Istanbul is a very big ad colorful city, full of joy and limitless possibilities. tourists come here all the time all around the year because istanbul is very amazing and attractive all the time. some tourists come for long term tourism, some don’t have that much time and come for short term tourism. allow me in this article to introduce a 4-days plan about where to go and what to do in istanbul trying the best to cover all the important locations.
published: 23 September 2022 / updated: 26 November 2024Share
Day one:
Starting our day in Taksim, Beyoğlu, at the middle of Istanbul’s heart, where else?! Wandering around Taksim Square and the Republic Statue. A lot of the tourists and locals take memorial pictures at the statue because of its value. After that you will find the Nostalgic Tramway of Taksim, a small red tram that was reconstructed to remind the locals about the old Tramway system of Istanbul’s. Take the Tramway tour down to Galata Tower, Galata Tower is a Byzantine Tower that build before for the observation because it was the highest tower at that time. Galata Tower’s top floor has a spectacular 360-view to the Bosphorus and the old town all at once, on the other hand it has a small café that serves the Turkish Coffee and tea. On the way back don’t forget to walk around the Istiklal Avenue, it has a lot of shops and it gets crowded at night which makes a lot enjoyable.
Day two:
Take the bus and head directly to Beşiktaş, our journey will start from there at the seashore. After you walk around in Beşiktaş Square walk through the cozy street full of trees, that street has the Dolmabahçe Palace at its beginning and Yildiz Park at the middle, consider visiting these two places if you have time because they are very important symbols of Istanbul and Turkey. If you continue walking for another 25 minutes you will arrive to Ortaköy, it has a small square filled with small shops. Gift shops are a lot there, you can buy some of the mini Maiden Tower, mini Blue Mosque, bracelets, and some food shops. The most famous shops are Waffles and Kumpir shops, you will hear the sellers shouting and calling the pedestrians in order to sell them the amazing delicious colorful Waffles and Kumpirs.
Your Key to Istanbul
Grab the Deal! Time Left to Claim:
05
hours
22
minutes
54
seconds
Planning Your Istanbul Trip?
Istanbul Tourist Pass®️ is your digital pass to 100+ attractions, including Istanbul’s top sights, guided tours and unique experiences. It gives you skip-the-line access and nothing to pay at the door.
✓ Valid for 1 year
✓ Mobile QR ticket
✓ Skip the ticket lines
✓ Save up to 50%
Top Attractions and 100+ Attractions & Experiences Included:
⭐ Trusted by 2M+ travelers since 2013 ⭐ 100% savings guarantee
Day three:
Most of the time I recommend to get out of the big city to relax and take a breath away from the crowd, at the same time, Istanbul has stunning places not so far away from the center, for example, Şile & Ağva towns. These two towns are only around 110 km away from the center of Istanbul. Şile & Ağva attribute is that they are located directly at the Black sea at the north. On the way to Şile the first thing that you will see is the Şile Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is located on a hill that has an amazing spectacular view to the black sea. You can take amazing pictures from up there. After you have your Turkish breakfast from a village’s börek shop, head down and go straight to Ağva. Ağva by the way is surrounded by two small rives, the best thing that you can do there it taking a boat tour around the river with the people, after you finish the tour go and have your launch at some of the seafood restaurants there, as said, they serve the best seafood at that region.
Day four:
Back to the city again, I recommend you to go to Sultan Ahmet Square at that day, you will enjoy the amazing historic places there. First place to see is the Hagia Sofia Basilica, a former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral which was converted to a mosque at the Ottoman empire era, and now it is a museum because of its rich history. The second place is the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), the square there is named after it, a big symbolic mosque that describes the beauty of the Ottoman art and architecture style.
Related Tours
Skip the Line
Recommended
Secure Payment
Full Day Tour
Audio Guide
Kids Friendly
Sightseeing
History
Nature
Guided Tour
Entrance Ticket
Pick Up/Drop Off
5 GB FREE INTERNET with eSIM! Skip-the-Line Access to 100+ Museums, Tours & Attractions with Show&Go instant e-Tickets! Get a flexible pass & Explore Istanbul by yourself. Save up to 50%
The Maiden's Tower (Kız kulesi in Turkish) is a beautiful tower on the sea near the Nosphorus's entry, along Istanbul's Uskudar shores. also known as the leandros, the maiden’s tower is one of the city's most well-known sights and monuments. the maiden's tower, which was once a watchtower, now serves as a cafe and restaurant during the day. it also offers a range of special events and invitations, including weddings, meetings, and business meals.
Today's Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is housed in Istanbul's renowned Ibrahim Pasha Palace, which is situated on Sultan Ahmet Square. The Ibrahim Pasha Palace is a historical landmark and also houses one of the main Turkish exhibition halls that showcase many significant works of Turkish and Islamic art. If you're curious about the Ibrahim Pasha Palace's past or unique features, read on to learn everything you need to know before going there.
Nearly everyone in the world agrees that Istanbul is absolutely one of if not the most beautiful cities in the world, it keeps attracting people not once, not twice but over and over again. maybe because of its culture, its historical places, or its food. you can never really know what is the secret behind this city, all you can know is that there is no city like istanbul, it is a city of love.
Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century as a church by Byzantine Emperor Justinian, underwent a significant transformation in 2020 when it was converted into a mosque. This change marked a shift in its status, reflecting the complex historical and cultural dynamics of Istanbul. Today, Hagia Sophia continues to be a place of worship, captivating visitors with its rich history, stunning architectural features, and the blend of Byzantine and Islamic influences. Visitors can enter Hagia Sophia with a ticket, as of 2024, the ticket price is €25.