Istanbul 4 Day Itinerary
Istanbul is a world class city that spans two continents-Asia and Europe. It has a distinct character, lively and bustling, but warmer and more welcoming than many other European cities. The skyline is dotted with minarets from mosques and the city is surrounded by water. It is a great place for a long weekend, but even if you had a whole week you wouldn’t be able to do it all!
We made a 4 day trip to Istanbul in November with kids. It was a great first introduction to the city and to Türkiye as a country. We left wanting more and plotting where else in Türkiye we could visit next. This Istanbul 4 Day Itinerary is designed for people who have never been to Istanbul before. This is an introduction to this fabulously interesting city!
Istanbul 4 Day Itinerary
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Earthquake Relief
I’ve been so saddened by the Earthquake that recently struck Türkiye and Syria. If you are so compelled and able, please consider donating to an organization working to provide relief. Here are three that I feel comfortable recommending below. Please always do your own research to make sure you feel comfortable with where your donation is going.
German Red Cross
World Central Kitchen-Emergency Food Relief, providing hot meals to survivors and first responders
Turkish Embassy & Consulates in the United States-see list of goods and items they are collecting to send to the disaster area
http://washington.emb.mfa.gov.tr/Mission/ShowAnnouncement/400327
Day 1
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar has been in operation since the 1400’s. It was the central marketplace of the Ottoman Empire. Today it houses over 4000 different shops and you can find everything from clothes, carpets, tea, Turkish delights, chess board, jewelry, lamps, and more here.
Walking through the Grand Bazaar is a fun and entertaining way to spend a couple hours.
Some will say it is too touristy but I didn’t feel that way. We really enjoyed walking around and marveling at all the goods. The bazaar itself is beautiful and you should look up at the painted details and pretty arches.
Expect salespeople to talk to you and try to get you to enter their shops. We never found anyone to be overly pushy and didn’t feel like we were being targeted but the sales people are there to sell!
It was almost like an overload for me, there were so many cool things in there that I didn’t know what I wanted or what I wanted to look for. But if you know before you go in, you’ll have an easier time.
Grand Bazaar Tips:
Haggling is a must here. You should expect to negotiate with the sellers. Sometimes that can feel uncomfortable but I’ve seen suggestions to start with an offer 30% below the initial price and go from there. Know what your red line in for what you want to spend and if you can’t get close to that, be willing to walk away.
Don’t try to walk around to see everything before you make a choice. If you see something you love, go for it! The bazaar is a maze and you may not find your way back to the right place if you try to leave to see all the other options.
Have cash ready. You won’t want to have to leave to go to an ATM and it’s not guaranteed that the vendor will take a card. Better to have lira on hand.
It is all covered which makes this a great thing to do in Istanbul in winter! If it rains or you need a break from the chilly weather, head inside here!
Extend your trip from Turkey to neighboring Georgia! Read this to find the best hotels and places to stay in Georgia!
Bins and bins of tea and spices in the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul.
Spice Bazaar/Egyptian Bazaar
The Spice Bazaar is often touted as being more authentic than the Grand Bazaar. I think both are worth a visit. The Spice Bazaar is much smaller and doesn’t have as wide of variety of goods. In fact it is mostly spices, tea, and Turkish delights.
They are located very near each other. Also in the streets surrounding the spice bazaar, it is like a bazaar in itself with even more shops and food vendors. It can get very crowded in these areas. So keep a tight hold on little ones.
Visiting these places is a barrage for the senses. There is so much to look at, a lot of noise with vendors calling out, and a lot of people! It’s quite an experience, and you won’t want to leave Istanbul without making a visit or two here.
Sunset over Istanbul as seen from a ferry.
Food Tour & Ferry Rides
Once you exit the Spice Bazaar, head across the street to the ferry terminal to begin your food tour! There are several options for food tours in Istanbul. Most will take you across to the Asian side of the city. I think this is an excellent way to get to try a lot of different foods and to try things you might not necessarily know to order or look for. Highly recommend it for a new city!
