Istanbul 4-day Itinerary
Turkey
Where to go and what to see in Istanbul to get the most from your trip – a 4-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
Bucket list experience:
Linking the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, the 32km Bosphorus strait divides Istanbul itself, and Europe from Asia. One of the world’s busiest waterways, it’s also one of the most fascinating – passing grand Ottoman palaces, the majestic Bosphorus bridge, picturesque Ottoman yalis (wooden villas), seaside villages and the Rumeli Hisari (‘the Fortress of Europe’).
Options range from one-hour trips to a full day’s cruise, on vessels ranging from no-frills public ferries to luxury dinner cruises.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Turkey
Where to go and what to see in Istanbul to get the most from your trip – a 4-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
There are multiple organised boat tour options – see our recommendations below. If you prefer to go it alone (and/or save money), the easiest year-round option is to hop on the public ferry (Sehir Hatlari) from Eminonu Docks between the Galata Bridge and Sirkeci station (on the tram T1 line).
Options range from short round trips, to full day excursions to Anadolu Kavagi – the last stop on the Asian side near the Black Sea, where there’s a 3-hour lunch stop before returning to Istanbul. Get to the Eminonu Docks 45 minutes before each departure to beat the queues at the Sehir Hatlari ticket offices.
Boat tours run all year round, but from November to March there are fewer boat options (and you’ll probably need an overcoat if not an umbrella). Sehir Hatlari ferries run daily year-round, with one to three daily departures depending on the season.
April and May are the most beautiful times on the river, when the parks are at their most glorious and it’s not too hot. September and October are also usually beautiful, with fewer tourists.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Istanbul
€10 | Rating 4.55 / 5 [45 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Istanbul
€17 | Rating 4.47 / 5 [21 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Istanbul
€20 | Rating 4.74 / 5 [131 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Istanbul
€24 | Rating 4.73 / 5 [193 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.7 miles]
A cool, art-filled boutique hotel near the heart of modern Istanbul’s most fashionable shopping and nightlife district.
Official star rating:
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[1 miles]
Close to Istanbul’s top sights, this friendly hotel with a spa and rooftop restaurant is a dream for first-time visitors. And good value too.
Official star rating:
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[1 miles]
In the heart of Istanbul’s hip Beyoglu district, this boutique hotel combines understated luxury with a glam rooftop restaurant. One of the best hotels in town for a romantic city break.
Official star rating:
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[1.1 miles]
Convenient for the major sights and plugged into Turkish culture, this charming, historic hotel is ideal for families and first-timers.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Marmara Region, Turkey
Exotic, inexhaustible and dynamic – East meets West head-on in this mesmerising city metropolis, famed for its extraordinarily rich history, superb food and shopping, and mind-blowingly magnificent, over-sized mosques.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.3 miles]
Istanbul’s second largest market is a sensory wonderland, full to bursting with fragrant spices and sweets.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.5 miles]
The grandest mosque in Istanbul, built in 1558, this iconic Byzantine beauty defines the Istanbul skyline.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.8 miles]
Hypnotic and haunting, the traditional sema ceremony of the whirling dervishes dates back to the 13th century.
Best for ages: 8+ | £10 | 75 minutes
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.9 miles]
The oldest, biggest market in the world that glitters like an Aladdin’s cave. Over 5,000 shops on 66 covered streets.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[1.1 miles]
Super authentic spot near the Grand Bazaar where you can smoke nargile (a water pipe or hookah) and drink tea in the courtyard of a mosque from 1709.
Best for ages: 18+ | £5
Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey[1.3 miles]
A modern art museum housing the finest collection of modern and contemporary art in the country. The Modern’s temporary exhibits by Turkish and international artists – often organized in collaboration with MoMA (New York) and the Centre Pompidou (Paris) – are particularly exceptional.
Best for ages: 18+ | £4
Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey[1.5 miles]
One of the world’s finest collections of Islamic-influenced glassware, rugs, ceramics, metal work and ethnographic items.
Best for ages: 18+ | £4
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[1.5 miles]
World-class collections of Ottoman art, tiles and ceramics – plus big-name travelling exhibitions – set in a former grand hotel.
Best for ages: 18+ | £2