Istanbul has worn many names—Byzantium, Constantinople—and reigned as the capital of Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires. Today it’s a buzzing metropolis straddling Europe and Asia, where call-to-prayer harmonizes with café culture, street art, and ferry horns. This 7-day itinerary balances the icons with neighborhood wanderings and delicious detours.

Expect contrasts: tile-blue mosques beside chic galleries, palaces fronting ultramodern yachts, and tahini-drizzled breakfasts followed by third-wave coffee. You’ll trace the spine of the Old City, stroll Istiklal’s Belle Époque blocks, ferry to Kadıköy’s food markets, and drift along the Bosphorus at sunset. Along the way, try meze tables, baklava institutions, and a home-cooked lesson in Turkish cuisine.

Practical notes: modest dress is required for mosques (scarves for women, covered shoulders/knees). Pick up an Istanbulkart for trams, metros, and ferries. Traffic is real—mix in ferries and walking when you can. Museum and mosque hours can vary by prayer times and holidays; checking the day-of is wise.

Istanbul

Split by the Bosphorus yet wonderfully connected by ferries, Istanbul rewards slow exploration. Base yourself near Sultanahmet for the major monuments, or choose Beyoğlu for dining, nightlife, and easy tram/metro access. Save time for the Asian side—Kadıköy and Moda are local favorites for cafés, bars, and markets.

• Top sights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace, Galata Tower, Dolmabahçe Palace, Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar.
• Neighborhoods to wander: Sultanahmet (history), Karaköy & Galata (galleries and cafés), Balat & Fener (colorful streets), Kadıköy & Moda (food and nightlife), Beşiktaş & Ortaköy (Bosphorus vibe).
• Food you shouldn’t miss: simit with tea, menemen for breakfast, lahmacun and pide hot from the oven, meze with raki at a meyhane, fresh fish, pistachio baklava, and Turkish coffee.

Where to stay (curated picks + search pages):

• Historic boutique near the Old City: Sirkeci Mansion (warm service, easy to Sultanahmet and the Spice Bazaar).
• Resort-style on the Bosphorus: Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul (views, spa, pools) or Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul (Ottoman palace glamour).
• Waterfront heritage in Arnavutköy: Ajia Hotel or Fuat Paşa Yalısı (quiet Bosphorus neighborhood, great for evenings by the water).
• Stylish splurge: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus.
• Social and budget-friendly: Cheers Hostel (steps to Sultanahmet).
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com – Istanbul and VRBO – Istanbul.

Getting to Istanbul

Fly into IST (Istanbul Airport) or SAW (Sabiha Gökçen). From Europe, compare fares and times on Omio flights (many nonstops, 2–4 hours from major hubs; typical economy $80–$250 one way). From the Middle East, Americas, or Asia, check Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com (NYC ~10–11 hours nonstop; Gulf ~4–5 hours; fares vary widely by season).

Into the city: Havaist airport buses serve key neighborhoods; metro line M11 connects IST to the network. Taxis are metered; ferries are a joy for cross-Bosphorus hops. Grab an Istanbulkart for all public transport.

Day 1 — Arrival, First Glimpse of the Old City

Afternoon: Arrive and settle in. Stretch your legs around Sultanahmet Square: view the Hippodrome obelisks and the Blue Mosque’s cascading domes. For a quick pick-me-up, try Turkish coffee or tea with a sesame simit from a street cart or a stop at Brew Coffee Works (Sirkeci) for specialty espresso.

Evening: Time your first sunset at the Arasta Bazaar terrace area or a nearby rooftop to watch minarets glow. Dinner at Deraliye serves Ottoman-era recipes—try sour-cherry lamb or stuffed vine leaves. For dessert, Hafız Mustafa (Sirkeci) plates syrupy baklava and stretchy Turkish ice cream. Nightcap at the Orient Bar (Pera Palace) for a literary-tinged first toast.

Day 2 — Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Topkapı

Morning: Start early in Sultanahmet with a classic menemen (scrambled eggs with peppers) and cay. Then join a guided small-group to navigate the headline monuments with context and skip-the-line logistics.

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

Dress modestly; scarves are provided at entrances if needed. Basilica Cistern’s mood-lit columns and Medusa heads are a crowd-pleaser—great for photos.

Afternoon: Walk to Topkapı Palace to see imperial courtyards and the Harem apartments (allow 2–3 hours). Grab a quick lunch of köfte and piyaz at Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta—simple, fast, and beloved since 1920.

Evening: Browse the Grand Bazaar before close; look for hand-painted ceramics and copperware. Dinner at Giritli in Cankurtaran brings Aegean meze and grilled fish in a garden setting. Finish with salep (warm orchid-root drink) on a cool night.

Day 3 — Karaköy, Galata Tower, and Beyoğlu Art & Eats

Morning: Ferry or tram to Karaköy for breakfast at Karaköy Güllüoğlu—order a savory börek and pistachio baklava “for research.” Climb to Galata Tower for panoramic views; then wander Serdar-ı Ekrem’s boutiques and the Pera Museum’s thoughtful exhibits.

Afternoon: Coffee at Coffee Sapiens (roastery vibes), then stroll Istiklal Avenue. Pop into historic passages like Çiçek Pasajı and observe the meyhane culture. Lunch at Karaköy Lokantası for daily stews and vibrant mezes under blue tiles.

