Do you have a few days in Istanbul? No worries, it is still enough to see the top spots of the city!
We recommend starting with this 3-day Istanbul itinerary, carefully curated by our expert guides to provide a comprehensive overview of the city. It’s a packed schedule, so you can skip a few stops or spread it over 4 days if you have more time
This itinerary assumes you have three days from Friday to Sunday evening, which means 80 hours to spend in Istanbul.
You can access other days from the link below:
Plan Your Three-Day Itinerary of Istanbul: Day 1
Plan Your Three-Day Itinerary of Istanbul: Day 3
Looking for a guide to organize everything for you? Use the booking link below: completely hassle-free!
Things to Consider Before Planning
🚦Traffic: Istanbul has a hectic traffic! That is why you should plan your daily itineraries in a single quarter of the city for each day.
🏛 Popular Spots: The most visited neighborhoods of Istanbul are the Bosphorus, the Historical Peninsula (Sultanahmet), and the Taksim Square (Galata).
⌚️Schedule: The opening hours of each location vary. For example, it is not a good idea to visit the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in the afternoon due to daily prayer times.
⚖️Balance: Istanbul has unique historical treasures found in only a few cities worldwide. On the other hand, it's worth exploring the city through the eyes of those who truly call it home.
The Grand Istanbul Itinerary: Three Days
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Blue Mosque | Spice Market | Ferry to Asian side of Istanbul |
| Afternoon | Topkapı Palace (closed on Tuesdays) | Istiklal Street Galata Tower | Kadıköy Market |
| Evening | Whirling Dervish Ceremony | Turkish Bath - Hammam Experience | Dinner Cruise |
You can buy your tickets for each activity by clicking on the table. Furthermore, you can keep reading the blog post to discover which one suits you the best.
Day 2
On this day, you will discover the contemporary and historical parts of the city with a cruise tour on the Bosphorus and a Turkish Bath experience.
Spice Market
Discover the bazaar that became central to Ottoman power by sitting at the crossroads of historic spice trade routes. Yes, this is the very location that led Western powers to seek new paths to India, ultimately sparking the discovery of the American continent, the so-called New World.
The Spice Market, also known as Mısır Çarşısı in Turkish, is a historic covered market in Istanbul's Eminönü neighborhood. Built in the 1660s as part of the New Mosque (Yeni Cami) complex, the market was intended to produce revenue for the mosque. Valuable spices from India and the Far East have historically arrived in Istanbul via Egypt, thus the name “Egyptian Bazaar.”
Bosphorus Tour
Start your experience in Eminönü, where spice-laden air leads you past Yeni Camii (New Mosque, although it was built in five hundred years ago) and down toward the Galata Bridge, a spot long painted by Orientalist travelers like Melling and Zonaro. Pause to catch the local fishermen casting lines, a tradition as old as the bridge itself, then walk to the Şehir Hatları or Turyol piers.
For those wanting a deeper cultural dive, opt for a ferry around sunset. The soft light gilds the domes of Ortaköy Mosque, silhouettes the towers of Rumeli Fortress, and gives the wooden yalıs (waterside mansions) in Kandilli and Anadolu Hisarı a dreamlike shimmer. In Ottoman times, these very waters were used for royal processions known as seyr-i sefain, and even today, locals mark milestones, graduations, and engagements with a ride along this mythic waterway.
Just a few minutes’ walk from the Spice Bazaar, you’ll find a row of boats offering Bosphorus cruises—each calling out to passersby with charmingly unclear announcements.
It can be quite a challenge for visitors to compare schedules and prices among the many Bosphorus cruise options. Once aboard, you’re often left guessing about the landmarks around you, as the audio announcements are hard to hear due to poor speaker quality and a rather chaotic atmosphere
To make your experience seamless, we provide a location-aware audio guide you can download to your phone, so as you glide past iconic landmarks, you’ll hear exactly what they are and why they matter. And with your digital QR code ticket, there’s no hassle of paper, just scan and enjoy. You can book it from our calendar app below. The good news is that it costs you less than 6 euros!
