Visiting Istanbul for a day and you’re not sure how to spend it? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this one-day itinerary is absolutely perfect for any short visit to Istanbul!
The itinerary explores all the most famous attractions on the European side of the city and it offers a glimpse into the Asian side of Istanbul. You can do all that during a single day in Istanbul and we’ll tell you how!
Start your day in Istanbul as early as possible – it’s a big city with lots of exciting attractions, so you’ll need all the time you can spare. We’re kicking the itinerary off with a delicious local breakfast so that you have plenty of energy for exploration of the city!
The first thing we did when waking up in Istanbul was get food in our system. I recommend it for you too, so you’ve got plenty of energy to explore the city’s best-known attractions. There are loads of excellent cafes and restaurants in Istanbul that serve delicious Turkish Breakfasts, and the best locale for you largely depends on where you’re staying in the city.
After our visit, the best neighborhoods we recommend are
Some of the best and most popular breakfast places we saw in these neighborhoods are
Check Google Maps for the latest ratings of the best breakfast cafe like we did. Things change fast, and what was once a great place, can become less so over time.
We find that where people tend to congregate, especially locals, is usually the best and cheapest places to eat
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the world’s biggest and oldest markets in the world. It stretches over 61 covered streets, featuring more than 4,000 stores that sell everything from carpets to unique jewelry.
Dating to the mid-15th century, the Grand Bazaar is often considered the world’s first shopping mall. It’s a great way to kick off your day in Istanbul – get the souvenir shopping out of the way immediately, so you’re free to focus on the other city attractions.
We found it very easy to get lost in the Grand Bazaar, but if you just wander around and soak it all up, you don’t really have to worry about it. Just check your phone or ask for an exit when you are ready to leave.
Some vendors at the Grand Bazaar accept cards for larger purchases, but most will expect you to pay for smaller purchases in cash. So, keep some cash handy on you, and make sure you get some before coming here.
Cash is also great because you can haggle and get a better deal. Don’t be afraid to haggle – the vendors expect it and they might get a little offended if you don’t.
We experienced very friendly and polite shopkeepers in the Grand Bazaar. They will often engage in small talk with you and might even offer you a cup of tea while you’re browsing their wares. This is typical Turkish culture and you don’t have to assume they are trying to rip you off, like we used to. But they’re no fools – while they’re politely chatting with you, they’re also sizing you up and trying to figure out how to sell to you. However, compared to somewhere like Northern Africa, I found Turkey and easy place to shop and get around.
The Blue Mosque is a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute tram ride from the Grand Bazaar.. We recommend you walk, so you can explore even more of the city while traveling between its attractions. We walked through Sultanahmet Square and took in all the landmarks and statues before the entrance to the mosque.
Constructed in the early 17th century, the Blue Mosque remains one of the most iconic landmarks in this spectacular city. It was granted UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1985 as one of the Historic Areas of Istanbul.
There’s no entrance fee for the Blue Mosque, so tourists like you and I can go inside and explore as often as you want. You just have to behave respectfully and follow the dress code. Women must cover their hair before entering the mosque – if you don’t have a scarf, you can purchase one at the entrance. They are cheap and handy for other mosque visits like we did throughout Turkey.
The Blue Mosque is so impressive, there are usually long lines to enter the Blue Mosque. However, we found that although they looked daunting, he lines move quickly and we got inside before we even knew it.
One thing to note is that the mosque is closed during prayer time, so try to time your visit accordingly. Especially since prayers are so often throughout the day.
Next on the list is another of Istanbul’s world-famous mosques, the Haigha Sophia. It’s very close to the Blue Mosque, so there’s no need to take public transport. We walked for a few minutes to get to the entrance, which was super convenient if you ask me.
Hagia Sophia is likely the most famous tourist attraction in Istanbul. It was constructed in 537 by the Roman emperor Justinian I as Constantinople’s Christian cathedral. It’s considered the quintessential example of Byzantine architecture and is even thought to have changed the entire history of architecture.
Mehmed the Conqueror converted it into a mosque in 1453 after the fall of the Byzantine Empire, and the Haigha Sophia would remain a mosque for several centuries. The minarets were added to the construction of the then-church in the 15th and 16th centuries, forever changing its function and outward appearance.
But, for a long time, it also served a different purpose than it does now – a museum used to be its primary function from 1935 to 2020 when it was decided that it would be again reverted into the mosque.
And even if you think you have had enough of mosques after the Blue Mosque, still come for a visit. It is quite a unique blend of styles and architecture because it was once a church and not constructed as a mosque from the ground up. I loved visiting it despite sometimes being a bit bored after seeing so much of the same kind of thing in one country.
Topkapi Palace is again a 5-10 minute walk from the Haigha Sophia, so there’s no need to look for public transport. Also, I must point out that there’s a great restaurant near here, in case Turkish breakfast is starting to wear off. Head to Konyali Restaurant if your stomach says it’s time for lunch – it’s just behind the Haigha Sophia and on the way to the Topkapi Palace.
This is a vast museum complex with multiple different buildings on the grounds. There’s a museum, a harem, opulent pavillions, and a treasury. Topkapi Palace served as the home of Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries, and the palace museum explores this history in more detail.
It’s important to note that this is a huge complex with many different landmarks and attractions. You need at least two hours for a full tour of the grounds, and even more if you want to explore most buildings in detail.
Try to keep the visit as short as possible – walk around the grounds and discover the museum, but don’t waste too much time on other attractions because there’s still lots to do in Istambul and not that much time!
The Istanbul Archaeological Museum is adjacent to the Topkapi Palace, so you can explore these two attractions in whichever order you like. It’s highly recommended to tour this museum because of its unique and impressive collection of more than a million objects.
