Istanbul rewards curiosity. Founded as Byzantium, crowned as Constantinople, and reborn as the Ottoman capital, the city spans two continents and seven hills. Its skyline—domes and minarets mirrored in the Bosphorus—holds centuries of stories from emperors, sultans, and traders on the Silk Road.

Beyond the headliners—Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi—there’s the music of ferry horns, the scent of roasting chestnuts, and neighborhoods that feel like villages: cobbled Balat, stately Üsküdar, bohemian Cihangir. Istanbul’s food is a living archive too: Anatolian slow-cooked stews, Black Sea pastries, southeastern kebabs, and desserts perfected over centuries.

Practical notes: mosques close during prayers; carry a scarf for head coverings and dress modestly when entering. Grand Bazaar is closed Sundays; Topkapi Palace is typically closed Tuesdays. Load an Istanbulkart for trams, metro, and ferries. Tipping of ~10% is customary in restaurants. Keep small cash for markets, but most venues take cards.

Istanbul

Ancient and electric, Istanbul is a city of vantage points: the Galata Tower, mosque courtyards, ferry decks at sunset. Spend your mornings in the Old City, afternoons in artsy Beyoğlu or along the Bosphorus, and evenings tasting meze or cruising between continents.

• Top sights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace & Harem, Suleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Istanbul Modern, Dolmabahçe Palace, Galata Tower.
• Markets: Grand Bazaar (jewelry, textiles) and Spice Bazaar (saffron, lokum, coffee). Go early, bargain kindly.
• Food to try: simit, menemen, börek, pide, çiğ köfte, kokoreç (for the adventurous), midye dolma, baklava, künefe, and proper Turkish coffee.
• Cafés worth a detour: Mandabatmaz (legendary thick Turkish coffee), Petra Roasting Co. (third-wave), Kronotrop (single-origin espresso), Coffee Department in Balat (cozy, creative bakes).
• Evening vibes: meyhane meze in Karaköy or Asmalımescit, jazz at Nardis, cocktails at Alexandra Bar in Arnavutköy, Bosphorus views at 16 Roof.

Where to stay (handpicked):

• Search all stays: VRBO Istanbul | Hotels.com Istanbul
• Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus (Beşiktaş): 19th‑century palace glam with a harborside pool and peerless sunrise views. Book on Hotels.com
• Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul (Maçka): Resort-like grounds, spa, and a rooftop bar (16 Roof) overlooking the strait. Book on Hotels.com
• Çırağan Palace Kempinski (Ortaköy): An Ottoman palace with a riverside infinity pool and gilded interiors. Book on Hotels.com
• Sirkeci Mansion (Sirkeci): Boutique hospitality steps from the Spice Bazaar and tram line—great value and location. Book on Hotels.com
• Cheers Hostel (Sultanahmet): Sociable, clean, with stellar terrace views of Hagia Sophia; ideal for solo travelers. Book on Hotels.com

Getting there and around:

• Flights: For travel from Europe, compare fares on Omio (flights). From other regions, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical times: 3–4h from central Europe; 10–12h from the US East Coast (often 1 stop).
• Airports: IST (new Istanbul Airport) connects by M11 metro (≈35–50 min to city interchanges), Havaist buses (≈60–90 min), or taxi (≈45–75 min depending on traffic). SAW (Sabiha Gökçen) serves many low-cost carriers on the Asian side.
• Local transport: Load an Istanbulkart and use the T1 tram (Old City), M2 metro (Beyoğlu), ferries (Eminönü–Kadıköy/Üsküdar), and funiculars (F1 Kabataş–Taksim). Ferries double as mini-cruises.

Day 1: Arrival, Sultanahmet Stroll, and Sunset on the Bosphorus

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle walk through Sultanahmet Square where Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman layers meet. For a sweet pick‑me‑up, grab pistachio baklava at Karaköy Güllüoğlu (flagship in Karaköy) or a syrupy slice of künefe nearby; pair with strong Turkish tea.

Evening: Sail into Istanbul’s golden hour on a luxury yacht. Expect narration of palaces and yali mansions, soft lounge beats, and that violet-pink Bosphorus light.

Bosphorus Sunset Yacht Experience: Istanbul’s Best

Dinner: Book Karaköy Lokantası for classic meze (marinated sea bass, stuffed vine leaves, artichokes) and blue-tiled ambiance, or try Giritli in Cankurtaran for Aegean seafood in a leafy courtyard. Nightcap at Nardis Jazz Club below Galata Tower if you still have energy.

Day 2: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Cisterns, and the Spice Route

Morning: Join a small-group tour for context and skip-the-line logistics around the Old City’s big three. Dress modestly; mosques close at prayer times.

Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia & opt. Basilica Cistern Tour

Lunch: Try the century-old Sultanahmet Köftecisi for charcoal-grilled meatballs, piyaz (bean salad), and ayran. For something lighter, grab a sesame simit and a cup of boza if you find a vendor.

Afternoon: Wander the Hippodrome obelisks, then browse the Spice Bazaar (saffron, sumac, pul biber). Pop into Pandeli upstairs for eggplant purees and lamb stews under turquoise tiles if you skipped köfte. Coffee break at Brew Coffeeworks in Sirkeci—solid espresso steps from the tram.

