After landing and clearing customs, pick up your baggage and enjoy a relaxed first taste of the city with a short guided walk through the nearby Florya Coastal Park for fresh sea air and views of the Marmara; there's a pleasant café here where you can sip Turkish tea and try a light simit before heading into town. If time allows, stop at Atatürk Arboretum or the small but atmospheric Florya Atatürk Pavilion for calm greenery and photo opportunities, then transfer toward Sultanahmet with a brief comfort stop so you arrive at the Grand Yavuz Hotel refreshed and on schedule for your 17:00 check-in.
After a relaxed coastal morning, head toward the historic peninsula and pause at Kuşkonmaz Terrace near Sultanahmet for panoramic views of the Sea of Marmara and the city skyline while enjoying a late lunch of meze and freshly grilled fish. Follow this with a gentle stroll through Gülhane Park, where you can stretch your legs among magnolias and Ottoman-era gardens before arriving at the Grand Yavuz Hotel in time for check-in and an early evening refresh.
After checking in and freshening up, take a short walk to the nearby Sultanahmet Square to soak in the twilight atmosphere, then enjoy a relaxed dinner of classic Turkish dishes at Pudding Shop Cafe or a meyhane-style meal at Ciya Lokantasi (both offer hearty, authentic flavours). Finish the night with a Turkish coffee or raki at the atmospheric rooftop bar Seven Hills Restaurant & Bar, where you can admire illuminated views of the Hagia Sophia and the Bosphorus skyline before turning in for a good night's rest.
Start with breakfast at a cozy rooftop café overlooking the skyline, then head to the nearby Basilica Cistern to wander among atmospheric columns and learn about its Byzantine engineering. From there, stroll to the impressive Topkapı Palace, explore the imperial courts and treasury, and finish the morning with a refreshing apple tea and baklava at the palace gardens' café while taking in views over the Marmara - a gentle continuation from your arrival day that deepens your sense of the city's layered history.
After the morning at Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace, wander through the nearby lanes to discover Süleymaniye Mosque with its peaceful courtyard and panoramic city views, then descend toward the waterfront to browse the stalls and seafood restaurants around Eminönü Pier-perfect for tasting fresh balik ekmek (fish sandwich) by the water. Finish the afternoon with a leisurely visit to the intimate Rüstem Pasha Mosque to admire its exquisite Iznik tiles and then sit for tea and Turkish pastries at the historic Pierre Loti Café, where you can relax and watch the Golden Horn unfold beneath you.
As dusk falls, wander through the fragrant lanes to Arasta Bazaar for light souvenir-hunting and artisanal crafts, then settle in for a leisurely dinner of Ottoman-inspired dishes at the intimate Asitane Restaurant, famed for recipes revived from palace archives. After dinner, enjoy a nightcap and live ney music in the courtyard of Sarnıç Café (housed in a restored cistern), with soft lighting that lets you savor the atmosphere before returning to the Grand Yavuz Hotel for a well-earned rest.
Begin with a leisurely breakfast near the Galata Bridge before boarding a morning short Bosphorus ferry from Eminönü Ferry Terminal-sip Turkish tea on deck as you pass the palaces, wooden yalı houses and the striking Ortaköy Mosque framed against the Bosphorus. Disembark at Beşiktaş Pier for a walk through the lively fish market and enjoy a mid-morning simit and ayran at the historic Beşiktaş Çarşısı, then take the nostalgic Tünel funicular or a tram up toward Taksim Square, arriving in time to stroll the early-day quieter stretch of İstiklal Avenue and peek into its antique shops, bookstores and century-old arcades.
After your morning ferry and stroll through İstiklal Avenue, linger in the nearby Karaköy neighborhood to explore its street art and independent galleries, then sip a specialty coffee at the trendy Ops Coffee or Federal Café while watching the tram pass. Continue with a short walk to Galata Tower - climb (or take the elevator) for panoramic views, then unwind at Mısır Apartmanı's antique-filled boutiques and a late-afternoon meze tasting at the atmospheric Karaköy Lokantası before the evening liveliness picks up.
As night falls, wander up from İstiklal toward Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı's illuminated exterior then cross into the lively Karaköy waterfront to dine at Karaköy Lokantası Rooftop for refined meze and sunset-to-night views of the Bosphorus. After dinner, soak up Beyoğlu's nightlife with live jazz at Nardis Jazz Club or inventive cocktails at Mikla Rooftop (for a view that frames the Golden Horn), finishing with a relaxed late stroll through the neon-lit side streets of Asmalımescit before returning to your hotel.
