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.
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Overview >Bucket list experience:
Istanbul’s extraordinary Ottoman mosques
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
Credit Shutterstock.com/Artur Bogacki
Last updated: 07 November, 2022
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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Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
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.
When to do it
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.
Blue Mosque
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
Hagia Sophia
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
Suleymaniye Mosque
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
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Hagia Sophia & Hippodrome Guided Tours Everyday
Istanbul
Discover the most important points of the historical heart of magnificent Istanbul, one of the most important cities in the world, the capit...
€17 | Rating 4.2 / 5 [20 ratings]
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Highlights of Istanbul: Hagia Sophia - Suleymaniye Mosque - Grand Bazaar
Istanbul
First-time travelers can discover the best of Istanbul with this small-group highlights tour, perfect for getting your bearings in this pict...
€25 | Rating 4.86 / 5 [23 ratings]
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Istanbul Old City: Hagia Sophia - Süleymaniye Mosque - Grand Bazaar
Istanbul
Discover the highlights of Sultanahmet, Istanbul's historic 'old town' on this half-day walking tour. Join your guide for a curated Istanbul...
€27 | Rating 4.70 / 5 [24 ratings]
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Hagia Sophia&Blue Mosque Skip The Line Tour
Istanbul
Visit > Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar
SKIP-THE-LINE Tickets, Guiding in English, Pick up service provided.
This...
$34 | Rating 4.75 / 5 [8 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel
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.
Official star rating:
Four Seasons Istanbul Sultanahmet
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
Superbly staffed, relaxing oasis in an unbeatable location – the luxury choice in central Sultanahmet.
Official star rating:
Hotel Bankerhan
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey
A cool, art-filled boutique hotel near the heart of modern Istanbul’s most fashionable shopping and nightlife district.
Official star rating:
Georges Hotel Galata
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.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Istanbul
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.
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