If it's your first time in Istanbul, three days are enough to see three different sides of the city: Sultanahmet, the heart of Byzantium and the Ottomans; the two shores of the Golden Horn; and the Bosphorus. We built this plan around closing days and prayer times; you only need to shift things slightly to fit your own dates.

Day 1: Sultanahmet

Start the day around 08:30 at the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque); you can get in before the tour groups arrive. Then cross the park to Hagia Sophia and go up to the visitor gallery. The Basilica Cistern is three minutes away; half an hour there is enough.

Have lunch at one of the traditional workers' restaurants in the back streets off Divanyolu. In the afternoon, give Topkapı Palace at least three hours and go into the Harem first. End the day by walking from Gülhane Park to Eminönü and taking an evening ferry.

  • Topkapı is closed on Tuesdays; visit the Archaeology Museums that day instead.
  • Mosques close to visitors during prayer times; save the midday slot for museums.

Day 2: Süleymaniye, the bazaars and Galata

In the morning, approach the Süleymaniye Mosque from the Golden Horn side, walking up the hill; it's the only way to really grasp Mimar Sinan's design. From there, head down to the Grand Bazaar, then on to the Spice Bazaar.

In the afternoon, walk across the Galata Bridge and climb from Karaköy up to Galata Tower. The tower terrace gets crowded at sunset, so buy your ticket in advance.

  • The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
  • Don't hesitate to ask prices in the bazaar; prefer shops with fixed prices.

Day 3: the Bosphorus and the Asian side

Unless it's a Monday, start the day at Dolmabahçe Palace. In the afternoon, see the Bosphorus by ferry or on a boat tour. Late in the afternoon, cross to Üsküdar; at sunset you can take a boat to the Maiden's Tower or have tea on the Salacak waterfront. Kadıköy's market district makes a good last stop for dinner.

Tickets

The ticketed sites in this plan are the Hagia Sophia gallery, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapı, Galata Tower, Dolmabahçe and the Maiden's Tower. For Sultanahmet, where you'll visit three of them on the same day, a Combo ticket is better value; if you're visiting them all, the City Pass works out cheaper.