Begin with a fragrant stroll through the bustling stalls of the Spice Bazaar, sampling lokum, saffron and local tea from friendly vendors before crossing to the waterfront for a short ferry ride to Karaköy Pier to watch ferries glide by and grab a mid-morning simit at a waterside cart. Return to the historic heart and wander the twisting alleys of the Grand Bazaar, where you can haggle for hand-painted ceramics and a woven kilim, then pause for a restorative Turkish coffee at the atmospheric Sahaflar Çarşısı courtyard café - a calm, book-filled spot that gently continues the deeper exploration of Istanbul you began in Sultanahmet and Beyoğlu.
After a morning of markets, head to the quieter nearby Sirkeci Train Station to admire its ornate late-Ottoman façade and pop into the small İstanbul Railway Museum for a slice of local transport history, then stroll along the shoreline to Kadırga Limanı where fishermen mend nets and you can taste freshly fried calamari from a waterside vendor. Continue with a calming tea break at the tucked-away Kılıç Ali Paşa Sokak Tearoom, followed by a restorative Turkish bath experience at the historic yet intimate Çemberlitaş Hamamı to relax and recharge before an easy evening back toward your hotel.
As the sun sets, wander toward the atmospheric lanes of Sultanahmet Meydanı's nearby side streets to discover cozy tea houses, then settle in for a relaxed dinner of meyhane delights at Kör Agop Meyhanesi, where live Turkish songs and shared plates deepen the day's market discoveries. After dinner, take a short stroll to the riverside Galata Bridge promenade for tea or a late dessert at Karaköy Güllüoğlu while watching the city lights shimmer on the water, finishing with a slow walk back through softly lit Ottoman alleys to the Grand Yavuz Hotel.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Florya Coastal Park (walk & café simit/tea) | ₺60 |
| Atatürk Arboretum (entry) | ₺90 |
| Florya Atatürk Pavilion (visit) | Free |
| Transfer Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet (taxi / private transfer) | ₺1200 |
| Kuşkonmaz Terrace (lunch - grilled fish & meze) | ₺350 |
| Gülhane Park (stroll) | Free |
| Sultanahmet Square (evening stroll) | Free |
| Pudding Shop Cafe (dinner) | ₺300 |
| Çiya Lokantası (dinner alternative) | ₺350 |
| Seven Hills Restaurant & Bar (drink/rooftop view) | ₺250 |
| Rooftop café breakfast (Sultanahmet) | ₺150 |
| Basilica Cistern (entry) | ₺350 |
| Topkapı Palace (entry + Harem optional) | ₺650 |
| Palace gardens café (tea & baklava) | ₺120 |
| Süleymaniye Mosque (visit) | Free |
| Eminönü Pier - balik ekmek (fish sandwich) | ₺150 |
| Rüstem Pasha Mosque (visit) | Free |
| Pierre Loti Café (tea) | ₺120 |
| Arasta Bazaar (shopping - light souvenirs) | ₺200 |
| Asitane Restaurant (dinner) | ₺450 |
| Sarnıç Café (night music / tea) | ₺180 |
| Eminönü Ferry (short Bosphorus ferry) | ₺50 |
| Beşiktaş Çarşısı (market snack simit/ayran) | ₺60 |
| Tünel funicular / tram (ride) | ₺25 |
| İstiklal Avenue (stroll / shops) | Free |
| Karaköy coffee (specialty coffee) | ₺120 |
| Galata Tower (entry) | ₺400 |
| Mısır Apartmanı boutiques (browsing) | Free |
| Karaköy Lokantası (meze tasting / meal) | ₺350 |
| Nardis Jazz Club (ticket / drink) | ₺250 |
| Mikla Rooftop (cocktail / view) | ₺400 |
| Spice Bazaar (sampling) | Free |
| Ferry to Karaköy Pier (short) | ₺50 |
| Grand Bazaar (shopping / haggling) | ₺300 |
| Sahaflar Çarşısı café (coffee) | ₺80 |
| Sirkeci Train Station (visit) | Free |
| İstanbul Railway Museum (entry) | ₺60 |
| Kadırga Limanı (street food - calamari) | ₺150 |
| Kılıç Ali Paşa Sokak Tearoom (tea) | ₺80 |
| Çemberlitaş Hamamı (traditional hamam treatment) | ₺900 |
| Kör Agop Meyhanesi (dinner with live songs) | ₺350 |
| Karaköy Güllüoğlu (dessert - baklava) | ₺120 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | ₺10665 |