Evening: Reserve Yeni Lokanta (modern Anatolian plates—think yogurt-lacquered kebabs, wood-fired veggies) or Aheste for an intimate meze feast. For a nightcap with a view, Duble Meze Bar Pera pours raki with skyline terraces.

Day 4 — Palaces, Beşiktaş Markets, and a Bosphorus Sunset Yacht

Morning: Classic Turkish breakfast at Van Kahvaltı Evi (Cihangir): herbed cheeses, honey with clotted kaymak, olives, and menemen. Walk to Dolmabahçe Palace—Ottoman splendor with crystal chandeliers and a waterfront façade. Nearby Beşiktaş Çarşı buzzes with fishmongers and pide ovens.

Afternoon: Snack your way through Beşiktaş market (try stuffed mussels and dürüm). If time allows, stroll Ortaköy’s mosque-framed square and try a loaded kumpir (baked potato) from the colorful stalls.

Evening: Sail the strait as mansions and minarets turn gold. This luxury sunset cruise is a photogenic, relaxed way to decode the city’s shoreline palaces and neighborhoods.

Istanbul Sunset Cruise With Luxury Yacht On Bosphorus

Post-cruise dinner at Feriye by the water, or taxi up to Arnavutköy’s seafood taverns; finish with almond confections from Bebek Badem Ezmesi.

Day 5 — Two Continents in One Day: Spice Market to Kadıköy

Morning: Start at the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar for fragrant pepper, sumac, and lokum. Step into Rüstem Paşa Mosque nearby for Iznik tiles shimmering in quiet light. Then join a guided tasting that ferries you from Europe to Asia and back with a full Turkish breakfast and a cavalcade of street eats.

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

Afternoon: Linger in Kadıköy’s market streets post-tour: Çiya Sofrası is a pilgrimage for regional Anatolian dishes (try lamb with sour sumac or semsek pastries). Coffee and cake at Baylan Pastanesi, a 1923 classic, is non-negotiable.

Evening: Walk the seaside promenade through Moda at sunset. For drinks, Viktor Levi Şarap Evi pours Turkish wines in a vine-covered courtyard; for dinner, Aida Vino e Cucina offers Italian comfort with a local crowd.

Day 6 — Golden Horn Colors, Viewpoints, and a Home Cooking Class

Morning: Explore Balat and Fener: pastel houses, steep lanes, antique shops, and photo-ready staircases. Breakfast at Forno Balat for pides and poached-egg kaymak bowls; then specialty brews at Coffee Department.

Afternoon: Ride up to Eyüp and take the cable car to Pierre Loti Café for Golden Horn views. Consider an afternoon hammam—Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam (Tophane) is exquisitely restored; book ahead.

Evening: Cap the day by cooking in a local home—warm conversation, traditional recipes, and techniques you’ll actually use back home.

Private Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class with Local Moms

Day 7 — Last Looks: Shopping, Hammam, and a Leisurely Lunch

Morning: Sleep in, then brunch in Nişantaşı: The House Café (Abdi İpekçi) for eggs and simit baskets, or swing by Tatbak for classic lahmacun. Window-shop local designers and ceramics for take-home treasures.

Afternoon: Return to the Spice Bazaar for gifts (vacuum-sealed sweets travel well) or revisit a favorite neighborhood. If you skipped the hammam yesterday, slip one in now and emerge refreshed for the flight.

Evening: For a memorable final meal, book Pandeli (inside the Spice Bazaar) for historic ambiance and blue-tiled dining—order hünkar beğendi or stuffed eggplant. Depart for the airport with extra time; Istanbul traffic can surprise even the locals.

Insider dining map for the week (save these):

• Old City: Deraliye; Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta; Giritli; Şark Kahvesi (inside Grand Bazaar) for Turkish coffee.
• Beyoğlu/Karaköy: Karaköy Lokantası; Coffee Sapiens; Duble Meze Bar Pera; Yeni Lokanta; Aheste.
• Beşiktaş/Ortaköy/Bosphorus: Van Kahvaltı Evi (Cihangir); Feriye; Bebek Badem Ezmesi.
• Asian side (Kadıköy/Moda): Çiya Sofrası; Baylan Pastanesi; Viktor Levi Şarap Evi; Aida Vino e Cucina.
• Balat/Eyüp: Forno Balat; Coffee Department; Pierre Loti Café for views.

Optional add-ons if you have extra time or switch plans:

• Topkapı Harem extended visit (allow an extra hour).
• Prince’s Islands day trip (Büyükada) by ferry—car-free lanes and seaside lunches.
• Bosphorus dinner-and-show cruise if you want a festive final night: Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment & Show

  

Trip logistics recap: For flights, compare Omio (Europe) and global options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. In town, rely on trams (T1 for Old City–Karaköy), metro, ferries, and walking; taxis are plentiful but meter-only. Build flex time around prayer hours for mosque visits.

One more standout experience if you prefer guided depth over DIY:

Best of Istanbul 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour

Seven days in Istanbul lets you savor both the headline monuments and the neighborhood rhythms—sunsets over the Bosphorus, pistachio-studded sweets, and the hum of ferries at dusk. With this itinerary, you’ll leave with a fuller story of the city—and reasons to return for seconds.