What to do in Istanbul in 3 days: how to plan a perfect weekend

I definitely had a lovely time , so I thought that writing this post would help you plan 3 perfect days in Istanbul. It is one of these places where there is always something else to be seen. Whether you stay in the capital of Turkey over weekend or two weeks, you might have the feeling of not seeing it all. This makes Istanbul a perfect city escape or a longer holiday destination.

It’s one of the most intriguing cities you can travel to, but with something interesting at every turn it can be quite tiring quickly. That’s where coffee breaks come into play. One shot of this strong, black liquid and you are good to continue.

Use my favourite travel resources to plan your dream trips

Booking.com for searching best prices on accommodation.
Discover Cars is a great website as they search both local and international car hire services, so you can choose the best deal for yourself. Make sure though, that the company has a good reputation and reviews.
Get Your Guide is my place to go for searching and booking tours and excursions, especially when I travel solo.
World Nomads travel insurance. I like them because they have quite extensive coverage of different activities.
Jack’s Flight Club is a service that can save you hundreds of dollars on flights, it works especially well in Europe.
Trivago where you can search and save on hotels.
Go City is a perfect site for booking bucket list experiences and attractions all in one to avoid paying for multiple tickets. Easy and saves money.
Trip Advisor– amazing for good quality recommendations.
Skyscanner is a perfect website for searching flight routes and comparing prices.

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You can download this post on GPSmycity with all the places mentioned below added to a map that you can use offline for your self-guiding.

If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul.

Alphonse de Lamartine

This phrase stuck in my head a while ago and I thought that it perfectly represents Istanbul and its diversity. There is many beautiful cities, there’s no need to talk much about Paris, London or Madrid. We all know that they offer something for the fussiest travelers. Istanbul however, with all its quirks, history, multiculturalism and great food, is perfect destination for a memorable break.

With so much to offer it might be daunting to organize the whole trip. I picked for you a few activities that I enjoyed most during my trip to help you organize a perfect weekend in Istanbul.

P.S. You might wonder why I wear the same hat on most of my photos…well, the sun was strong, my outfits limited, no time to tame my hair and I was simply obsessed with this hand made hat I got during my trip to Ecuador.

What to see and do in Istanbul in two days

The more I travel the slower I travel. Over the years I’ve learned to visit places at a lower pace, it just makes me tired and somehow unsatisfied to rush through cities. Istanbul however, is so full of attractions that being there is like a candy shop for a sweet tooth. Round every corner there was something I wanted to see and I just ended up being my old self with endless list of places to see. No regrets though, it was totally worth it.

Hagia Sophia

If you have to sacrifice other places from your travel plan, I’ll tell you one thing: do it! Hagia Sophia was first on my list and I could not imagine my trip to Istanbul without seeing it. The undoubtedly beauty of it is complemented by the long history around it. Totally a must.

Buy your ticket to Hagia Sophia in advance.

Grand Bazaar

The bustling sounds of markets could be an unforgettable touristic attraction in any city. European markets are known for selling organic food straight from a farm, Arabic style of markets, called souq, take you on a totally different experiential tour. Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is a mix of traditional souq full of fragrant spices, colourful lamps, silks and a mass production of clothes and fake handbags. The bazaar it huge with million sensory inputs everywhere you look, so better be prepared for a tiring day.

It is worth booking a private tour to the grand Bazaar, especially if you travel alone. Have a look at this option.

Galata Tower

The tower was constructed in the 14th century and for a very long time it was the tallest building in the city. The line to get to the top can get very long since there is only one flight of stairs to get to the top (the elevator goes only halfway), so you might opt for a private tour instead to beat the crowds.

Blue Mosque

Probably the most recognizable sight of Istanbul is this beautiful mosque. I was a bit disappointed though when I saw it firsts…I was expecting the Blue Mosque to be a bit more blue. Nonetheless, it was quite beautiful. If you want to avoid the crowds, go there early as just minutes after 8am it get quite crowded around. It took me to trips to the mosque during my stay to get this photo.

Istiklal Avenue

Busy and charming- that’s what I can say about this street. This is also the place where you can get on and off the tram (which I took advantage of). My original plan was to not spend much time in this street, however with abundance of shops, cafes and small places to eat, I ended up spending half a day there (stuffing my face with delicious dishes).

Cruise the Bosphorus

It does not matter that we had to wait for nearly an hour on the boat till it fill to the limits with tourists. It did not matter that we slightly missed the sunset because of all that waiting. It was still one of the best parts of the trip, because not always you have a chance to sail along a border of two continents. Simply for this reason, I think taking a boat trip on the Bosphorus is a must activity to do in Istanbul.

Crusing the Bosphorus is very popular and there are many sunset dinner options to choose from, some include a show as well. This one, for example, has a stopover on the Asian side- how cool is that!

Basilica Cistern

One of the most interesting buildings in Istanbul cannot be missed. It was built in the 5th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. It is a large underground cistern with 336 beautiful, marble columns that creates an illusion of a mystical, underground world. If you can fit it in your schedule, please do.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace was not really on our list until we saw it and it so pretty that we spent there a good half a day. It’s not just that the craft of the building and surrounding are breathtaking, but the views from there are splendid as well. Besides, it was so interesting to learn about the harem and see the rooms…such a kinky part of the tour.

