Istanbul, once Byzantium and Constantinople, has been the hinge of empires for two millennia. Its silhouette—domes, minarets, and the ribbon of the Bosphorus—frames an unending drama of ships, gulls, and tea glasses clinking in the breeze. Here, Byzantine mosaics meet Ottoman courtyards and modern galleries, all stitched together by ferries and the aroma of simit.

Expect a city of neighborhoods: Sultanahmet’s monuments, Beyoğlu’s lively avenues, Kadıköy’s markets, and Balat’s pastel lanes. Iconic sights like Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, and the Grand Bazaar headline the story, but the magic often lives in small rituals: bargaining for spices, sipping thick Turkish coffee at Mandabatmaz, or watching the sunset paint the Bosphorus copper.

Practical notes: Mosques welcome visitors outside prayer times—dress modestly and carry a scarf. The Istanbulkart works on trams, metros, buses, and ferries—top it up and glide. For dinner, book ahead at popular meyhanes and modern Anatolian kitchens; Michelin‑lauded places like Turk Fatih Tutak and Neolokal fill quickly, especially on weekends.

Istanbul

Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul rewards unhurried travel. Spend your mornings with sultans and mosaics, your afternoons ferry-hopping between continents, and nights lingering over meze, raki, and stories. Highlights include the Basilica Cistern’s submerged columns, the Spice Bazaar’s saffron glow, and Bosphorus villages like Arnavutköy and Bebek.

• Top sights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Basilica Cistern, Grand & Spice Bazaars, Galata Tower, Süleymaniye, Chora (Kariye), Istanbul Modern, Dolmabahçe, Rumeli Hisarı, and the Princes’ Islands.
• Best bites: köfte at Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi, meze at Asmalı Cavit, baklava at Karaköy Güllüoğlu, regional dishes at Çiya Sofrası, breakfast feasts at Van Kahvaltı Evi, and contemporary Anatolian cuisine at Neolokal.
• Fun facts: The Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest covered markets; the Bosphorus is a strait connecting two seas; and some of the city’s finest views come with a tulip-shaped glass of çay.

Where to stay (Hotels.com & VRBO): Search broad options on Hotels.com – Istanbul or browse apartments on VRBO – Istanbul. For standouts:

• Palatial luxury on the water: Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
• Resort‑style with sweeping views: Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul
• Boutique warmth near the old city: Sirkeci Mansion
• Budget‑friendly, social atmosphere: Cheers Hostel

How to get there (flights & trains): From European hubs, nonstop flights to IST or SAW often take ~3–4 hours; from the Middle East ~2–4 hours; from the US East Coast ~9–11 hours with connections. Compare fares on Omio (flights to/from Europe) or globally on Trip.com – Flights and Kiwi.com. Within Türkiye, intercity trains and regional routes are searchable on Trip.com – Trains. From IST airport, Havaist buses and the metro are efficient; taxis are metered and take ~45–75 minutes to the old city depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Sultanahmet Stroll, and Ottoman Flavors

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle walk through Sultanahmet Square, where Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque face each other across plane trees and fountains. Sip your first Turkish coffee at Mandabatmaz (famously thick) or tea at the laid‑back Tarihi Çınaraltı Çay Bahçesi in nearby Gülhane.

Evening: Dinner at Matbah (historic Ottoman recipes like hünkar beğendi) or Hamdi (near the Spice Bazaar; reserve a terrace table for Golden Horn views and pistachio kebabs). If energy allows, amble to the Galata Bridge for night photos of mosques glowing across the water.

Day 2: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and the Cistern

Morning: Start with a guided small‑group immersion to navigate lines and history: Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia & opt. Basilica Cistern Tour.

Dress modestly; check prayer times; your guide will streamline entry and interpretation of Ottoman and Byzantine layers. For breakfast beforehand, try Van Kahvaltı Evi in Cihangir—honeycomb, cheeses, menemen, and hot bread.

