Five days is an ideal length for a first visit to Istanbul: enough to see the main sights without rushing, and it leaves room for a day trip outside the city. In this article we give you a day-by-day 5-day Istanbul itinerary, which we have tried with many families and couples, with tips on choosing where to stay, getting around and avoiding the crowds.
The plan is flexible: you can swap the order of the days depending on the weather and the closing days of some sights, or replace the Day 4 trip with something that suits your interests.
Before you start: airport, accommodation and getting around
Which airport will you arrive at?
Istanbul has two international airports: Istanbul Airport on the European side, where most international flights arrive, and Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side. Getting between either airport and the city center can take an hour or more depending on traffic, so choose your hotel to suit your arrival airport, and book your airport pickup in advance, especially if you are traveling with family and luggage.
Where to stay in Istanbul?
| Area | Suits | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Sultanahmet | History lovers and first visits | The major sights within walking distance |
| Taksim and Şişli | Shopping lovers and evening life | Metro, restaurants and many shopping malls |
| Beşiktaş and the Bosphorus shores | Couples and lovers of views | Sea views and ferries nearby |
| Aparthotels in central areas | Large families | More space and a small kitchen |
We recommend the right hotel for your budget and the size of your family through our hotel booking service.
How do you get around?
The Istanbulkart works on trams, the metro, ferries and buses, and suits individuals and couples. Families will be more comfortable with a private car and driver on far-away tour days, using the tram in the Sultanahmet area.
Day 1: Arrival and an evening on the Bosphorus
After your airport pickup and arrival at the hotel, take a rest. In the evening, you can choose a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus with folklore shows, or a quiet stroll along the waterfront in Ortaköy or Eminönü with a glass of Turkish tea. A light start gives you energy for the rest of the days.
Day 2: Old Istanbul and the most famous sights
This is the day for walking and history, so start early:
- Sultanahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque): with its six minarets and famous blue tiles. Avoid visiting at prayer time.
- Hagia Sophia: the city's most famous landmark. It functions as a mosque today, and visitor entry arrangements may change, so check the times before you go.
- Basilica Cistern: an underground Byzantine water reservoir with lit columns, a different experience that children love.
- Topkapı Palace: the seat of the Ottoman sultans, home to the Holy Relics. It needs at least two hours and is usually closed one day a week, so check before visiting.
- Gülhane Park: a green break next to the palace.
- The Grand Bazaar or the Spice Bazaar (the Egyptian Bazaar): for shopping, sweets and spices. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
If you have time left, the Süleymaniye Mosque and its view over the Golden Horn are worth a visit at sunset.
Day 3: The Bosphorus between two continents
Devote this day to the beauty of Istanbul on the water. You can start with a Bosphorus boat tour from Eminönü, then continue the day by car:
- Dolmabahçe Palace: a lavish 19th-century palace on the water, usually closed one day a week.
- Ortaköy: its famous mosque beneath the Bosphorus Bridge, and the popular kumpir meal.
- Bebek and Rumeli Hisarı Fortress: the loveliest stretch of the Bosphorus shore.
- Emirgan Park: one of the city's most beautiful parks, and it shines with tulips in April.
- Crossing to the Asian side: Çamlıca Hill and its great mosque, with a panoramic view of the city.
For those who prefer a spiritual atmosphere, you can replace part of the day with a visit to the Eyüp Sultan district and Pierre Loti Hill overlooking the Golden Horn.
Day 4: Day trip to Bursa or Sapanca
Leave the city to discover the nearby nature. You have two main options:
- Bursa and Mount Uludağ: the ferry across the Gulf of İzmit, then the Uludağ cable car and snow in winter, the Grand Mosque and the silk markets. Read our Bursa travel guide.
- Sapanca and Maşukiye: a lake, forests, waterfalls and lunch by the river, plus activities such as ATV rides. Read our Sapanca travel guide.
We recommend Bursa for lovers of history and snow, and Sapanca for families and nature lovers. Both are full-day trips that start in the morning and end in the evening.
Day 5: Shopping and farewell
Depending on your flight time, devote the morning of the last day to shopping: İstiklal Avenue in Taksim, one of the big shopping malls, or a final stroll through the Spice Bazaar to buy Turkish delight and coffee. Make sure you head to the airport about three hours before takeoff on international flights, because traffic in Istanbul can be unpredictable.
Summary of the 5-day Istanbul itinerary in a table
| Day | Plan | Walking level |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival and an evening on the Bosphorus | Light |
| 2 | Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and the bazaar | High |
| 3 | The Bosphorus, Dolmabahçe and Çamlıca | Mid-range |
| 4 | Bursa and Uludağ, or Sapanca and Maşukiye | Mid-range |
| 5 | Shopping, then the airport | Light |
What to eat in Istanbul during the five days
- Turkish breakfast: cheese, olives, honey, clotted cream, eggs and fresh bread. It is worth trying once at a specialist restaurant, away from your hotel breakfast.
- Simit: sesame bread rings sold on every corner, a perfect quick bite between tours.
- Kebabs and grills: in all their varieties, from spicy Adana kebab to İskender with sauce and yogurt.
- Bosphorus fish: the famous fish sandwich near Eminönü, or a fish dinner at the restaurants overlooking the water.
- Desserts: baklava, künefe and Turkish delight, and the Turkish ice cream whose vendors put on playful shows that children love.
Most restaurants in Istanbul serve halal food. It is best to choose restaurants crowded with locals, as they are usually better and cheaper than the ones on the tourist fronts.
What to buy in Istanbul
Popular gifts include Turkish delight and packaged baklava, Turkish coffee, spices and tea, cotton towels, carpets and handmade textiles, and colorful lamps. In the Grand Bazaar and local markets, bargaining is a normal part of buying, while shopping malls have fixed prices.
Practical tips for visiting Istanbul
- Mosque etiquette: modest clothing, a head covering for women, removing your shoes, and avoiding prayer times, especially on Friday noon.
- Start early: queues at the major sights get long after 10 a.m., especially in summer.
- Check closing days: some palaces and museums close one day a week, and the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
- Allow for traffic: distances in Istanbul look short on the map but take time on the road.
- Agree on the price in advance: in taxis, use the meter or well-known apps.
- Comfortable shoes: the city is full of hills and cobbled alleys.
How do you adapt the itinerary to your type of trip?
With young children: split Day 2 over two days, and add an aquarium or Miniatürk park instead of one of the palaces. For a honeymoon: make the Bosphorus evening on a private yacht, and devote Day 4 to Sapanca with a night in a bungalow. In winter: choose Bursa and Uludağ for Day 4 to enjoy the snow, and focus on museums, mosques and covered markets on rainy days.
And if you have more time, our Istanbul and Bursa 7 days program adds a night in Bursa and more relaxed trips.
Get the itinerary ready-made
Our Istanbul 5 days program is built on this plan, and includes airport pickup, accommodation and tours by private car with an English-speaking driver. We adjust it to your request. For more ideas, browse our Istanbul travel guide. Send us your arrival date and number of people on WhatsApp, and we will send you the detailed itinerary.
