Istanbul in 3 days

Start at the Hagia Sophia to appreciate its Byzantine and Ottoman layers, then cross to the nearby Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) to see its iconic domes and İznik tiles. Walk the short distance to the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) for a cool, atmospheric underground stop.

Have lunch at a nearby lokanta or Sultanahmet Köftecisi, then visit Topkapı Palace to explore the imperial chambers, treasury and Harem (allow 2–3 hours). Finish with a stroll through the Archaeological Museums if time permits.

Enjoy dinner in Sultanahmet or walk to the Eminönü waterfront to sample fish sandwiches (balık ekmek) and watch ferries cross the Golden Horn as the city lights come on.

Take an early Bosphorus cruise from Eminönü or Karaköy (short public ferry or a 1–2 hour private tour) to see Ottoman palaces like Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi and the fortified Rumeli and Anadolu Hisarı. Disembark near Beşiktaş for a coffee and a quick market walk.

Walk uphill to the trendy neighborhood of Nişantaşı or explore the Çırağan Palace area; alternatively visit Dolmabahçe Palace for a guided tour of its lavish rooms. For a casual local experience, browse the Beşiktaş fish market and surrounding streets for meze or kebab.

Head to Ortaköy to enjoy kumpir (loaded baked potato) and tea by the Bosphorus with views of the illuminated Bosphorus Bridge. If you prefer nightlife, stay in Beşiktaş or return to Karaköy/Galata for rooftop bars with sunset views.

Begin at the Galata Tower area; climb or view the tower and wander Istiklal Caddesi toward Taksim, stopping at historic arcades and bookstores. Pop into the Pera Museum if you enjoy late-Ottoman and orientalist art.

Descend toward the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) in Eminönü for spices and Turkish delight, then walk to the Grand Bazaar for handcrafts, ceramics and carpets — practice bargaining. If time allows, visit the nearby Süleymaniye Mosque for another architectural highlight and a quieter terrace view over the Golden Horn.

For a final night, have a traditional Turkish dinner in the Galata or Karaköy area with meze and raki, then take an evening stroll across the Galata Bridge watching fishermen and the skyline illuminated.