We booked one through AirBnB Experiences. We choose our particular tour because we wanted to do one that was private and we didn’t want to sink a ton of money into it because we weren’t sure how our kids would hold up on a multi hour tour. So we picked a cheaper one, and it might have been a little bit of “get what you pay for.” Our guide was very nice and he didn’t do anything wrong, but he also wasn’t GREAT. It felt more like we were just with a dude who lived in Istanbul than with a real guide who was excited, engaging, and knowledgeable. It worked out fine for us, but I wouldn’t feel good about recommending him to others because I think there are better guides out there.
I would recommend going with something more verified like this food tour.
We went to the Kadiköy area of Istanbul for our tour and I loved getting to see this neighborhood. It was a cool area and one that looked like it would be fun to live in. During our tour we tried:
döner
”wet burgers”
laumachaun (looks like a pizza but you roll it up and eat it like a taco)
Ayran yogurt drink
stuffed mussels
çeyrek (tripe)
kumpir (baked potato with lots of toppings)
boza (fermented millet drink)
several varieties of baklava and künefe (desserts)
My favorites were the wet burgers, laumachaun, and kunefe a dessert with cheese, fried pastry dough and pistachios.
Since our tour took us to different areas of the city, it also included ferry rides. Luckily for us, our last ferry ride timed out perfectly with sunset. The views were absolutely stunning! During any Istanbul itinerary, you need to make the effort to be on the water at sunset, it is totally worthwhile.
You can choose a dinner cruise or just hop on a ferry. Either way, bring your camera and enjoy the view!
The beautifully lit columns of the Basilica Cistern.
Day 2
Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is a product of the Byzantine (Roman) Empire. It is an underground water reservoir that is held up by a plethora of beautiful columns. The cistern is artfully lit up and also has some modern art pieces placed throughout making it part historical site and part art gallery.
The Basilica Cistern was truly a crowd pleaser for our family. Everyone really enjoyed walking around, and walking on platforms over the water. If you have Greek mythology lovers, don’t forget to walk all the way to the back of the cistern to find the two Medusa heads.
Tickets: 300 TL per adult, the website will direct you to buy from Passo which I had some trouble navigating. You can also buy tickets on site but sometimes the line is very long. Best to get there first thing in the morning.
Opening Hours: Daily 9:00-18:00
Inside the Harem of Topkapi Palace.
Topkapi Palace
The Topkapi Palace is similar to visiting Versailles in France. This palace was the Sultan’s residence during the Ottoman Empire and the center of the government at that time. It is a large complex with many buildings and things to see.
If you are traveling with kids, you won’t see it all. Pick the most interesting parts and go for those. Even with only adults, it would probably take you all day to see the whole thing or most of it.
Beautiful details and design work of Topkapi Palace.
We opted to get audio guides in an effort to have the kids be more engaged. A tour guide would be even better. If you want audio guides, just be aware that they will ask you to trade a picture ID for the device. We only had 3 picture ID’s on us so we were only able to get 3 audio guides for our group of 5.
We saw the Harem and the Armory sections of the Palace. The Harem is an extra ticket on top of the regular admission ticket, and it does include some very beautiful rooms. The Armory was a highlight for our youngest child who was very excited about seeing guns and swords.
Interior of the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya).
Day 3
Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia)
Do not miss visiting this icon of Istanbul! It is truly an impressive place and has a fascinating history. I recommend you visit with a tour guide to get the most out of it. Our tour guide makes a point to get to the line first every day. It was totally worth it to not have to wait in a line!
Ayasofya started as a church during the Byzantine (Roman) Empire, then it became a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. It changed later to a museum, but recently has been changed back over to a working mosque.
The park outside the Ayasofya is a great place to grab some photos!
The interior is very beautiful, and at the time of our visit there was no scaffolding up. We were able to see it unobstructed. Our guide told us of the different ways that accommodations have been made through the years to try and appease different groups of people. For instance there is the image of Jesus inside but in a mosque there shouldn’t be any icons visible. So they hung a curtain in front of Jesus. You can still see him if you move to the side but he is technically covered for people who are there to pray.