Evening: Meze crawl in Asmalımescit: start at Aheste (contemporary takes like lamb with quince), then sip rakı at a meyhane. For dessert, sample Hafız Mustafa 1864 for pistachio-heavy fıstıklı şöbiyet.

Day 3: Topkapi Palace, Gülhane Gardens, and Grand Bazaar

Morning: Dive into the heart of Ottoman power with a guided harem-focused visit—tiles, intrigue, and the treasury’s sparkle. Note: Topkapi is typically closed Tuesdays; swap days if needed.

Small-Group Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour: Highlights & History

Afternoon: Exhale in Gülhane Park, then hit the Grand Bazaar for lamps, leather, and ceramics. Go with a short wish list and ask for tea while you browse. If time allows, visit Süleymaniye Mosque for panoramic courtyards and a quieter vibe than Sultanahmet.

Coffee & snack: Mandabatmaz off İstiklal for ultra-thick Turkish coffee; pair with a slice of revani or a pistachio cookie from a nearby patisserie.

Evening: Dinner at Balıkçı Sabahattin (Old City seafood—try the baked sea bass and seasonal mezes). For cocktails with a view, head to 16 Roof at Swissôtel.

Day 4: Two Continents Food Tour and Kadıköy/Moda

Let the day revolve around eating and ferries. This top-rated food tour begins with a proper Turkish breakfast in the Old City, then sails to the Asian side to graze Kadıköy’s market lanes—börek hot from the oven, pickles, cheeses, lahmacun, seasonal fish, and baklava. It’s the tastiest geography lesson you’ll ever take.

Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour - Spice Market & Ferry

After the tour: Linger in Moda for seaside promenades and gelato, or settle at Çiya Sofrası for regional Anatolian recipes (soups and stews you won’t see elsewhere). Ferry back at sunset—Kadıköy–Eminönü crossings are skyline magic.

Evening option: If you prefer wellness, book a traditional bath later today or tomorrow: the Gedikpaşa Hamamı in the Old City offers historic marble halls and a good scrub (kese) experience. (If you want to reserve with transfers and privacy options in advance, consider the Viator listing below.)

Day 5: Beyoğlu, Galata, Istanbul Modern, and Rooftops

Morning: Breakfast at Van Kahvaltı Evi (Cihangir): a Kurdish-style spread of cheeses, olives, menemen, and clotted cream with honey. Stroll İstiklal Caddesi, duck into the Pera Museum (orientalist paintings, Anatolian weights), then weave down to Galata Tower for city views.

Afternoon: Head to Karaköy—visit the stunning new Istanbul Modern building on the waterfront, then café-hop (try Kronotrop or FilBooks). Late lunch at Pandeli if you missed it, or Lokanta 1741 for refined Anatolian plates beside the historic Cağaloğlu Hamam.

Evening: Book Neolokal (Salt Galata) for a contemporary tasting menu rooted in Turkish heritage, or Yeni Lokanta for wood-fired breads and modern meze. For afters, cocktails at Alexandra in Arnavutköy or craft beer at The Populist in Bomontiada.

Day 6: Bosphorus Neighborhoods and Departure

Morning: Early Bosphorus breakfast by the fortress: Kale Cafe or Sade Kahve in Rumelihisarı serve menemen with a strait-side breeze. Walk the scenic path through Arnavutköy to Bebek past wooden yali mansions. Grab a simit and last photos at Ortaköy Mosque, then return to check out.

Optional last look: If your flight is late afternoon, squeeze in a short cistern visit with timed tickets:

Basilica Cistern Skip the Line Ticket

Departure: Aim for IST 3 hours before an international flight. Compare rides and public transport time; traffic can swell at bridges and tunnels.

Alternate evening (any night): Prefer a dinner cruise with live shows and a private table? Book the Bosphorus by night for whirling dervish and folk dances plus illuminated palaces.

Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Show and Private Table

Where to eat and drink—extra picks to slot in:

• Breakfast: Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu (Beşiktaş) for hearty spreads; Namlı Gurme (Karaköy) to assemble your own plate of cheeses and pastirma.
• Lunch: Şehzade Cağ Kebap (Sirkeci) for Erzurum-style rotating skewers; Dürümzade (Beyoğlu) for smoky wraps; Tarihi Karaköy Balık Ekmek for a fish sandwich fix.
• Dinner: Hamdi (Eminönü) for pistachio kebabs with Golden Horn views; Mezze by Lemon Tree’s spiritual successors like Aheste for modern meze; Giritli for Aegean seafood menus.
• Sweet stops: Karaköy Güllüoğlu (baklava), Ziya Şark Sofrası (künefe), Şekerci Cafer Erol in Kadıköy (heritage confections).

Estimated local costs (reference ranges): Mosque/cistern/Topkapi guided tickets and tours vary ($20–$80+ per site or tour); Bosphorus yacht experiences from ~$35–$70; meze dinners with drinks $20–$45 per person; taxis across central areas $6–$18 depending on traffic; airport transfers $25–$50 by taxi, ~$5–$8 by bus/metro equivalents.

For flights to/from Europe, compare on Omio. For global routes, check Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Book central hotels or VRBOs via Hotels.com and VRBO for easy tram and ferry access.

This six-day Istanbul travel guide balances iconic landmarks with neighborhood rhythms, ferries, and feasts. You’ll leave with camera-roll sunsets, spice-scented souvenirs, and a mental map that already plots your return.