Afternoon: Continue to Topkapı Palace (note: typically closed on Tuesdays). Don’t miss the Harem apartments and imperial kitchens. Lunch at Pandeli above the Spice Bazaar—try lamb tandır and stuffed vine leaves in a tiled time capsule beloved by generations.

Evening: Kebabs at Zübeyir Ocakbaşı (charcoal‑grilled skewers; sit by the mangal if you can) or blue‑tiled Karaköy Lokantası for meze and slow‑braised lamb. Cap the night with baklava at Karaköy Güllüoğlu—order pistachio “fıstıklı” with kaymak.

Day 3: Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye, and the Spice Market

Morning: Explore the Grand Bazaar (closed Sundays). Enter via Nuruosmaniye Gate to browse copperware, kilims, and hand‑painted ceramics; compare quality and ask for tea while haggling. Coffee stop at Şark Kahvesi inside the bazaar.

Afternoon: Walk to the airy Süleymaniye Mosque, Sinan’s masterpiece, then pause for views at the nearby tea garden. Continue down to the Spice Bazaar for saffron, lokum, and dried fruit. Lunch at Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi for classic köfte, piyaz, and ayran.

Evening: A meyhane night in Asmalımescit: Asmalı Cavit (reserve), order spreads of ezme, fava, lakerda, fried liver, then grilled seabass, with raki and conversation. For live jazz, slip into Nardis Jazz Club near Galata Tower after dinner.

Day 4: Bosphorus Morning Yacht and Village Hopping

Morning: See both continents from the water with a stop on the Asian side: Bosphorus Yacht Cruise with Stopover on the Asian Side. Expect palaces, wooden yalıs, and fortresses in ~2.5 hours.

Afternoon: Disembark and explore the European shoreline: Ortaköy’s mosque and kumpir stalls, Arnavutköy’s Ottoman houses, Bebek’s promenade, and the ramparts of Rumeli Hisarı. Coffee at Petra Roasting in Bebek or a pistachio croissant at Vakko L’Atelier.

Evening: Dinner by the water: Sur Balık Arnavutköy (meze, bluefish in season) or Feriye for a refined setting with the Ortaköy Mosque glowing beside you. Nightcap at Alexandra Cocktail Bar in Arnavutköy or Lucca in Bebek for a buzzy scene.

Day 5: Two Continents Food Day—Kadıköy & Üsküdar

Morning: Ferry to Kadıköy and join a delicious deep‑dive with tastings on both shores: Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour - Spice Market & Ferry.

Between crunchy simit, stuffed mussels, pickles, and regional cheeses, you’ll learn how Istanbul eats. Guides manage order and portions so you can pace yourself.

Afternoon: Stroll Moda’s seaside path and Kadife (“Bar”) Street’s indie cafés and boutiques. Coffee at Coffee Department or Walter’s Coffee Roastery; ice cream at Baylan with the retro “Kup Griye.”

Evening: Sunset in Üsküdar along the Maiden’s Tower promenade, then dinner at Çiya Sofrası back in Kadıköy—vegetable‑forward Anatolian dishes rotate daily (don’t miss the seasonal stews and içli köfte). Post‑dinner, craft beer at Bira Fabrikası or cocktails at Viktor Levi Winehouse.

Day 6: Art, Architecture, and Beyoğlu Nights

Morning: Istanbul Modern’s Renzo Piano–designed home anchors the waterfront at Galataport; roam contemporary Turkish art, then walk to Tophane and Karaköy’s murals and cafés. Breakfast at Namlı Gurme (olive bar, sujuk, cheeses) or Black Owl Coffee.

Afternoon: Ride the nostalgic tram along İstiklal Avenue; detour to the Pera Museum for Orientalist paintings and Anatolian weights & measures. Climb Galata Tower for a 360‑degree view. Late lunch at Dürümzade (Anthony Bourdain‑approved wraps) or Komşufırın for savory börek.

