Formerly a church and then a mosque, the Hagia Sophia is now a museum that showcases Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. Its impressive dome and stunning interiors are a must-see.
Topkapi Palace served as the residence of Ottoman Sultans for almost 400 years. The palace houses several collections, including imperial collections and jewels.
If you want to escape the city's hustle and bustle, the Princes' Islands are an excellent choice. Visitors can enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides while exploring the beautiful island's beaches, hills, monasteries, and historical buildings.
If you're too busy to see all the attractions in Istanbul, the Miniaturk can be a fantastic alternative. Here you can admire miniature replicas of Istanbul's most famous landmarks, bridges, and monuments.
The Istanbul Archaeology Museums neighbor the Topkapi Palace Museum and contain three different museums: the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Tiled Kiosk. Here you can discover ancient artifacts from various periods of human history.
The Istanbul Aquarium is home to over 15,000 different species of marine life, including sharks, giant stingrays, and octopuses. An excellent destination for visitors of all ages, as children are welcome to interact with the animals.
The Grand Bazaar is one of the biggest bazaars in the world, with over 4,000 shops. The bazaar's narrow streets and alleys offer a wide range of crafts, textiles, jewelry, spices, and carpets for sale, making it an excellent place to hunt for souvenirs.
Public transportation in Istanbul is quite reliable and includes buses, ferries, trams, and metro lines. Tourists can buy an Istanbulkart, which makes it much easier to use public transport as it can be used on all modes. Istanbul also has metered taxis, but make sure to negotiate the fare before getting into the taxi.
The estimated public transportation costs for this itinerary are TRY 200.
If you have more time, consider visiting the Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, and the Basilica Cistern. On the other hand, if you have less time, it's still worth visiting at least the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar. The best time to visit Istanbul is from March to May and from September to November, when the temperatures are mild and there are fewer crowds.
Istanbul has two airports: Istanbul Airport (IST), which is about 31 miles away from the city center, and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), which is about 20 miles away from the city center. Istanbul Airport is more central and accommodates more airlines, while Sabiha Gokcen Airport is the low-cost airport that caters more to European airlines.