Istanbul, the only city straddling two continents, holds millennia of stories in its hills. Romans crowned emperors here, sultans plotted empire within gilded palaces, and today ferries knit the Bosphorus together while simit sellers ring their bells. In a single glance you can see Byzantine domes, Ottoman minarets, and modern glass all sharing the same sky.

Food is a parallel history lesson—Anatolian stews in a humble lokanta, seafood meze in an old caravanserai, pistachio baklava perfected over generations. Markets still buzz where Silk Road caravans once unloaded spices, and tea gardens bloom under plane trees planted in the age of the sultans.

Practical notes: Mosques welcome visitors; dress modestly (shoulders/knees covered) and bring a light scarf. Museums often close one day a week (Topkapi Tuesday, Dolmabahçe Monday), so this itinerary accounts for that. Load an Istanbulkart for trams, metros, and ferries, and let the city’s rhythm—call to prayer, gulls, ferry horns—set the pace.

Istanbul

From Sultanahmet’s world‑famous monuments to Kadıköy’s market alleys and the waterfront mansions of Arnavutköy, Istanbul rewards curiosity at every corner. This 7‑day itinerary balances headline sights, local neighborhoods, and the Bosphorus—plus time to sip Turkish coffee slowly.

• Top sights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Dolmabahçe Palace, Galata Tower, Chora/Kariye Mosque, Balat & Fener.
• Don’t miss: A Bosphorus sunset, a proper hammam, and tasting both European and Asian sides in one day.
• Where to stay: Sultanahmet for history, Karaköy/Galata for nightlife and cafes, Beşiktaş/Ortaköy for Bosphorus views.

Hotels and stays (book here): Browse citywide stays on VRBO Istanbul or Hotels.com Istanbul. For standout properties: waterside grandeur at Çırağan Palace Kempinski, city‑view comfort at Swissôtel The Bosphorus, historic boutique warmth at Sirkeci Mansion, palatial Bosphorus romance at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, and sociable budget digs at Cheers Hostel.

Getting in: Fly into IST (Europe side) or SAW (Asia side). For Europe‑origin flights, compare on Omio flights; for global options use Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Expect 3–4 hours from major European hubs, 10–12 hours from the U.S. East Coast (often with a connection).

Day 1: Arrival, Sultanahmet First Impressions

Morning: Travel day. Book flights on Omio, Trip.com, or Kiwi.com. From IST, the Havaist bus or M11 metro gets you to the center in 45–75 minutes (budget roughly 150–250 TRY for the bus); taxis run 35–60 minutes depending on traffic.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs on Sultanahmet Square. See the Hippodrome obelisks, then peek into Arasta Bazaar for artisan kilims and ceramics. Coffee break at Tarihi Çınaraltı in the Arasta courtyard, or wander to Gülhane Park for tea under the plane trees.

Evening: Welcome dinner ideas: Karaköy Lokantası (blue‑tiled bistro famed for seasonal meze and slow‑cooked lamb), Giritli (set‑menu Aegean seafood in a leafy courtyard), or Balıkçı Sabahattin (classic fish house in a 1927 wooden mansion). For dessert, go to Hafız Mustafa (try the pistachio baklava or sütlaç), then stroll the Galata Bridge to watch anglers under the skyline.

Day 2: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi

Morning: Join a small‑group deep dive into the Old City with the Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia & opt. Basilica Cistern Tour. You’ll learn how a basilica became an imperial mosque, decode İznik tiles, and descend into the forest of columns beneath the city.

Afternoon: Lunch at Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi (juicy köfte with piyaz bean salad) or Şehzade Cağ Kebap (spit‑roasted Erzurum specialty served in thin slices). Spend the afternoon in Topkapi Palace—don’t miss the Harem and the jewel‑box Imperial Treasury. Exit through Gülhane Park for a quiet breather.

Evening: Watch the sunset from the terrace of Seven Hills or Kubbe‑i Aşk for postcard views. Dinner options: Giritli’s seafood meze flight, Deraliye Ottoman Cuisine (historical palace recipes like hünkar beğendi), or Laklak Balık for a casual fish feast. Nightcap of sahlep (spiced milk drink) from a street vendor if it’s cool out.

Day 3: Spice Bazaar and A Taste of Two Continents

Morning: Start in Eminönü’s Spice Bazaar where mounds of saffron, sumac, and lokum perfume the aisles. Pop into Rüstem Paşa Mosque nearby for its dazzling tilework and calm. Grab a sesame simit and Turkish coffee at Mandabatmaz (legendary thick foam) before your tour.

Afternoon: Eat your way across the Bosphorus on the Istanbul Taste of Two Continents Food Tour. Expect a hearty Turkish breakfast in the Old City, ferry to Kadıköy, and a progressive tasting through pickles, liver wraps, grilled mackerel, and regional pastries while your guide weaves culinary history into every bite.

Evening: Linger on the Asian side: dinner at Çiya Sofrası (a living encyclopedia of Anatolian dishes—try the sour cherry kebab and seasonal stews), Basta! Street Food Bar (creative dürüm), or Balatlı Rum Meyhanesi Kadıköy (meze and raki in a convivial setting). Finish with a walk to Moda’s seaside park and pistachio ice cream at Ali Usta.

