sultanahmet is different when you are standing right in front of them.
Arriving at Istanbul Airport was efficient, and the transfer to Hotel Sultania in the heart of the historic district was smooth. After dropping our bags, we headed to Deraliye Terrace Restaurant for a first meal with a view. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Sultanahmet Square. It is a good way to get your bearings before diving into the busier sights the next day.
Our second day was heavy on walking. We started with breakfast at Çigdem Pastanesi before heading into Topkapi Palace Museum. The harem section requires a separate ticket, but it is worth the extra cost to see the tile work. We followed this with the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. Both are massive, though the queues for security can be long, so go as early as possible. Lunch was a quick stop at Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta, followed by a descent into the Basilica Cistern, which provided a cool, quiet break from the afternoon heat. We finished the day with a proper dinner at Balikci Sabahattin.
Day three was about crossing the bridge. We grabbed sweets at Hafiz Mustafa 1864 before navigating the Grand Bazaar. It is easy to get turned around there, so keep an eye on your map. We walked over to the Spice Bazaar for a more focused shopping experience. From there, we caught a Bosphorus Strait Cruise at the Eminönü pier. It’s an hour of sitting down, which was a welcome change of pace. We ended the day climbing Galata Tower just before sunset for a view that covers the entire Golden Horn.
On our final full day, we leaned into the modern side of the city. We started with a breakfast spread at Van Kahvaltı Evi, which is quite popular and often has a wait. Afterward, we spent several hours at Istanbul Modern, which is housed in a very clean, contemporary space right on the water. It was a quieter way to see a different side of the city. We wrapped up the trip with a dinner at Karaköy Lokantasi and a final meal at Meze By Lemon Tree, both of which were excellent for trying regional small plates.
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- Sightseeing
- Turkey
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Written by the traveller with Travlyo's help. The Istanbul guide ·