Start your day at Burekci Tevfik for some delicious savory pastries for breakfast. Then walk to Spice Bazaar and explore the colorful spices and aroma while tasting various types of Turkish Delights. **Do not miss tasting the famous Turkish tea from Kurukahve**. From there take a 10 min stroll to Hafiz Mustafa for the famous Baklava pastry. In the evening, visit the famous Haci Dayi for Turkish coffee and indulge in the traditional dessert Kanafeh.
Start your day by exploring Kadikoy Street Food Market, where you will find an abundant variety of tasty street foods to savor while you roam. **Do not forget to try Midye Dolma, Manti and Iskender Kebap**. Take a ferry from Kadikoy to Uskudar, and head to Kanaat Lokantasi for a more traditional experience. Here, you can enjoy the authentic Ottoman cuisine. In the evening, visit Ciya Sofrasi for its flavorsome Anatolian dishes.
Start your day by taking a Bosphorus Boat Tour, which is one of the best and most beautiful ways to see the city. During the tour, stop at the Ortakoy Fish Market on the European side and enjoy fresh seafood. After the tour, visit Balikci Sabahattin for a taste of traditional Turkish meze and seafood. In the evening, head to Sunset Grill and Bar to enjoy dinner with a breathtaking view of the Bosphorus.
In the morning, head to the historic district of Beyoglu and enjoy the Turkish breakfast at Van Kahvalti Evi. Then take a walk to Karakoy Gulluoglu Baklava for traditional Baklava. For lunch, visit Nusr-Et Steakhouse for its mouth-watering meat delicacies. In the evening, head to Sultanahmet Koftecisi for a traditional meatball dish and try Kokorec if you are feeling adventurous.
Start your day by visiting one of the famous coffee shops, Mandabatmaz, to awaken your senses with a cup of traditional Turkish coffee. Next up, visit Solera Winery for a taste of Turkish wine. For lunch, visit Zubeyir Ocakbasi to enjoy traditional Turkish dishes. In the evening, head to the hippest district of Istanbul, Karakoy, and enjoy the cocktails and food pairing offered by Karakoy Lokantasi.
Istanbul has an efficient and affordable public transportation system that includes buses, trams, ferries, and metro lines. The Istanbulkart can be used to access all public transportation. Taxis are readily available, but it's advisable to agree on a price before getting in. To reach different parts of the city, hire a private vehicle. The cost of public transportation is approximately 3 TL per journey, and a taxi can be around 15 - 20 TL for shorter distances.
Your travel itinerary can be customized depending on your preferences. Do you have extra time to spend in the city? You can extend one of the days to visit Prince Islands, where you can bike around the island while enjoying beautiful landscapes, and even have a seafood lunch there. Alternatively, extend Day 5 and head to Deraliye Ottoman Palace for its traditional flavors. Do you have a shorter stay? You can shorten Day 4 and skip Nusr-Et Steakhouse.
Istanbul has two airports: Istanbul Airport (IST) is approximately 35 km (22 miles) northwest of the city center, and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is approximately 45 km (28 miles) southeast of the city center. A taxi from the airport to the city center can cost up to 150 TL. The metro line and buses are the cheapest way to travel from the airport to the city center; it may cost approximately 9 TL. It is specially advised to take the official city bus called HAVAIST, it costs ~ 18 TL and will take you to the most popular districts in the city.