Complete Istanbul Travel Guide: Mosques, Grand Bazaar and Bosphorus

Quick facts

Prices verified · March 2026

Cost per day: Backpacker€45/person/dayMid-range€154/person/dayLuxury€419/person/day
Best time to visit: Spring (April–June): Ideal. 15–25°C, tulips in bloom.

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Why Visit Istanbul

Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents — Europe and Asia. Former Constantinople, it was the capital of three empires (Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman), and that extraordinary history is visible at every turn.

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Best Time to Visit

Spring (April–June): Ideal. 15–25°C, tulips in bloom.
Autumn (September–November): Pleasant 15–25°C, fewer tourists than summer.
Summer (July–August): Hot and humid (30–35°C), very busy.
Winter (December–February): Cold (3–9°C), possible snow, but low prices and few tourists.

How Many Days Do You Need in Istanbul?

Four days. Three covers Sultanahmet, the bazaars and Beyoglu, but you would skip the Asian side entirely — and crossing the Bosphorus by ferry is one of the things that makes the city what it is.

Istanbul is enormous, so this route groups each day into one district rather than criss-crossing the city:

Day	District	Route
1	Sultanahmet	Hagia Sophia (09:00) → Blue Mosque → Basilica Cistern → lunch → Topkapi Palace (3h) → Turkish tea with Bosphorus views → Hippodrome & Gulhane Park → fish dinner in Kumkapi
2	Bazaars and the Golden Horn	Grand Bazaar (09:00, 2.5h) → Suleymaniye Mosque → lunch in the gardens → Balat & Fener → cable car to Pierre Loti for sunset → Spice Bazaar → balik ekmek at the bridge
3	Galata and Beyoglu	Galata Tower (09:00) → Turkish breakfast in Karakoy → Istiklal Avenue and its historic passages → lunch at a meyhane → Museum of Modern Art → hamam (2h) → dinner and nightlife in Beyoglu
4	Asian side and Bosphorus	Ferry to Kadikoy (09:30) → Kadikoy market → Moda coast walk → lunch → ferry to Uskudar and Maiden's Tower → Bosphorus cruise at sunset → Ortakoy for kumpir

Tip

Do Topkapi on day 1 straight after the Cistern: it closes on Tuesdays and needs a full three hours, so it is the hardest stop to move if your plans slip.

Top Attractions

Historic Sultanahmet

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya): Former basilica, now a functioning mosque. Entry 25 EUR for foreign visitors (children under 8 free). Built in 537 AD, its 56-metre dome is an architectural marvel.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed): Six minarets and 20,000 blue Iznik tiles. Free. Closed during prayer times.
Topkapi Palace: Home of Ottoman sultans for 400 years. Combined ticket (palace + harem + Hagia Irene): 2,750 TRY (£47 / €54).
Basilica Cistern: Underground water reservoir from the 6th century with 336 columns. Entry 900 TRY (£15 / €18). Atmospheric and cool.

Grand Bazaar & Markets

Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi): One of the world's largest covered markets with 4,000+ shops. Since 1461. Haggling is essential.
Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi): Spices, dried fruits, Turkish delight and tea. Smaller and less overwhelming.

Bosphorus Cruise

Public ferry (Sehir Hatlari): From Eminonu, full route (6 hours return) for 200 TRY (£3.40 / €4). Best value.
Tourist cruises: 1–2 hours, from 500–1,000 TRY (£8.50–£17 / €10–€20).
Dinner cruise: From 2,000–4,000 TRY (£34–£68 / €40–€80).

Tip

The public ferry from Eminonu to Anadolu Kavagi (return) departs at 10:35 and returns at 15:00. It costs just 60 TRY and gives you views of both shores of the Bosphorus.

Getting Around

Istanbulkart: Rechargeable card for metro, tram, bus and ferry. Card costs 165 TRY (£2.80), each journey 35 TRY (£0.60).
Tram T1: Connects Sultanahmet attractions with Eminonu, Karakoy and Kabatas.
Taxi: Relatively cheap — insist on the meter. Use BiTaksi app for fair pricing.

