A week in Istanbul: a day-by-day family plan

How to split seven days without exhaustion: where each day, how much walking, where to rest.

6 min read

Length: 7 days
Pace: One main district a day
Out of town: Two day trips

The first two days: the historic peninsula

The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are within walking distance of one another, but squeezing all three into one day is tiring with children. Mosques and the Basilica Cistern on day one, Topkapi and the Grand Bazaar on day two is a good split. Starting early noticeably shortens the queues.

Day three: the Bosphorus and Beyoglu

A Bosphorus cruise is the easiest way to see the city from the water and is usually the children's favourite part of the day. After landing, Galata Tower and the Karakoy side are walkable. This day involves a lot of walking, so plan something calmer for the next one.

Days four and five: out of town

Sapanca and Bursa are two different directions for a day trip from Istanbul. Sapanca means lake and forest; Bursa means history and a cable car. Choosing between them, consider the children's ages: Sapanca involves less walking, Bursa more stops.

The last two days: shopping and free time

Leaving a free day at the end creates room to make up for something you missed, or simply to rest. Nisantasi and Bagdat Street are two good shopping options on two different sides. Keeping the day before your return flight light leaves margin for packing and the trip to the airport.