What to see in Istanbul in 4 days
Two pieces of news greet every visit to Turkey’s most populous city: two good and one bad: Getting to know Istanbul is impossible, not just because of its size, but also because of the vast wealth of its treasures. This unfortunately is why it would take a lifetime to get to know it. However, all is not lost! We can promise you that four days in Istanbul will give you enough time to connect with the city, to visit the most emblematic places — and once your trip is over, to start planning your return.
The writer Alphonse de Lamartine, regarded by many as the first French Romantic poet, once declared “If you could only give the world a single glance, you should choose to look at Istanbul”. In this guide to a four-day break in Istanbul, we follow Lamartine’s advice, so that you can look at the city in a way that no one else has ever done.
Itinerary day 1
10.00 a.m.-12.00 noon
Topkapi Palace
Immediately after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Ottoman sultans ordered this opulent and decadent palace to be built as their residence. Five hundred years later, this must-see monument in Istanbul has 4 courtyards and 17 exhibition rooms open to the public. Of these, the Imperial Treasure House and the Room of the Relics of the Prophet attract the most visitors.
12.30 p.m.-2.00 p.m.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum
Located in the Palace of Topkapi’s outdoor gardens, the 20 rooms of this 19th-century museum house important collections of classic archaeology as well as of Eastern art. The museum’s outstanding exhibit is the Alexander Sarcophagus, decorated with bas-relief scenes of the famous Macedonian conqueror.
2.30 p.m.-4.00 p.m.
A stroll and lunch at the Istanbul Grand Bazaar
To give us an appetite for lunch, we could head for Istanbul's Grand Bazaar which, with its 22 doors, 60 streets, and 4,000 shops, is considered to be one of the largest in the world. Here, countless restaurants compete for space, and we can recharge our batteries before resuming our sightseeing.
4.30 p.m.-5.30 p.m.
Istiklal Avenue
Considered the main commercial artery of modern Istanbul, this pedestrianised avenue connects the medieval Genoese Citadel and Taksim Square. Along its three-kilometre stretch, we can find various fashion boutiques, music- and bookshops, cinemas and theatres, cafés and cake shops, and even pubs.
6.00 p.m.-7.00 p.m.
Taksim Square
Tucked away in a business and leisure enclave, this square which is packed with bars, restaurants and hotels, has evolved to become the true heart of modern Istanbul. For this reason, it is often the scene of public events and all kinds of celebrations.
7.30 p.m.-8.30 p.m.
The Nisantasi neighbourhood
Considered the city’s most European neighbourhood, Nisantasi has been compared with places as diverse as New York’s SoHo district, Paris’s Champs-Élysées, and the Ramblas in Barcelona. Full of Art Nouveau buildings, but empty of palaces and mosques, it boasts of being home to Istanbul’s most exclusive shops, as well as art galleries, the odd cinema and plenty of cafés.
9.00 p.m.-10.30 p.m.
Dinner at B-Heaven — a taste of paradise in Istanbul
To make the most of our stay at the Barceló Istanbul hotel, we can have dinner at this lovely restaurant with its own terrace. While watching the sunset, we can enjoy a fusion cuisine featuring Turkish specialities with an international twist.
Itinerary day 2
10.00 a.m.-11.30 a.m.
St. Sophia’s Basilica, or Hagia Sophia
For almost a thousand years, this magnificent work of Byzantine architecture could claim the title of the cathedral with the largest area in the world. Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, the cathedral was converted into a mosque, and then in the 20th century it became a museum. However, if you do want to visit it we recommend you make an early start.
12.00 noon-1.00 p.m.
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art
Now that we are in the tourist district of Sultanahmet, we recommend a visit to this museum of Islamic art. Its collections include 40,000 pieces dating from the Omeya Caliphate (663 A.D.) up to the present day.In addition, the museum has an indoor terrace where you can have coffee or a cup of tea while admiring views of the Blue Mosque.
1.30 p.m-2.00 p.m.
Constantinople Hippodrome
Just 400 metres further on, we can also visit the remains of the ancient Hippodrome, the veritable centre of social and sporting life in the Byzantine capital during the time of Constantine. The base of the Serpent Column, the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Obelisk of Constantine are just a few of the surviving architectural remains.
2.30 p.m.-4.00 p.m.
Lunch at the Hamdi Restaurant
Very close to the spice Bazaar we can find the Hamdi Restaurant, and establishment specialising in traditional Turkish cuisine. From its terrace, we can admire exceptional, sweeping panoramas of the Golden Horn and the point where it merges with the Strait of Bosphorus.
