My GlobieCities / Istanbul, Turkey
City guideIstanbul in 48 hours 🕌
Day 1 is Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace. Day 2 is the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, a public ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadıköy in Asia, and the Galata area at night. Dress modestly for mosques.
Day 1: Sultanahmet
- Hagia Sophia. Church, then mosque, then museum, and a mosque again. Visitors pay to see the upper gallery. Cover up.
- Blue Mosque. Six minarets and blue tiles inside. Closed to visitors during prayer times.
- Basilica Cistern. An underground Byzantine water tank with columns and Medusa heads.
- Topkapı Palace. Home of the Ottoman sultans, with views over the Bosphorus.
Day 2: bazaars and Asia
- Grand Bazaar. One of the oldest covered markets in the world. Closed on Sundays. Haggling is expected.
- Spice Bazaar. Turkish delight, spices and tea, near the Galata Bridge.
- Ferry to Kadıköy. A cheap public ferry takes you from Europe to Asia in about 20 minutes. Feed the seagulls.
- Galata and Karaköy. Climb the Galata Tower or just walk the streets around it at night.
Eat this
- Simit: sesame bread rings from street carts. The breakfast of Istanbul.
- Balık ekmek: grilled fish sandwich by the Galata Bridge.
- Baklava: layered pastry with pistachios and syrup.
Skip this
- Strangers who invite you for a drink in Taksim. Some bar invitations end in a huge bill.
- Picking up the brush a shoe-shiner "drops" in front of you. It's an opener to charge you for a shine.
Getting there
Most visitors fly into Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, linked to the city by metro, or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side. The Marmaray rail tunnel connects the two sides of the city under the Bosphorus.
Coming from somewhere else in Europe? Compare trains, buses and flights to Istanbul on Tryp.com (yes, that's where our team works; see About).
Quick answers
Is 48 hours enough for Istanbul?
It's enough for Sultanahmet's big sights, the bazaars and a ferry to the Asian side. Istanbul is huge, though; most people wish they'd stayed longer.
What should I wear to visit mosques in Istanbul?
Cover shoulders and knees. Women should cover their hair; scarves are usually available at the entrance.
How do I cross from Europe to Asia in Istanbul?
Take a public ferry across the Bosphorus, for example from Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy, or ride the Marmaray rail tunnel.
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