Istiklal Street
After visiting the Bosphorus and its historic palaces, make your way to İstiklal Street, the beating heart of modern Istanbul, where cultures converge and the city never slows down. As you walk down this lively avenue once known for its embassies, you’ll pass a mix of Catholic churches, mosques, elegant arcades, and prestigious high schools, all reflecting Istanbul’s layered past.
Take time to visit the St. Antoine Church, the largest Roman Catholic church in the city, and the nearby Saint Mary Draperis Church, a quiet gem of the Italian and French Catholic communities. As your appetite grows, enjoy a well-deserved break at Hünkar Restaurant, where Ottoman classics are served with timeless elegance, a true favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Galata Tower
Standing tall over Karaköy since the 14th centuıy, the Galata Tower was once the tallest structure in the city, built by Genoese merchants to watch over their trading colony. Legend has it that in the 17th century, an Ottoman aviator named Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi launched himself from this very tower with homemade wings and flew across the Bosphorus, making it one of the earliest known attempts at human flight.
After taking in the incredible 360° view of the Bosphorus, Golden Horn, and historic skyline, it’s time to move on. According to rumours, if you climb the tower with your partner, you will be married to him or her soon! You will understand why when you enjoy the breathtaking view of the sunset over the Bosphorus from the top of the city 🙂
Turkish Bath - Hammam Experience
After wandering the lively streets of İstiklal Avenue, there's no better way to unwind than stepping into the steamy, marble-scented world of a Turkish hammam. As locals of this city, we at the Cogito team consider this one of our favorite activities, a ritual that blends history, wellness, and deep relaxation.
Your journey begins in the cool room (soğukluk)—a calming space with private changing cabins and cozy corners to sip tea or coffee. Here, you'll wrap yourself in a soft peştamal (traditional cotton towel) before heading into the next stage.
In the warm room (ılıklık), you’ll start to adjust to the heat, letting your body relax before the ritual begins. Then comes the heart of the experience: lying on the heated navel stone (göbek taşı) beneath a majestic domed ceiling in the hot room (sıcaklık). After a good sweat, the attendant scrubs away layers of dead skin with a traditional kese, followed by a heavenly massage using clouds of fragrant foam.
Looking for the perfect hammam? Scroll down to explore our hand-picked suggestions—from grand, historic bathhouses to budget-friendly, hidden gems—each offering a uniquely Istanbul experience.
Çemberlitaş Hammam
If you're staying around Sultanahmet or the Grand Bazaar, chances are you’ll pass by Çemberlitaş Hammam—and trust us, it’s worth stepping inside. Yes, it’s popular with tourists, and yes, it’s been featured in every guidebook. But there’s a reason for that: it delivers the full Turkish Bath experience in a beautiful, historic setting that’s easy and reliable, especially for first-timers.
Built in 1584 by Mimar Sinan, the Ottoman Empire’s legendary architect, the hammam still operates today with all its marble charm and time-worn rituals. The staff know exactly how to guide you through the process, even if you’ve never been to a bathhouse before. If you’re looking for something authentic but not intimidating—clean, central, and atmospheric—Çemberlitaş strikes that balance.
Hürrem Sultan Hammam
If you're looking for a more royal take on the hammam experience, Istanbul has just the place. We locals still whisper the story of Hürrem Sultan, the beloved queen who had a grand bathhouse built for herself right beside Hagia Sophia. What began as a Roman ritual became something far more elegant under the Ottomans, a space for renewal, conversation, and quiet power. And that same atmosphere still lingers under the marble domes today.
At Cogito, we always recommend this experience not just for relaxation, but for connection. It’s a moment to pause, listen to the city’s slower rhythms, and feel part of something timeless. If you want to experience how Istanbul’s royalty once recharged, this is your invitation. Book below and let the warmth of the centuries embrace you.