From Istanbul Airport (IST) to city centre:

Metro M11: 35 TRY (£0.60), 50–70 minutes to Sultanahmet
Havaist bus: 250 TRY (£4.25), 60–90 minutes
Taxi: 1,000–1,500 TRY (£17–£25)

Warning

Istanbul traffic is notoriously bad. Avoid taxis during rush hour and use the metro or tram whenever possible.

Where to Stay in Istanbul

Accommodation is cheap by Western European standards, so the deciding factor is location rather than price — the city is vast and the wrong side of it costs you an hour each way.

Area	Best for	Why
Beyoglu / Galata / Karakoy	The best all-round base	Walkable to Galata and Istiklal, fast tram to Sultanahmet, and the restaurants and bars are on your doorstep
Sultanahmet	A first visit, monuments on foot	Hotels overlooking Hagia Sophia and everything historic within walking distance — but it empties out at night
Kadikoy (Asian side)	Best value, local feel	Cheaper and more authentic, 25 minutes by ferry to the European centre
Besiktas / Ortakoy	Bosphorus views	Modern, less touristy, on the water, well connected by metro
Fatih (Grand Bazaar)	Traditional atmosphere, shopping	Conservative neighbourhood with cheap hotels beside the bazaar

Tip

Beyoglu is the pick for most trips: you get nightlife and restaurants where you sleep, and Sultanahmet is a short tram ride rather than a place you have to stay to see.

Turkish Cuisine

Kebap: Try iskender kebap (with yoghurt and tomato sauce) for 300–500 TRY (£5–£8.50).
Balik ekmek: Fried fish sandwich at Galata Bridge. 150–250 TRY (£2.55–£4.25).
Simit: Sesame bread ring, the quick Turkish breakfast. 20–35 TRY (£0.34–£0.60).
Full Turkish breakfast: Cheeses, olives, eggs, honey, jam and tea. 400–800 TRY per person (£6.80–£13.60).
Baklava: Karakoy Gulluoglu is Istanbul's finest. 300–500 TRY/kg.
Turkish tea (cay): In tulip-shaped glasses, from 25–40 TRY anywhere.

	Budget	Mid-range	Luxury
Accommodation (per night)	800–1,500 TRY (£14–£25)	3,000–6,000 TRY (£51–£102)	10,000+ TRY (£170+)
Food (per day)	400–800 TRY (£6.80–£14)	1,000–2,000 TRY (£17–£34)	4,000+ TRY (£68+)
Transport (daily)	100–200 TRY (£1.70–£3.40)	300–600 TRY (£5–£10)	1,000+ TRY (£17+)

Hotels in Istanbul

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Practical Tips

Visa: UK citizens need an e-Visa (approximately £40, valid for 90 days). Apply online before travel.
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY). £1 ≈ 43 TRY. Exchange at doviz (exchange offices), not at the airport.
Haggling: Essential at the Grand Bazaar. Start at 40–50% of the asking price.
Mosque dress code: Women must cover their hair and shoulders. Men need long trousers. Some mosques lend scarves.
Ramadan: During Ramadan, many restaurants close during the day. Tourist areas and hotels operate normally.

How much does 4 days in Istanbul cost?

Budget: £200–£350 without flights. Mid-range: £450–£700. Istanbul is very affordable for European visitors thanks to the favourable exchange rate.

Is Istanbul safe?

Yes, very safe for tourists. Tourist areas are well-monitored. Standard pickpocket precautions apply.

European or Asian side — which should I visit?

The European side has most attractions (Sultanahmet, Beyoglu, Galata). The Asian side (Kadikoy, Uskudar) is more local and authentic. Ideally visit both.

Should I pay in euros or lira?

Many tourist places accept euros but the exchange rate will be worse. Always pay in Turkish Lira for better value.