Evening: Reserve at Neolokal (inside SALT Galata) for a modern, sustainable spin on Anatolian traditions—opt for the tasting menu with a view of the Golden Horn. After, live music at Babylon Bomonti or cocktails at 5 Cocktails & More in Tomtom.

Day 7: Princes’ Islands Escape (Büyükada)

Morning: Catch an early ferry to Büyükada (roughly 75–100 minutes depending on service). Rent bikes and coast past pine groves and 19th‑century mansions to Aya Yorgi Hill; the climb is steep, but the chapel views are worth it.

Afternoon: Lunch on the waterfront—Milto or Yücetepe Kır Gazinosu for grilled fish and meze. Save room for mastic ice cream at local parlors. Swim weather permitting at a beach club, or linger with tea under the pines.

Evening: Return to the city. Dinner near Karaköy at Balat’s Forno (paper‑thin lahmacun, black‑sesame pide) or Ficcin (Circassian specialties). Sweet finish with künefe at Keyfeder Künefe in Taksim.

Day 8: Golden Horn Heritage—Fener, Balat, Eyüp

Morning: Wander Fener and Balat’s color‑splashed streets: the Ecumenical Patriarchate, steep cobbles, and antique shops. Coffee at Coffeetopia Balat; photograph the merdivenli (stepped) alleys thoughtfully—people live here.

Afternoon: Continue to Eyüp Sultan Mosque, then ride the cable car to Pierre Loti Hill for tea over the Golden Horn. If open for visits, see the restored Chora (Kariye) mosaics outside prayer times.

Evening: Back in Beyoğlu, meyhane hop around Nevizade or dine at Aheste (seasonal, meze‑forward plates and thoughtful wines). Night view from a rooftop like 16 Roof (inside Swissôtel The Bosphorus) with the city sparkling beneath.

Day 9: Hammam Rituals, Nişantaşı Style, Bomontiada Beats

Morning: Rejuvenate with a classic bath experience at a 15th‑century venue: Istanbul Gedikpasa Historical Turkish Bath with Privacy Option. Expect warm marble, foam massage, and a blissful reset.

After, late breakfast at Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu (menemen, kaymak with honey) or a third‑wave fix at Kronotrop.

Afternoon: Browse Nişantaşı’s boutiques and design stores; pause for pistachio baklava at Köşem or a light lunch at Kantin’s neighborhood offshoots. Head to Bomontiada for art spaces and an airy courtyard.

Evening: Treat yourself at Turk Fatih Tutak (two Michelin stars; inventive Anatolian tasting menu—book well ahead). Alternatively, Kurtuluş’s Sokak leans relaxed and delicious with ocakbaşı grills. Drinks at The Populist (craft beer) or cocktails at Geyik in Cihangir.

Day 10: Last Sips and Souvenirs, Departure

Morning: Brunch near the water at Emek Café in Arnavutköy (menemen, simit, olives) or Çengelköy Çınaraltı under the plane tree on the Asian side. Pick up final gifts: copper coffee pots, İznik‑inspired tiles, high‑quality olive oil, and Turkish delight.

Afternoon: Airport transfer with buffer for traffic. If you’ve time for one last view, duck into Gülhane Park for a calm farewell walk beneath the tulips in spring.

Optional and Good to Know

• Topkapı is typically closed Tuesdays; the Grand Bazaar is closed Sundays; mosques pause visits during prayer times.
• Load an Istanbulkart and tap onto trams (T1 is handy for Sultanahmet–Karaköy), metros, buses, and ferries; ferries offer the best cheap “tour.”
• If you want one more curated history day, consider a customizable guide: Best Of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour.

This 10‑day Istanbul itinerary blends headline monuments with ferries, neighborhood cafés, and slow evenings by the Bosphorus. You’ll leave with a pocketful of spices, the echo of ezan at dusk, and a map of places you can’t wait to revisit.