Istanbul is a city of crossings—continents, empires, cuisines, and eras overlap in a way you feel at street level. Founded as Byzantium and later Constantinople, it was the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires; today, minarets and church domes share the skyline with sleek ferries and trolley lines.

In December, expect crisp air, occasional rain, and soft golden light over the Bosphorus—ideal for markets and museum hours. Bring layers, a compact umbrella, and an Istanbulkart for all public transit (tram, metro, ferry).

This 4-day, low-budget plan leans into adventurous wandering: neighborhood bazaars, mixed hamams that won’t break the bank, traditional quarters with Greek roots, and modern corners where Istanbul experiments with coffee, music, and meze.

Getting there and around: For flights, compare options on Omio, Trip.com, or Kiwi.com. Within the city, trams T1 (Sultanahmet–Eminönü–Karaköy), M2 metro (Taksim–Şişhane), Marmaray (cross-Bosphorus), and ferries are cheap and reliable.

Istanbul

For budget stays, look in Sultanahmet/Fatih (walkable history), Kadıköy (affordable food, Asian-side vibe), or lower Beyoğlu (near Galata/Karaköy). Search deals on VRBO and Hotels.com, filtering by neighborhood and “breakfast included.”

Eating on a tight budget is easy: esnaf lokantası (worker canteens) and pide salons serve hearty vegetarian dishes (beans, stuffed veg, soups) and fish without tourist markups. Winter specialties like boza (a fermented millet drink) and lentil soup hit the spot after chilly walks.

Day 1: Sultanahmet, Grand Bazaar, Galata Bridge sunset

Morning: Arrival day—aim to land by midday. Pick up an Istanbulkart at the airport, ride the metro into town, drop bags at your stay (Hotels.com or VRBO). Grab a quick simit and tea from a street cart (~35–50 TRY) to join the local rhythm.

Afternoon: Walk the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque courtyard (free; modest dress), and view Hagia Sophia’s exterior; paid visitor routes to interior galleries change seasonally—ask on-site if you want to enter on a budget, or save it for another day. Browse the Grand Bazaar (closed Sundays; open to ~7 pm): duck into Şark Kahvesi inside for thick Turkish coffee and watch gold dealers and fabric sellers at work.

Evening: Continue to Eminönü for a classic balık-ekmek (grilled mackerel sandwich) by the Galata Bridge—fast, fresh, and cheap. Stroll over the bridge as fishermen reel lines at dusk; end with Turkish coffee at Mandabatmaz off İstiklal (intense, foamy) or tea in Karaköy. If you need a warm bowl, find a nearby esnaf lokantası for mercimek çorbası (lentil soup) and kuru fasulye (beans) for ~120–220 TRY total.

• Budget eats nearby: Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi (bean salad + rice for vegetarians, köfte for fish/meat eaters’ companions), small pide shops along Divanyolu, and soup houses around Sirkeci.
• Note: Sunset is early in December (~5 pm). Keep rain gear handy.

Day 2: Fatih Wednesday Market, Fener–Balat Greek heritage, mixed hamam

Morning: Fuel up with börek and tea at a local bakery in Fatih, then dive into the Fatih Wednesday Market (Çarşamba Pazarı; huge, local, and cheap). You’ll find winter greens, olives, socks, and spice mounds—practice a few Turkish numbers and haggle gently. Try boza at historic Vefa Bozacısı nearby; it’s thick, lightly sweet, and perfect for December.

Afternoon: Walk downhill into Fener–Balat–Ayvansaray to trace Greek and Ottoman layers. Visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (St. George Church) if open, admire the crimson Phanar Greek Orthodox College, and meander colorful Balat backstreets lined with antique and bric-a-brac shops. Browse the Sahaflar Çarşısı (Secondhand Book Bazaar) near Beyazıt for vintage maps and Greek/Turkish prints.

Evening: Go for a mixed hamam experience that fits your brief. Süleymaniye Hamam (16th century; couples/families mixed sessions) typically includes a kese scrub and foam massage—expect roughly mid-market pricing; confirm on arrival. For very budget local baths (gender-separated), consider Kadırga Hamamı or Gedikpaşa Hamamı near Sultanahmet. After, eat at a low-cost lokanta in Beyoğlu:

• Helvetia (Asmalımescit): vegetarian meze plates by weight—try purslane yogurt, roasted eggplant, stuffed peppers.
• Şahin Lokantası (near Tünel): daily trays of okra stew, spinach with rice, lentil soups; friendly prices.
• Sweet finish: Pick up tulumba or lokma from a street stall.