Our guide was excellent and gave us an interesting and unstuffy explanation of the history. He was patient and talkative to our kids as well. I’d highly recommend him. Find his information below.
The interior of the Hagia Sophia is truly stunning, and it is fascinating to hear the history behind it.
Guide Info:
Metin
metinkoca@gmail.com
+905332301976
Tips:
Women must cover their heads inside the mosque. I suggest you bring your own scarf. You can however buy a disposable head scarf/hood on site if needed.
Everyone has to take off their shoes to walk inside on the carpet. Pack some socks with you if you’re wearing sandals that day and don’t forget where you put your shoes! There are plenty of shelves and cubbies for you to store your shoes on while you walk around.
Don’t come on Friday at noon, that is when the biggest/longest prayer time of the week is.
The Blue Mosque-Photo courtesy of Unsplash.
Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque lies just across the plaza from the AyaSofya. Thie mosque was constructed in the 1600’s and is known for its beautiful interior. Unfortunately for us, at the time of our visit the interior of the mosque was almost completely covered with scaffolding, so we skipped it.
We will have to save it for the next time we go. Also in this area you can see the former site of the Hippodrome and ancient Egyptian Obelisk. Down the hill from the Blue Mosque you can also visit the Arasta Bazaar, a nice street for shopping.
The courtyard of the Süleymaniye Mosque is so beautiful.
Süleymaniye Mosque
We hadn’t planned on visiting this mosque until our Ayasofya guide mentioned it. It was worth the trek for us. Not only does it have a beautiful interior and beautiful courtyard, it has a stunning view from the gardens! There is a big viewing terrace where you can take in the panorama of Istanbul. The mosque sits on the third hill of Istanbul (read, walk uphill to get here) and commands a great view over the Golden Horn.
View from the gardens of the Süleymaniye Mosque.
This mosque was founded in 1550, mind boggling! It was based on the design of Aya Sofya and was commissioned by the Sultan Süleymaniye the Magnificient.
On our walk back, we walked down the rainbow stairs, stopped in this store which was amazing for copper and metal ware, and wandered through this bazaar which was full of life and excitement.
Galata Tower on the Karaköy side of Istanbul.
Day 4
Galata Tower
The Galata Tower is in the Karaköy neighborhood. It was originally built as observation tower during the Byzantine Empire. You can buy a ticket to enter and climb up for a lovely view over Istanbul. Tickets are 175 TL.
This is an iconic symbol of the city and whether you decide to go up onto the observation deck or just see it from the outside, it is a worthwhile stop.
Historic tram on Istiklal Caddesi-Photo courtesy of Unsplash.
Kabatas Neighborhood
From here you can wander through the neighborhood and find your way to Istiklal Caddesi, a pedestrian street with nostalgic tram. You can stop for a fun visit to Madame Tussade’s wax museum with wax figures of celebrities and Turkish historical figures as well. Keep going all the way to Taksim square and stop and shop along the way!
Such beautiful tile work can be found in Istanbul. These are from Topkapi Palace.
Getting to Istanbul
There are two major airports servicing Istanbul: Istanbul Airport (IST) & Sabiha Gokcen (SAW). IST is the newer (much bigger) airport. While some people complain about the size and trying to make connections, I much preferred this airport to SAW. SAW may be more manageable, but when I was there it was extremely crowded and more disorganized.
Both airports sit a bit outside the city. So you will need to hire a taxi, or take an Uber into the city. We chose to use Uber and we were able to get a big, nice van with plenty of space. I prefer Uber when possible, because it is more likely you will have a nicer vehicle, with seatbelts, and the rate is set. With a taxi all of this is up in the air.
Ortaköy Mosque on the water. This is bit further from the center, and we didn’t have time on this trip, but is on my list for next time!
Getting Around Istanbul
In Istanbul you can take so many forms of transportation. The ones you will use the most are walking, tram, and ferry.
We recommend getting an Istanbul card for your visit. It is a reloadable card that you can use for all for all forms of public transportation. The card itself is 6 TL and you can buy them from the airport, or from kiosks near tram/metro/bus stations or at the stations themselves. Use the automated kiosks at the station to load the card with money. We loaded our card with the equivalent of about 12 Euros and that lasted our whole family for 4 days. We were able to use one card for the whole family. Children are free and the card can be shared by up to 5 adults. Here’s a detailed guide to the card.
