10 Days in Istanbul: A Journey of Delights

Jayjo

17 Jan 2024

Join me on a thrilling 10-day adventure through the vibrant streets of Istanbul. From mouthwatering street food to awe-inspiring historical sites, this blog will take you on a whirlwind tour of this enchanting city.

Trip to Istanbul

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1Savory Bites and Historic Wonders

$60

$ 4

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

7 - 9 min

Directions

Park with Turkish landmarks, including the Blue Mosque, depicted in miniature format.

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

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$16

14 - 17 min

Directions

Historical center featuring a large panoramic painting of the conquest of Constantinople.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

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$30

12 - 17 min

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

•

4 - 5 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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Day 2Culinary Delights and Towering Views

$118

$ 2

50 yıldır tamamen hijyenik mutfağımızda hazırlanan zengin Türk mutfağına ait ev yemeklerimizi deneyimli personelimizle sizlerin beğenisine sunmaktayız.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

2 - 3 min

Directions

Museum on transportation, industry & communications with a car collection & some hands-on exhibits.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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$30

10 - 12 min

Directions

Restored 14th-century tower and former prison overlooking the Bosphorus with a top-floor restaurant.

12:30 PM - 1:15 PM

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$68

1 - 2 min

Directions

Hatıralarla yaşayan bir cafe, Anne elinden lezzetler, Antika fincanlarda servis edilen kahve ve çay keyfi, Günün her saati kahvaltı saati :)

1:45 PM - 3:15 PM

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$14

4 - 5 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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Day 3Breakfast Bliss and Hidden Gems

$72

$ 2

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

4 - 6 min

Directions

Museum featuring Byzantine-period mosaics from the Great Palace of Constantinople.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

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$16

7 - 10 min

Directions

Huge underground Roman water source held up with 336 marble columns covering 9,800 sq. meters.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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$32

7 - 9 min

Directions

Covered, 17th-century market known as the Egyptian Bazaar, with spice, food & textile shops.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

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Free

4 - 6 min

Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

8 - 12 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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$10

Day 4Coffee Aromas and Ancient Treasures

$50

$ 2

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

6 - 8 min

Directions

Neoclassical museum showing the country's rich archaeological heritage within landscaped gardens.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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$26

7 - 10 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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$10

4 - 5 min

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

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$12

Day 5Sweet Treats and Architectural Marvels

$26

$ 3

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

9 - 11 min

Directions

Iconic, storied mosque set within a vast, domed former Byzantine church with stained-glass windows.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

11 - 14 min

Directions

Historic sprawling network of indoor souks & market streets peddling leather, jewelry & gifts.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

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Free

10 - 15 min

Directions

Ornate 16th-century mosque with gardens, plus a terrace with views over the Golden Horn.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

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Free

5 - 8 min

Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

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$14

3 - 4 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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Day 6Artistic Wonders and Royal Grandeur

$126

$ 2

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

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9 - 14 min

Directions

Palace museum of Islamic & Turkish art, opened in 1983 & displaying ceramics, carpets & glassware.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

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$22

12 - 18 min

Directions

Huge, opulent 15th-century palace, occupied by sultans for 400 years, housing Ottoman treasures.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

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$54

13 - 16 min

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

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$14

4 - 5 min

Directions

19th-century home displaying everyday objects featured in the eponymous novel by Orhan Pamuk.

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

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$18

4 - 5 min

Directions

Az Çok Thai brings a new concept to Istanbul dining, serving authentic Thai food in a warm, friendly and stylish café setting in delightful Cihangir, where we look forward to serving you at lunch and dinner.

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$14

Day 7Bookworm's Paradise and Artistic Escapades

$56

$ 2

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

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7 - 10 min

Directions

Riverside museum with Turkish & international modern & contemporary art collections, plus a cinema.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

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$22

10 - 12 min

Directions

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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$16

8 - 11 min

Directions

Art museum in an ornate former hotel with paintings, ceramics & rotating shows of modern masters.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

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1 - 2 min

Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

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3 - 4 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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Day 8Quirky Museums and Culinary Delights

$48

$ 2

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

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4 - 6 min

Directions

Art space in a former bank building featuring a gallery, a cafe & a library with free Wi-Fi.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

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Free

10 - 12 min

Directions

Palace pavilion from 1472 & museum for Islamic art with Greek & Persian architectural elements.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

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$22

10 - 15 min

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

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$12

2 - 3 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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$10

Day 9Local Flavors and Royal Residences

$56

$ 3

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

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11 - 16 min

Directions

European-style mansions home to a vast private collection of ancient & Ottoman-era artifacts & more.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

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36 - 44 min

Directions

This 19th-century palace with gardens was once a summer residence for Ottoman sultans.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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$16

14 - 17 min

Directions

Tarihi dokusunun bozulmadığı, çeşit çeşit kurabiyelere ev sahipliği yapan bir fırındır.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

•

$10

4 - 5 min

Directions

Museum tracing Turkish naval history with artifacts such as Ottoman-era ships & early diving gear.

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

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$16

4 - 6 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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Day 10Fine Dining and Whimsical Museums

$48

$ 2

Laledan Restaurant, on the hotel building’s ground floor, serves the richest breakfast buffet in town with over 250 delicious items, 80 percent of which are made with locally sourced organic ingredients. The Legendary Çırağan Brunch on Sundays is from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

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19 - 28 min

Directions