Day 3: Asian Side deep-dive — Kadıköy Market, antiques, Kuzguncuk

Morning: Breakfast in Kadıköy: try a menemen (tomato-egg scramble) or a veggie plate at Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu (Beşiktaş, then ferry) or go straight to Kadıköy for simit + white cheese and olives. Explore the Kadıköy Market streets (produce, pickle shops, spice sellers) and the fish hall—great for people-watching and cheap snacks.

Afternoon: Browse antiques along Tellalzade Sokak; many shops carry Greek/Turkish household pieces—icons, samovars, 60s enamelware. Lunch at Çiya Sofrası: a pilgrimage for vegetarians, with Anatolian stews (chickpeas with pumpkin, bulgur pilafs, stuffed vine leaves) and seasonal salads; fish eaters can add grilled options. Coffee at Coffee Manifesto or Montag, then bus or ferry to Üsküdar and continue to Kuzguncuk, a photogenic old neighborhood where a Greek Orthodox church, synagogues, and a mosque sit within steps—an emblem of Istanbul’s layered communities.

Evening: Return to Kadıköy for an affordable meyhane-style spread without the splurge. Sefa Meyhanesi often has reasonable meze and seasonal fish; if you’re staying strict veg, assemble a meze dinner (fava, haydari, acılı ezme, şakşuka) with warm bread. If you’d like another bath on the cheap (gender-separated), Aziziye Hamamı in Kadıköy is a local favorite with lower prices than the marquee historic baths.

Day 4: Bosphorus villages, Ortaköy kumpir, Istiklal’s modern beat (depart p.m.)

Morning: Do the Short Bosphorus Cruise on a public Şehir Hatları ferry (roughly 2 hours round-trip; expect an inexpensive fare—tap your Istanbulkart). You’ll glide past Ottoman palaces and wooden yalıs up toward the second bridge. Alternatively, take ordinary ferries between Eminönü–Üsküdar–Beşiktaş to sample views on the cheap.

Afternoon: Walk Beşiktaş’s backstreets and duck into Balkan Lokantası for a low-cost tray lunch (vegetable stews, rice, soups). Continue to Ortaköy for a photo of the mosque beneath the bridge and a hot kumpir (stuffed baked potato) with veggie toppings—classic street comfort. Tram or bus to Taksim and see Aya Triada (Greek Orthodox) near the square; then amble down İstiklal Caddesi toward Galata for bookstores, street music, and strong espresso at Moc or Kronotrop.

Evening: If time allows before your afternoon departure, a quick final hamam option with mixed sessions is Ağa Hamamı (Beyoğlu; historic, simple packages). Otherwise, pick up edible souvenirs—spices, lokum, and tea—at the Spice Bazaar (open daily, typically to ~7 pm) and head for the airport by metro and Marmaray or Havaist bus.

Where to stay (budget-forward):

• Sultanahmet/Fatih: Easy access to historic sites, Grand Bazaar, and cheap hamams. Search deals on VRBO or Hotels.com.
• Kadıköy/Moda: Great for cheap eats, coffee culture, and ferries—modern life at local prices. Browse VRBO private rooms or Hotels.com budget hotels.
• Lower Beyoğlu (Karaköy–Galata): Walk to cafes, Istiklal, and ferries; mixed hamams nearby.

Money & costs (Dec 2025 est.): Street breakfast 50–120 TRY, lokanta lunch 150–250 TRY, fish sandwich 150–220 TRY, coffee 70–130 TRY. Public ferries are inexpensive with Istanbulkart. Mixed hamams like Süleymaniye/Ağa run pricier than neighborhood baths; budget hamams (gender-separated) can be significantly cheaper. Always confirm current posted prices.

Extra Greek-related stops if you have pockets of time: Panagia Vlaherna in Ayvansaray (limited hours), Rumeli Hisarı ramparts (views; partial closures in winter possible), and the Princes’ Islands (Heybeliada/Büyükada) for monasteries and 19th‑century mansions—weekday ferries are frequent and affordable, but factor in cold/wind in December.

How to book transport: Compare flights on Omio or Trip.com, and check Kiwi.com for additional low-cost carriers. For trains within Türkiye, use Omio (Europe trains) as reference and plan buses/metros locally.

In four compact days you’ll taste old Constantinople and modern Istanbul: bargaining in markets, steaming in a mixed hamam, wandering Greek-heritage lanes, and sipping coffee in Kadıköy. With a light wallet and curious spirit, December becomes a gift—fewer crowds, warm kitchens, and wide Bosphorus skies.