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EURASIA · TURKEY
Plan a Trip to Istanbul
Two continents, grand mosques, and spice-market bustle
Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus — Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, hammams, sprawling bazaars, and the call to prayer echoing over the water. Endlessly layered.
BEST TIME
April–May and September–November
TYPICAL BUDGET
$700–$1,500 per person for a long weekend
Top things to do in Istanbul
- Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
- Topkapı Palace
- Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
- Bosphorus ferry cruise
- A traditional hammam
- Rooftop meze with a view
A sample Istanbul itinerary
1
Old city
Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapı.
2
Bazaars & baths
Grand Bazaar, spice market, and a hammam.
3
Two continents
Bosphorus cruise and the Asian side.
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Istanbul itineraries by trip length
Good to know
💡 A cheap public ferry across the Bosphorus beats any paid “cruise.”
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