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:
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
Credit Shutterstock.com/Artur Bogacki
After conquering Constantinople, Mehmet the Conqueror converted the Hagia Sophia, the great Byzantine church, into a mosque. By the 1500s, the sultans were transforming Istanbul’s skyline with spectacular granite, marble and tile mosques inspired by the Hagia Sophia – many including complexes of hammams, schools, libraries and markets to fund them.
The legacy was almost 3,000 mosques (more than any other city on earth) of which the magnificent Ottoman imperial mosques – the 17th-century Blue Mosque and Sinan’s Suleymaniye Mosque – are the undoubted stars.
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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.
Most mosques welcome visitors, but always dress respectfully. Women must wear a long-sleeved top and a long skirt (at least to the knees) – loose, full-length trousers are fine, too – and a scarf or pashmina to cover their heads. Men should wear long-sleeved shirt and trousers. Be prepared to leave your shoes at the entrance.
Mosques are usually open all year round, seven days a week, except during prayers (half an hour after the call to prayer). Also avoid the main services on Friday mornings and early afternoons, unless you’re a Muslim.
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
The greatest of Istanbul’s Ottoman mosques, beautifully decorated with thousands of handmade ceramic tiles, the Blue Mosque combines Byzantine elements with traditional Islamic architecture.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
A masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, this world-renowned 6th-century marvel encapsulates the essence of the lost Ottoman Empire. Initially a cathedral, it’s now a museum as well as a functioning mosque – and a must-see in Istanbul.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
The grandest mosque in Istanbul, built in 1558, this iconic Byzantine beauty defines the Istanbul skyline.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
Dating back to the 1860s, this was the last palace to be built in Istanbul for the Ottoman royals – it’s now an opulent 5-star hotel and celeb favourite, set away from the cacophony of central Istanbul.
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Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
Superbly staffed, relaxing oasis in an unbeatable location – the luxury choice in central Sultanahmet.
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Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
A cool, art-filled boutique hotel near the heart of modern Istanbul’s most fashionable shopping and nightlife district.
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Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
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.
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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.