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EURASIA · TURKEY
5-Day Istanbul Itinerary
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
BALLPARK
$500–$1,050 per person
Your 5-day Istanbul itinerary
Day 1 · Arrive & settle in
Land, drop your bags, and ease into Istanbul with something low-key nearby. A cheap public ferry across the Bosphorus beats any paid “cruise.”
Day 2 · Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
Spend the morning on the highlight, then in the afternoon or evening: topkapı palace.
Day 3 · Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
Spend the morning on the highlight, then in the afternoon or evening: bosphorus ferry cruise.
Day 4 · A traditional hammam
Spend the morning on the highlight, then in the afternoon or evening: rooftop meze with a view.
Day 5 · Last morning & departure
Squeeze in one more before you go — hagia sophia and the blue mosque if you have time — then head to the airport.
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
More detail: the best things to do in Istanbul →
LOCAL TIP
A cheap public ferry across the Bosphorus beats any paid “cruise.”
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