4.30 p.m.-5.30 p.m.
Süleymaniye or Suleiman Mosque
Built in the mid-sixteenth century on the orders of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, this mosque could, until 2019, claim the distinction of being Istanbul’s largest Islamic temple. Its most impressive feature are its gardens, with the mausoleums of several sultans and incomparable views over the city.
6.00 p.m.-6.30 p.m.
Galata Bridge
The Galata Bridge, the most famous of all the bridges that cross the stretch of sea known as the Golden Horn, enables us to cross from the old European area of Istanbul —Eminönü — to the new area — Karaköy. In addition, its privileged location rewards us with impressive views of the Strait of Bosphorus.
8.30 p.m.-9.30 p.m.
Fener-Balat neighbourhood
Dotted with colourful houses, synagogues and Orthodox churches, and with an air somewhere between decadence and splendour, Fener and Balat, two of Istanbul's most fascinating neighbourhoods await us. Although they are located a little way out from the centre, they are well worth a visit.
10.00 p.m.-11.30 p.m.
Dinner at the Panoramic Restaurant
Just a stone's throw from the Hagia Sophia, this restaurant specialises in traditional Turkish fare. Its seventh floor location affords its customers extraordinary views of Istanbul and all its monuments.
Itinerary day 3
10.00 a.m.-11.00 a.m.
Blue Mosque
Built between 1609 and 1617 on the site of the long-disappeared Great Palace of Constantinople, the interior of this mosque, now considered a universal work, is the work of great beauty, with its over 20,000 blue tiles from Nicaea, magnificently illuminated by almost 200 stained glass windows in a spectrum of colours.
11.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m.
Spice Bazaar
Although much smaller than its big sister, the Grand Bazaar, this market, which stands near the Galata Bridge has, since the mid-17th century, been selling a huge selection of spices, confectionery, nuts and dried fruits, teas and soaps.
1.00 p.m.-2.00 p.m.
New Mosque
The main focus of any photograph taken from the Galata Bridge must be the cupolas and minarets of this extraordinary mosque. Located very close to the Spice Bazaar, the New Mosque paradoxically dates back 400 years, and inside can be seen beautiful examples of Iznik tilework.
2.30 p.m.-3.30 p.m.
Lunch at Champs Sports Bar
It’s time to take a break and recharge our batteries. To this end, we suggest a visit to Champs Sports Bar, a gastropub located in the city centre in Taksim Square. Here, we can try some typical Turkish dishes and enjoy a wide selection of drinks and cocktails, including traditional raki.
4.00 p.m.-4.30 p.m.
Galata Tower
Now that we are in the Galata neighbourhood, we can visit the Galata Tower (forgive the repetition), a 67-metre-high medieval tower from which, according to legend, a brave Ottoman threw himself, clad in a set of wings, with the hope of emulating the engineering feats of Leonardo da Vinci (and it is said that he succeeded!).
5.00 p.m.-6.00 p.m.
Dervish in the Galata Mevlevi Museum
In Istanbul's New City, and specifically in the Mevlevi Museum, we can attend the celebration of the Semâ ritual, a mystical Sufi dance which originated in Turkey during the Middle Ages. It is said that the dancers, known as the “whirling dervishes”, achieve a state of spiritual ecstasy by means of an endless spinning movement.
6.30 p.m.-7.30 p.m.
Dolmabahçe Palace
On the European shore of the Bosphorus Strait, stands this colossal 19th-century palace. It owes its less markedly Eastern style to the Sultans' desire to impress European monarchs.
8.30 p.m.-10.30 p.m.
Dinner cruise on the Bosphorus
To end the day on a high note, how about joining a night-time cruise on the Bosphorus Strait? These types of excursions, which normally depart from the Kabatas quay, allow us to view important historic edifices such as the Dolmabahçe Palace, the Beylerbeyi Palace and the Maiden’s tower, from a different perspective.
Itinerary day 4
Full day
Bursa
A trip to this city, located a 2¼-car drive from Istanbul, will perfectly round off your trip to Turkey. The former capital of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa has a rich historical and cultural heritage, parks and gardens, as well as a famous ski station. The Green Mosque, the Green Mausoleum and the Great Mosque are essential visits here, and we can intersperse them with Turkish bath or a stroll around the Silk Market.