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:
Built in the 17th century, Istanbul’s second largest bazaar is a colourful, fragrant wonderland and a must-visit for anyone curious about Istanbul’s east-meets-west culture.
Once the last stop for caravans arriving on the Silk Road from China, the Spice (or Egyptian) Bazaar now only deals in spices, nuts, honeys, teas, hennas and sweets, including dozens of flavours of lokum (known elsewhere as turkish delight), which was invented by an Istanbul pastry chef in 1776.
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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.
Take the tram or ferry to the Eminonu stop, which is right in front of the Bazaar. As with the Grand Bazaar, the real bargains at the Spice Bazaar can be found in the surrounding streets (especially in Hasircilar Caddesi). For total sensory overload, visit the nearby outdoor market on the west side of the Bazaar.
Pandeli Lokantasi, one of Istanbul’s oldest restaurants, is located just inside the entrance and a great spot for people-watching.
The Bazaar is open all year round, seven days a week.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.8 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.
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Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.8 miles]
Convenient for the major sights and plugged into Turkish culture, this charming, historic hotel is ideal for families and first-timers.
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Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.9 miles]
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[1.2 miles]
This stylish, friendly and affordable boutique hotel is in sights-packed Sultanahmet, perfect for first-time visitors.
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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.
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]
One of the greatest urban boat journeys, a glide down the Bosphorus strait passes Ottoman palaces, forts and picturesque villages.
Best for ages: 4+ | £10 | 1 hour to full day
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.5 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[0.5 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[0.7 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[0.9 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[1.2 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]
Lovely, lively 5th and 6th-century AD mosaics depicting nature, animals and people from the palace of the first Byzantine Emperors.
Best for ages: 18+ | £2
Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey[1.5 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