- Length
- 3 days
- Where to stay
- Sultanahmet or Taksim
- Out of town
- Not in this plan
Day one: the historic peninsula
Start early with the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia; both are within walking distance and an early hour noticeably shortens the queue. In the afternoon, Topkapi Palace or the Basilica Cistern — putting all three in one day is tiring. The day can end at the Grand Bazaar.
Day two: the Bosphorus and Beyoglu
Dolmabahce Palace before noon, the Bosphorus cruise in the late afternoon. After landing, Galata Tower and the Karakoy side are walkable. This is the most productive day of the three because it shows the city from both land and water.
Day three, and what to leave out
Give the third day to shopping and free time: Nisantasi or a mall, with an afternoon to rest. On a three-day visit we deliberately leave out trips beyond the city (Bursa, Sapanca) — the road tires you both ways and takes from Istanbul itself. Out-of-town days belong to programmes of five days or more.
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