Istanbul straddles two continents across a strait busy with ferries, its skyline a mix of Byzantine domes and Ottoman minarets. Grand mosques and palaces sit a short tram ride from bazaars that have been trading for over 500 years, and the food alone justifies the trip.
Good to know
- Get an Istanbulkart for trams, ferries and the metro — far cheaper than single tickets.
- Dress modestly and bring a scarf for women when visiting mosques; shoes come off at the entrance.
- Bargaining is expected in the bazaars but not in regular shops or restaurants.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
A Byzantine cathedral turned Ottoman mosque turned museum turned mosque again, its dome unmatched in scale for a thousand years.
Six minarets and a cascade of domes named for the blue Iznik tiles lining its interior, directly across from Hagia Sophia.
The Ottoman sultans' seat of power for 400 years, with a treasury of jewels and a harem wing open on a separate ticket.
A scrub-and-soak ritual in a centuries-old marble bathhouse, some dating to the Ottoman era.
One of the world's oldest covered markets, over 4,000 shops selling carpets, ceramics, spices and gold under vaulted ceilings.
A ferry or private boat past Ottoman waterfront mansions and two continents' worth of skyline as the sun sets over the strait.
A medieval Genoese watchtower with a 360-degree observation deck over the Golden Horn and old city skyline.
A kilometre-long pedestrian street of shops, meyhane taverns and rooftop bars, running from Taksim Square down toward Galata.
A spread of cheeses, olives, jams, eggs and simit around a shared table, lingered over for a couple of hours by the water.
A smaller, more fragrant cousin of the Grand Bazaar, its stalls piled with saffron, Turkish delight and loose teas.
The Asian-side neighbourhood locals actually eat in — a street food and meyhane scene with a fraction of the tourist prices.
A car-free island an hour by ferry from the city, explored by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage past 19th-century wooden mansions.