The museum’s collection is housed in three different buildings, and we recommend touring at least the main museum building. It’s a large neoclassical building with massive columns and home to some of the most impressive pieces from the collection.
The Archaeological Museum’s collections include objects from almost all civilization eras, so there’s a lot history to unpack here.
Enjoy this museum, but don’t get too carried away. The sheer amount of objects and rooms can be overwhelming, but staying on track is essential. Otherwise, it will be dark outside when you’re done with the Archaeological Museum and you won’t have time for the remaining attractions.
The next attraction in this itinerary is across the Galata bridge, so hop on the tram line T1 and head to Karaköy. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the Galata Tower, the next landmark in this itinerary.
The tower was first constructed in the 5th century, but that structure entirely burned down. The Galata Tower as it exists today, was built in the 14th century and when construction finished, it was the tallest building in Constantinople. It has had many functions throughout its history – it used to be a watchtower, a fire tower, and even a prison at specific times.
Nowadays, it’s mostly a museum and an exhibition space, with a restaurant on the top floor. The current Galata tower also boasts an observation deck, which is extremely popular with tourists. That’s also why it’s included in this itinerary – head to the observation deck for incredible 360-degree views of Istanbul and the Bosphorus.
You can tour the museum quickly if you want – it is spread across several floors, but the space is not very big. You can also skip it if you’re not that interested because the scenic vistas are the main reason to visit this landmark in the first place.
Istiklal Street is arguably the most famous street in entire Istanbul. It’s a 1.4-kilometer-long avenue lined with shops, bakeries, art galleries, cafes, pubs, restaurants, and museums. The entrance into the street is at the northern end of the Galata neighborhood, so it’s within walking distance from the iconic tower.
Walk down this avenue and discover the late Ottoman-era buildings and all their different architectural styles. Church of Sant’Antonio di Padova is one of the most impressive buildings on this street, along with Galatasaray High School, the oldest secondary school in the country.
To get to the cruises on the Bosphorus, we took the T1 tram and returned to Eminou, the harborside district.
The cruises are generally inexpensive, starting at just 10 Euros for a quick, 60-minute sightseeing cruise. However, it’s important to note that most of the sightseeing cruises run only during the day – if you can squeeze in a quick cruise before crossing the Galata Bridge, you’ll get the best value.
Alternatively, you can opt for one of the evening cruises, which are generally longer and more expensive. Dinner cruises with live entertainment are pretty popular and not a bad option if you’ve got three hours. If you can manage to explore all the other attractions before 8 PM, a three-hour dinner cruise isn’t such a bad idea.
Try more local dishes, experience a magical sunset from the boat, and enjoy being entertained by local performers. Long dinner cruises are usually around 40-50 Euros, but they include unlimited drinks and a three-course meal, at the very least.
Eminönü, Galata, and Karaköy are the best neighborhoods to stay in if you’re only in Istanbul for a day. They’re the most central neighborhoods in the city and where you’ll find most of the attractions in this Istanbul itinerary. These also tend to have the priciest hotels and apartments, but that shouldn’t matter too much if you’re paying for just one night.
This itinerary is structured with Eminönü as the starting point in mind – if you’ve chosen to stay in one of the other two neighborhoods, just flip the order of the attractions.
Taksim is also not a bad place to stay in Istanbul, but we’d recommend it only if you’re staying in the city for a while. The area surrounding Taksim Square is extremely popular with the younger crowd in Istanbul, and it’s sort of the hip and trendy part of the city. But it’s quite far away from most tourist attractions in this itinerary, so consider it only for longer stays.
Cash is king in Istanbul. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and bigger shops, but you will still need cash to purchase entrance tickets to famous landmarks, for public transportation, and for smaller cafes. You’d be surprised how many cafes and restaurants in Istanbul are cash-only, plus it’s expected that all smaller transactions are conducted in cash.
Cover up for the mosques. Istanbul has at least two mosques worth entering and seeing on the inside, but you can’t go inside them wearing just anything. Women must cover their head, shoulders, knees, and chest, while men must cover only their knees. Your toes can show, but keep in mind that you’ll be required to take your shoes off before entering the prayer hall.
There are cats everywhere. One thing to note about Istanbul is that it’s full of cats. It’s a wonderful city for all cat lovers because you will see them literally everywhere – on the streets, inside the mosques, and in pretty much every corner of the city. If you’re a cat lover, just bring along some snacks for the felines and you’ll easily make lots of furry friends in Istanbul.
Istanbul has a great network of public transportation that makes it easy to get around the city. Trams are generally the best option for tourists, especially those staying in town for a day. There are tram stops near most of the city’s best-known attractions, and tram tickets are extremely affordable.
Buses are also very common in Istanbul but are not the best option for tourists. They’re better suited for traveling larger distances to other city neighborhoods but not for quickly traveling between city attractions. Also, there aren’t any indicators of what stops you’re passing and the drivers aren’t helpful, so you’d have to pay attention all the time you’re on the bus.
Istanbul also has a metro system, but that’s only good if you’re heading to neighborhoods far away from the city center. The metro stops are few, plus it’s an underground system that doesn’t really allow you to admire the city views while you’re traveling.
The best time to visit Istanbul is between March and May or September and November. This is when the weather is the nicest, accommodation prices are most reasonable, and there aren’t too many crowds in the city.
One thing to note is that rain showers are common during these months, but that’s still more tolerable than the summer heat and humidity. Also, Istanbul gets the most visitors during the summer and it can be a bit challenging to navigate the city with such huge crowds.
Remember that more than 15 million people live in this city – when you add the hordes of tourists that arrive during peak season, it’s no longer a pleasant experience.
So, visit in the spring or the fall for the absolute best time in Istanbul. You’ll have an easier time getting around the city, the lines for popular tourist attractions won’t be as long, and the weather will be warm, but bearable.
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!