7 Days in Istanbul: A Journey of Rich History and Exquisite Cuisine

Mary Mosquera

4 Oct 2023

Embark on a captivating 7-day adventure in Istanbul, Turkey, exploring iconic landmarks, vibrant markets, and savoring delectable Turkish cuisine.

Trip to Istanbul

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1

$ 2

Taksim Square Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

14 - 17 min

Directions

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

5 - 8 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

9 - 11 min

Directions

Remains of a monumental aqueduct built by the Romans in the 4th century & spanning a busy boulevard.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

11 - 16 min

Directions

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

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

•

Free

6 - 9 min

Directions

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

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

•

Free

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

Day 2

$16

$ 4

Taksim Square Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

31 - 38 min

Directions

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

26 - 32 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

45 - 54 min

Directions

This bridge over the Bosporus strait for rail & motor vehicle transit is one of the world's tallest.

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

Free

14 - 17 min

Directions

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

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

10 - 12 min

Directions

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

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

1 - 2 min

Directions

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

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

•

$13

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

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

Day 3

$17

$ 3

Taksim Square Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

9 - 11 min

Directions

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

11 - 16 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.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

23 - 28 min

Directions

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

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

29 - 35 min

Directions

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

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

•

$13

7 - 10 min

Directions

Public square with remnants of an ancient hippodrome, plus prominent & historic buildings.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

•

Free

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

Day 4

$19

$ 3

Taksim Square Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

12 - 18 min

Directions

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

1 - 2 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

17 - 21 min

Directions

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

33 - 40 min

Directions

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

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

•

Free

4 - 5 min

Directions

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

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

•

$13

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

Day 5

$ 3

Taksim Square Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

42 - 51 min

Directions

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

23 - 28 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

14 - 17 min

Directions

Boat tours provide visitors with unique city views from this strait separating Europe & Asia.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

•

Free

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

Day 6

$ 2

Taksim Square Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

15 - 18 min

Directions

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

4 - 5 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

13 - 16 min

Directions

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

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

•

Free

8 - 12 min

Directions

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

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

Day 7

$21

$ 2

Taksim Square Hotel

Depart from your stay 🏨

14 - 17 min

Directions

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

8 - 12 min

Directions

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

•

9 - 14 min

Directions

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

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

•

$19

14 - 21 min

Directions

Landmark domed mosque in a former 6th century Byzantine church with an Ottoman-style interior.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

•

Free

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

Upscale rooms with flat-screen TVs in a polished hotel offering a low-key restaurant/bar.

7:30 AM - 7:30 AM

•

Free

Budget breakdown: $107 In total

Activities & Food:$94

Transport:$14