8 Days in Istanbul: Unveiling the Magic of the East ✨

Bakhtawar Haider

7 Jan 2024

Embark on a mesmerizing journey through Istanbul's rich history and vibrant culture. From ancient marvels to mouthwatering delicacies, immerse yourself in the enchanting allure of the East. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!

Trip to Istanbul

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1Delving into Istanbul's Hidden Treasures 💎

$64

Sultanahmet Nu Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

8 - 12 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

$32

7 - 10 min

Directions

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

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

$26

7 - 10 min

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

•

4 - 5 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

8 - 12 min

Directions

Well-known site, also known as the Blue Mosque, built in 1616 & containing its founder's tomb.

No time set

•

Free

Day 2A Shopper's Paradise and Majestic Wonders 🛍️🕌

$40

$ 2

Sultanahmet Nu Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

8 - 12 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

Free

13 - 16 min

Directions

Venerable, tranquil forested park featuring gardens, paths, a creek & a science museum.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

10 - 15 min

Directions

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

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

6 - 9 min

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

•

$14

8 - 12 min

Directions

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

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

•

$22

8 - 11 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Day 3Royal Palaces and Timeless Traditions 👑

$104

$ 5

Sultanahmet Nu Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

14 - 17 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

$54

32 - 39 min

Directions

Structure linked with legend & once used as a lighthouse, housing a small museum & a restaurant.

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

•

$34

28 - 34 min

Directions

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

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

5 - 8 min

Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

3 - 4 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Day 4Panoramic Views and Culinary Delights 🏰🍔

$126

$ 6

Sultanahmet Nu Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

16 - 20 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 8:45 AM

•

$68

14 - 17 min

Directions

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

9:15 AM - 11:15 AM

•

$16

12 - 15 min

Directions

A friend of the prophet Muhammad is thought to be buried at this 15-century mosque rebuilt in 1800.

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

•

Free

10 - 12 min

Directions

1:15 PM - 2:45 PM

•

9 - 14 min

Directions

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

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

•

$30

12 - 18 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$10

Day 5Discovering Hidden Gems and Savoring the Night 🏛️🍻

$52

$ 4

Sultanahmet Nu Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

18 - 22 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$30

11 - 14 min

Directions

Historic passageway between 2 streets, featuring ornate architecture, shops & cafes.

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

3 - 4 min

Directions

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$14

4 - 5 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Day 6A Fusion of Art, History, and Breathtaking Views 🎨⛪

$70

$ 8

Sultanahmet Nu Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

10 - 12 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

Free

10 - 15 min

Directions

Bustling bridge across the Golden Horn with pedestrian walkways & street vendors, with cafes below.

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

7 - 9 min

Directions

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

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

•

$22

27 - 33 min

Directions

Hilltop 15th-century fortress with multiple towers, walking paths & water views.

12:30 PM - 1:15 PM

•

24 - 29 min

Directions

1:45 PM - 3:15 PM

•

$14

4 - 5 min

Directions

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

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

•

$16

6 - 8 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$14

Day 7Palatial Gardens and Gastronomic Delights 🌳🍽️

$58

$ 5

Sultanahmet Nu Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

17 - 21 min

Directions

Grand, domed sultan's palace, now a museum, including collections of art, calligraphy and carpets.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

$48

23 - 28 min

Directions

Lush public park featuring an array of plants, 2 ponds, jogging paths & play equipment for kids.

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

27 - 33 min

Directions

Suburban public park with cafes & a hilltop museum in an Ottoman palace dating from the 1880s.

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

8 - 12 min

Directions

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.

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

3 - 4 min

Directions

The feast begins with the ambience … rich Ottoman décor and the ever-stirring backdrop of the Bosphorus. For the full effect, ask for a table on Tuğra’s balcony, lit by the moon, a candle and the Bosphorus Bridge.

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Day 8Farewell to Istanbul, Until We Meet Again! 🌆

Sultanahmet Nu Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

Budget breakdown: $539 In total

Activities & Food:$514

Transport:$25