Day 4: Palaces, Bosphorus Villages, and a Sunset Yacht

Morning: Breakfast in Karaköy: menemen and sujuk at Namlı Gurme, or pistachio baklava at Karaköy Güllüoğlu fresh from the oven. Tour Dolmabahçe Palace, the 19th‑century waterside residence with crystal chandeliers and a ceremonial hall vast enough for echoes.

Afternoon: Tram to Kabataş and stroll the waterfront to Beşiktaş’s fish market for a lunch of midye tava (fried mussels) and çorba. Continue to Ortaköy for kumpir (loaded baked potato) and a photo of the mosque against the Bosphorus Bridge. If you prefer something quieter, walk the wooden‑house-lined streets of Arnavutköy and grab a coffee at any third‑wave cafe along the quay.

Evening: Board the Bosphorus Sunset Yacht Experience to watch palaces and fortresses glow gold. It’s the most elegant way to absorb the city’s silhouette, with commentary tying Europe and Asia together.

Evening (continued): Post‑cruise dinner: Sur Balık Arnavutköy (terrace over the water with excellent sea bream), Karaköy Lokantası if you haven’t gone yet, or Yeni Lokanta (modern Anatolian plates—reserve). For a nightcap, try a raki and conversation at Asmalı Cavit, a beloved meyhane.

Day 5: Balat, Fener, and a Historic Hammam

Morning: Breakfast at Forno Balat (sunny, brick‑oven pide and eggs) before wandering Balat’s steep, colorful lanes and antique shops. Continue to Fener’s Patriarchate and waterfront; this was the heart of old Greek Constantinople.

Afternoon: Head to the Kariye (Chora) area; the former church‑turned‑mosque is renowned for sublime Byzantine mosaics—check visiting hours as parts may be covered during prayer times. Lunch nearby at Vefa Bozacısı district with a glass of boza (fermented millet drink) and a quick look at Süleymaniye Mosque’s hilltop panorama.

Evening: Unwind Ottoman‑style with the Gedikpaşa Historical Turkish Bath, a 16th‑century hammam offering scrub and foam treatments—bliss after days on cobblestones.

Evening (continued): Dinner choices: Zübeyir Ocakbaşı (counter‑side kebabs and smoky eggplant), Hamdi Restaurant (classic grills with a Golden Horn view), or Kral Kokoreç for a fearless street‑food finale of crispy offal in bread.

Day 6: Princes’ Islands Escape or Modern Beyoğlu

Morning: Option A—Ferry to Büyükada (Princes’ Islands). Rent bikes, circle pine forests, and lunch on grilled fish with a view at Milto or Yücetepe Kır Gazinosu. Option B—Stay in the city for Beyoğlu: Turkish breakfast at Van Kahvaltı Evi (herb‑laced cheeses, honeycomb), then ascend Galata Tower and browse the Pera Museum.

Afternoon: If on the islands, swim at a beach club in season and return by late afternoon. In Beyoğlu, graze along Istiklal Caddesi’s side streets: Dürümzade (Anthony Bourdain favorite for spicy wraps), Çiçek Pasajı for meze, and Coffee Sapiens for a specialty brew in Karaköy. Shop Turkish designers in Nişantaşı afterward.

Evening: Contemporary dining ideas: Neolokal (heritage recipes modernized inside SALT Galata), TURK Fatih Tutak (two‑Michelin‑star tasting menu celebrating Anatolia), or Mürver (wood‑fired seafood with Bosphorus views). Finish with a cocktail at 16 Roof or a mellow raki at Agora Meyhanesi 1890.

Day 7: Üsküdar Mornings, Kadıköy Markets, Last‑Minute Treasures

Morning: Cross by ferry to Üsküdar and sip tea beneath the plane trees at Çınaraltı in Çengelköy, pairing it with warm simit from the local bakery. Walk Kuzguncuk’s leafy streets of wooden houses and art studios, then drop by Kanaat Lokantası in Üsküdar for a late‑morning taste of homestyle stews and desserts.

Afternoon: Ride to Kadıköy for market browsing: olives, cheeses, stuffed mussels, and pickle stands. Snack at Balık Ekmekçim for mackerel sandwiches or try Tantuni in a corner shop. Sail back to the European side and dive into the Grand Bazaar and the nearby, more intimate Arasta Bazaar for souvenirs like hand‑loomed peshtemals.

Evening: Farewell dinner: Karaköy Lokantası if it became your crush, Aheste (seasonal meze with finesse), or Giritli for one last seafood spread. Cap it all with künefe at Keyfeder or pistachio katmer at Karaköy Güllüoğlu, then a slow Bosphorus promenade to say güle güle to the city.

Optional logistics add‑ons

Airport transfers and onward travel: If you prefer private transport, compare options on the spot or pre‑arrange through your hotel. For flights out, check Omio, Trip.com, or Kiwi.com and plan for traffic—leave 3 hours before departure.

Why this 7-day Istanbul itinerary works

You’ll spend unhurried time at the Old City’s icons, taste both continents, sail the Bosphorus at golden hour, and thread through neighborhoods where locals actually live. It balances headline attractions with eating well, walking well, and resting well—how Istanbul is meant to be felt.

Bonus tour option if you want a guide for the full day: Istanbul Highlights Private Tour: Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off blends the major monuments with expert storytelling.

Seven days lets you collect the city’s greatest hits—and its quiet asides. From the echoing domes of Hagia Sophia to fish sandwiches on the ferry and that last moonlit walk along the Bosphorus, Istanbul will stay with you long after your flight home.