Istanbul In One Day: A 24-Hour Itinerary

Enjoying a great position in the eyes of Europe and Asia, Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey. Widely renowned for being a cultural heritage site, it boasts the magnificence of two powerful empires—the Byzantine and Ottoman. Its geographical location around the Bosporus Strait, stretching towards the northwestern part of Turkey, explains why it is a major seaport.

When you’ve decided to visit on a one-day Istanbul itinerary, it must be hard for you to cover all the best sightseeing that one would like to explore while here. But you don’t need to worry—we’ve brought you a well-planned guide that will manage your 24 hours to your benefit. Get ready to board a tiring but exhilarating journey!

Morning To Afternoon Hours (8:00 AM To 4:00 PM)

What can be a better way than to fuel yourself with an energizing and scrumptious breakfast, in Turkish style?! Head to any of the famous restaurants or cafes that serve ‘Kahvalti.’ We would suggest the best-reviewed places like Cafe Privato or Yigit Sofram.

Kahvalti is a traditional array of dishes served on a meze, which includes homemade jams, butter, scrambled eggs, Gozleme (Turkish flatbread), Menemen (a mouthwatering egg scramble dish seasoned with different spices), pancakes, Halloumi cheese, olives, and salad.

Both of the restaurants we suggested are located near Galata Tower, which is one of the famous tourist attractions of Istanbul. After you finish delighting in your breakfast, you can also visit the tower to get dynamic views of the city.

The Galata Tower is the same one seen in the famous “Assassin’s Creed” game. This historical monument from the 14th century stands 63 meters tall and can be accessed via an elevator and stairs that take you up to the viewing platform. It would consume about 30 to 45 minutes if you went to the top of the observation deck.

It falls on the busy İstiklal Street, so move next towards the Galata Bridge. The pedestrian walkway forming a part of Galata Bridge will allow you to look over the beautiful Bosphorus Strait, which carries ferries and boats across different spots, and where fishermen can be seen struggling to get the bait or rod to catch their fortune.

One can opt for taking the tram or continue walking, which would take about 40 minutes. Enjoy trying their local Balik ekmek (a fish sandwich) while you plan to move forward or stop for a few minutes to rest. You should not forget to take a cruise at night from here (Bosphorus), on this short trip to Istanbul.

By continuing the pathway of Istiklal Street, you’ll come to the famous tourist destination, Taksim Square. It would take a 9-minute ride if you book a cab, or half an hour on foot.

Take pictures near the Independence Monument, and enjoy a quick stroll through the bustling area of Taksim. Here you’ll locate souvenir shops, chic cafes, boutiques, and local and international food stores. You can buy anything that grabs your specific interest and then get onto a tram or taxi to reach Sultanahmet, which would take 12 to 13 minutes of your ride.

This part of your journey will consume some 3 to 4 hours, and by the end of visiting the cultural attractions of Sultanahmet’s Fatih district, it will be time for lunch.

UNESCO’s world heritage sites of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque will await your presence. The beautiful scenic landscape of the dusty red dome, minarets, and gardens will conquer your soul.

You can enjoy looking at the ancient Christian-style paintings and motifs inside Hagia Sophia, the ornately designed Islamic and floral motifs around the ceilings, and the grand hanging golden chandeliers. The Blue Mosque has the outstanding architectural design of six minarets, mini domes, and the famous Blue tiles, which are constructed with the interior design of Iznik tiles with different floral hand paintings.

Make sure you don’t visit during busy times, such as prayers, or when a tourist surge can be seen, so that you save time.

It’s about a 13 to 15-minute walk from the Blue Mosque towards the Grand Bazaar; however, if you take a tram, you could reach earlier by 5 minutes. Reaching the Grand Bazaar will let you know why it is the most visited and famous marketplace in the world.

Being one of the oldest markets, it has about 4,000 varieties of shops from where you can buy Turkey’s special products like carpets, jewelry, clothes, handbags, spices, footwear, souvenirs, and much more.

The carefully handcrafted carpets are famous worldwide, and their jewelry pieces range from designer to antique collections featuring precious stones, although a bit expensive. There are peaceful sitting small courtyards known as Hans, where visitors can retreat after they feel tired or just want to have a look at the Bazaar’s hustling activities and the in-built architecture of this covered Bazaar.

At the Grand Bazaar, you’ll have several options to choose from to fulfil your appetite. As lunchtime approaches, the aroma of strong Turkish spices and rich flavors will linger in the air until they reach your nostrils and lure you to reach out for their source.

Some of the best-rated restaurants and their best serving dishes are:

• Iskender Kebap at Kara Mehmet Kebap Salonu
• Manti at Havuzlu Restaurant
• Lahmacun from Mardi Et ve Kebap Salonu
• Byzantian Bistro for serving a good combination of Turkish and international delicacies

Afternoon Till Night (4:00 PM – 9:00 PM)

At Hodjapasha Cultural Centre, let the music and dance performance of the beauties revive your heart. You’ll get to witness unique folk-dance movements by talented dancers, and keep an eye on their traditional dervishes whirling, characterized by Sufism and the spiritual connection linked with Turkish heritage.

This will be the best part of your 24-hour itinerary when you choose to buy the tickets for cruising on the Bosphorus Strait. The evening will unfold into a magical night experience where soft music is played, along with delightful snacks or a meal (depending upon the type you choose), which you can relish in a romantic setting or a cozy general dining space.

Meanwhile, the cool breezes will tickle your skin, and the passing views of Istanbul’s attractions will leave you awe-inspired.

Book your hotels in Istanbul now and make the most of your stay with our handpicked list of top-rated stays near all the must-see sights.

7.6 Good

Old Town Istanbul Hostel

Ishakpasa Caddesi No 20 Istanbul, TR

4.3 Average

Qonaq Hotel & Suites

Cankurtaran Mahallesi Yeni SaraÇhane Sokak 18 Istanbul, tr

8.5 Very good

Armada Istanbul Old City Hotel

Ahýrkapý Str. No:24 Cankurtaran Istanbul, TR