8 Days in Istanbul: A Journey Through History and Culture

HAPPY VISIONT

3 Nov 2023

Experience the vibrant city of Istanbul in this 8-day itinerary, exploring iconic landmarks like Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Turkey while indulging in delicious local cuisine and enjoying breathtaking views of the city. Join us on this unforgettable adventure to Istanbul!

Trip to Istanbul

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1

$12

$ 3

Kaya Royal Hotel - Istanbul

Depart from your stay 🏨

12 - 15 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

Free

17 - 21 min

Directions

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

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

•

Free

13 - 20 min

Directions

Mosque dating from the 12th century, representing a fine example of medieval Byzantine architecture.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

•

10 - 15 min

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

•

3 - 4 min

Directions

Huge hilltop mosque rebuilt in the 1700s, with 4 semi-domes around a central dome, plus 2 minarets.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

10 - 15 min

Directions

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

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

•

Free

20 - 29 min

Directions

Large public square featuring the main gate to Istanbul University, a big mosque & street vendors.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

•

Free

7 - 10 min

Directions

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

•

4 - 6 min

Directions

Imperial mosque complex built in the early 1500's including a school, baths & a soup kitchen.

8:30 PM - 9:30 PM

•

Free

Day 2

$46

$ 6

Kaya Royal Hotel - Istanbul

Depart from your stay 🏨

13 - 16 min

Directions

Venerable Patriarchal Church of Saint George

Principal Eastern Orthodox Cathedral in Istanbul, with religious relics, mosaics & public hours.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

Free

9 - 11 min

Directions

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

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

•

Free

10 - 12 min

Directions

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

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

•

$16

13 - 16 min

Directions

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

•

$14

3 - 4 min

Directions

This historic lodge of a religious order features culture exhibits & whirling dance ceremonies.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

•

$12

17 - 21 min

Directions

Elaborately decorated fountain built in 1898 & adorned with mirrors & floral motifs.

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

•

Free

9 - 14 min

Directions

Architecturally significant Ottoman mosque completed in 1755, featuring a huge dome & many windows.

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

•

Free

4 - 5 min

Directions

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

•

Day 3

$26

$ 5

Kaya Royal Hotel - Istanbul

Depart from your stay 🏨

14 - 17 min

Directions

Fine mosaics & late-Byzantine architecture in a former church converted to a mosque in 1591.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

11 - 16 min

Directions

The remaining outer facade of a 13th-century palace built for the son of a Byzantine emperor.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

•

10 - 12 min

Directions

Horn-shaped estuary, the primary inlet on the Bosporus, featuring a bustling commercial hub & parks.

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

•

Free

6 - 8 min

Directions

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

•

2 - 3 min

Directions

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

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

•

Free

11 - 16 min

Directions

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

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

•

Free

7 - 10 min

Directions

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

•

Day 4

$18

$ 3

Kaya Royal Hotel - Istanbul

Depart from your stay 🏨

8 - 12 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

•

Free

12 - 17 min

Directions

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

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

•

Free

7 - 10 min

Directions

Ancient Greek bronze column with missing serpent heads, made to commemorate a historic battle.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

•

Free

8 - 11 min

Directions

Recently restored column atop a stone pedestal built by the ancient Romans as a monument.

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

•

Free

6 - 9 min

Directions

1:45 PM - 3:15 PM

•

4 - 5 min

Directions

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

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

•

Free

15 - 18 min

Directions

Museum of religious art on the site of a church that was first built here in the 6th century A.D.

4:45 PM - 5:30 PM

•

4 - 6 min

Directions

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

•

Free

7 - 10 min

Directions

8:30 PM - 10:00 PM

•

$10

Day 5

$152

$ 4

Kaya Royal Hotel - Istanbul

Depart from your stay 🏨

13 - 16 min

Directions

7-tower fortress from 1458, known for its royal dungeon that imprisoned many well-known people.

8:00 AM - 8:45 AM

•

8 - 10 min

Directions

Imposing, 16th-century mosque complex designed by Mimar Sinan, with 4 corner towers & tall minaret.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

•

Free

15 - 18 min

Directions

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

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

•

$68

7 - 10 min

Directions

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

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

•

Free

20 - 30 min

Directions

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

•

$14

8 - 12 min

Directions

Prominent mosque dating from the 17th century, featuring iconic domes & a dramatic interior.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

12 - 18 min

Directions

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

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

Free

10 - 15 min

Directions

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

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

•

$54

9 - 14 min

Directions

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

•

9 - 14 min

Directions

Architecturally notable Ottoman mosque completed in 1572, with Iznik tiles on its interior walls.

9:00 PM - 9:45 PM

•

Free

Day 6

$44

$ 8

Kaya Royal Hotel - Istanbul

Depart from your stay 🏨

20 - 24 min

Directions

Elegant, 19th-century, Ottoman-style mosque with Baroque & rococo-influenced decorative features.

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

•

10 - 12 min

Directions

Restored Baroque Revival mosque featuring windows designed to capture the Bosphorus' changing light.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

Free

28 - 41 min

Directions

Connecting Europe & Asia, this long suspension bridge completed in 1973 offers scenic water views.

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

16 - 20 min

Directions

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

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

•

21 - 32 min

Directions

Vast steel-cabled roadway over the Bosphorus Strait, with traffic flowing between Asia & Europe.

12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

•

18 - 22 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.

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

•

$14

19 - 28 min

Directions

Opulent 19th-century Ottoman palace, with grand interiors, pavilions & courtyards.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

•

11 - 16 min

Directions

Ottoman summer pavilion from the mid-1800s with baroque-style carvings, manicured gardens & a cafe.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

•

7 - 9 min

Directions

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

•

$14

7 - 10 min

Directions

Paintings & medals and others in the house museum dedicated to the first president of Turkey.

8:30 PM - 9:15 PM

•

Free

9 - 11 min

Directions

One of the area's few green spaces, this tree-filled park was the site of a large protest in 2013.

9:45 PM - 10:45 PM

•

Free

Day 7

$64

$ 6

Kaya Royal Hotel - Istanbul

Depart from your stay 🏨

27 - 33 min

Directions

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

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$34

34 - 41 min

Directions

At the narrowest part of the Bosphurus, this imposing fort gives its name to the surrounding area.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

•

28 - 34 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.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

•

10 - 15 min

Directions