Seeing Istanbul from the water at sunset when the city starts to light up is a MUST! (Photo by Unsplash)
The ferries are a must. Not only are they a practical way to get around, they provide you with some stunning views from the water. Ferries are cheap, only 7-8 lira per ride and you can use your Istanbul Card on them.
The T1 tramline runs by most of these major sights and is a convenient way to get from place to place. Be mindful that it can get very crowded at rush hour. Hold tight to little ones! We used the tram quite a bit to save the kids from tiring out with all the walking.
Interior of the Süleymaniye Mosque with its grand chandelier.
Where to Stay in Istanbul
If this is your first visit to Istanbul, I would suggest a hotel in the Sultanahmet area. This is where most of the big sights are so staying here is the most convenient. Karaköy would be my next choice of neighborhood. It has a nice feel to it and it is easily connected to the Sultanahmet area by tram.
This is a great city to use some hotel points if you have them. There are several Hilton and Marriott owned properties located throughout the city. We used Hilton points to stay at the Double Tree Old Town.
The kids really had fun on this trip despite not doing any “kid friendly” activities.
Things to Do in Istanbul with kids
Istanbul has several kid friendly attractions. Unfortunately, we just didn’t have the time to make it to them. We prioritized seeing the big sights in the city. It may be helpful to involve the kids in some of your planning so they can get excited about what they are about to see. Try using an Istanbul guide book to help your kids see some pictures and get some ideas.
Some things that helped keep our kids entertained were:
using audioguides
looking for cats (they are everywhere)
feeding pigeons or seagulls
shopping
frequent snack breaks
getting Turkish ice cream-this is a must with kids!
Turkish Ice Cream or Dondurma, is a unique type of ice cream that is a bit more “sticky” which allows the ice cream vendor to have a little fun with the customer. It’s a snack and a show at the same time. Have your camera ready and enjoy the giggles while the ice cream man twists and flips the ice cream all around, teasing the waiting customer.
If you want to incorporate some fun just for the kids, here are some suggestions:
Legoland Discovery Center, a small indoor Lego themed amusement park located in the Forum Shopping Mall.
SeaLife Aquarium, located at the same Forum Shopping Mall as Legoland. Buy a combination ticket to see both places.
Madame Tussades Wax Museum with wax figures of celebrities as well as Turkish historical figures.
Rahmi M. Koç Museum a transportation museum with interactive exhibits.
KidZania, a fun interactive kids’ amusement park where kids get “jobs” and do interactive activities.
Künefe is delicious! If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out!
What to Eat in Istanbul
This is a place where you don’t need any fancy dinner reservations (though there are several amazing restaurants). You could eat street food/fast food the whole trip and be totally satisfied. We ate most our meals at quick places and they were all delicious! In fact, our least favorite meal was at our hotel the night we were too tired to go back out.
RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS:
Cafe Privato Restaurant
Van Kahvalti Evi
Beyzade Künefe & Kahvalti Karaköy (for baklava and künefe)
Karaköy Lokantasi
Seven Hills Restaurant (recommended for the excellent view over the Hagia Sophia)
Fazil Bey’s Turkish Coffee
Foods to try:
Simit: kind of like a bagel. Sold on the street either plain, with cream cheese, or with Nutella.
Döner: a shaved meat wrap or sandwich. If you’ve had these in Germany, we found the ones in Istanbul to be different. Still very delicious but no yogurt sauce and no salads added in.
Baklava: a pastry with nuts. My preference is always when it is made with pistachios versus walnuts. This restaurant had so many amazing varieties-get the ice cream baklava and also get the künefe!
4 days in Istanbul is just enough to let you see the main big sights and will have you wanting to plan a repeat visit. We absolutely loved visiting this dynamic city and are excited to see more of Türkiye. Have you been to Istanbul before? If you have more questions about Istanbul, drop them in the comments!
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