Turkish Bath

Everyone says it’s a must, yet I have never done it. I’m mentioning this as one of the activities you can do in Istanbul in case you use this post as an inspiration for your planning.

Taste the strength of Turkish coffee

Coffee making culture in Turkey is an important part of daily life. Smell of this mighty liquid penetrates your nostrils everywhere you go. Whether you drink your coffee in a nice cafe or at the market, make sure that you find a moment to enjoy it during the day. I need to warn you though…coffee is Turkey is like a double espresso anywhere else.

Mindful moment

Stopping for a cup of coffee is one of my favourite things to do when I travel, especially in non-touristy cafes. I just love being part of an ordinary daily life of the locals and the ways of this normal ritual for many people are so different in every country.

Sit for a moment, allow yourself to relish the fragrance. Sometimes the locals prepare it in front of you, watch the process carefully. Sip it slowly and let yourself be part of Istanbul while watching people around you.

Drink apple tea

If coffee is not your poison, drink apple tea. I like tea and love apples (actually I cannot spend a day without an apple), so putting these two things together was quite a treat. Buy some apple tea later at the spice market as a flavorful souvenir to take home.

See also: First timer’s guide to Lebanon

Sultanahmet

This neighborhood in the centre of the old town and a home for most of the attractions that Istanbul can offer. If you have little time and want to see the most picturesque sights of the city, I’d recommend you to start right here.

Hippodrome

Hippodrome was the centre of Byzantium’s and Ottoman’s life for over 1400 years in total (according to some information I have found, correct me if it’s wrong). As it’s such an important part of Turkish history, it deserves a few moments to learn a few details about it and it’s just nearby the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and other point of interest.

Quick tip: Hippodrome has a free Wi-fi connection offered by the government.

Ride an old tram

For some reason old trams are quite charming and romantic. I remember “chasing” a tram in Prague in order to have a photo representing the city the most (I thought that trams would do that perfectly). In my opinion, watching the tram go by or better riding one in Istanbul is one of the must dos and a perfect occasion to watch people minding their own everyday business.

Spice Bazaar

Have I ever told you that I love markets? Spice bazaar is one of the biggest markets in Istanbul and it’s the most fragrant one.

Dolmabohce Palace

On the way to the palace make a stop at Kempinski hotel as it’s one of the prettiest in the area. Then visit this waterfront, charming palace-museum. Enter inside for beautiful staircase photos or, if you a bit like me, admire the exterior and breathe fresh air coming from Bosphorus. This building used to be a sultan’s palace, now it’s home for art and carpets.

Ortaköy Mosque

I saw a photo once with this waterfront mosque and it quite charmed me, so while in Istanbul we walked a long way to get there. many people had a similar idea to mine, I guess, as it was quite crowded when we got there with ques to get a perfect angle on the photo of the mosque.

Life can’t be all that bad, I’d think from time to time. Whatever happens, I can always take a long walk along the Bosphorus. –Orhan Pamuk

What to eat in Istanbul

Food? Someone mentioned food? This is usually the bucket list of my every trip. I always make sure to write down all the typical dishes that I must try, which, to be honest with you, is usually a few dishes too many. The result of it is eating way too much…but well, I’m might never go back.

During my 2-week trip around Turkey I’ve tried all these dishes (some of them multiple times…but that’s just between us):

Kumpir- baked potatoe
Gözleme – kind of crepe, I really loved the version with cheese and spinach
Simit- a round, bagel-like bread that you can buy on the street
Dondurma – ice cream (that comes with a show…not for impatient ones if you know what I mean)
Apple tea
Manti- type of ravioli, boiled or fried, served with tons of yoghurt (my favourite Turkish dish)
Iskender kebab
Turkish delight and a lot of it!
Mezze- a selection of small dishes to share
Baklava- for dessert
Shish kebab
Karniyarik- stuffed eggplant
Pottery kebab- also called testi kebab
Ezme- pepper paste
Kofta
Pide- boat-shaped, pizza-like bread filled with various things

Where to stay in Istanbul

Istanbul is really photogenic, it’s difficult not to take a beautiful pictures in this city. It has a few great hotels that offer incredible views, so that’s what I’d like to propose to you here, so you enjoy every moment of the scene.

Luxury: Kempinski in Sultanahmend is one of the nicest hotels you can stay in with a perfect view of the Blue Mosque on one side and Hagia Sofia on the other.
Luxury: Four Seasons Bosphorus with such a pretty view of the Bosphorus that you won’t want to leave. I often stay in Four Seasons all over the world and I’m never disappointed.
Middle range: Hotel Nena – perfect for romantic evenings with a glass of wine, nice dinner and the Blue Mosque in the background.
Middle Range: Adahan Galata – do you fancy a buffet breakfast with a panoramic views on a terrace? This place is for you at a lower price than luxury hotels.

How to get to Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the easiest cities to fly to from all over the world, especially from Europe and Middle East. Countless number of Airlines make it one of their top destinations. I flew with Qatar Airways as it was the most convenient for me at the time I traveled, but almost always I use Skyscanner to compare available options.

Upon your arrival to Istanbul, the best way to get around from the airport is by private transfer, which I opt for when I don’t have much time to waste, especially when doing city breaks. Bus shuttle is also a good option as it works very well in Istanbul and it’s much cheaper than a taxi or private shuttle.

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