5 days • 4 nights • Turkey
Five balanced days in Istanbul: the Old City, the Bosphorus between two continents, and a day trip to Lake Sapanca and Maşukiye, with a selected hotel and an English-speaking driver.
This 5-day Istanbul tour program is designed for those who want to see the best of the city without rushing: a full day for the Old City with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace, a day for the Bosphorus with both its European and Asian shores, and then a day trip to Lake Sapanca and the Maşukiye waterfalls. All transfers are in a modern private car with an English-speaking driver, from the moment you arrive at the airport until we see you off.
The program suits families, couples and friends, and is perfect for a first visit to Istanbul. We arranged the days so that they start gently after the journey and end with time for shopping before departure. The Sapanca trip can be replaced with a day in Bursa and Mount Uludağ or with a tour of the Princes' Islands, and the hotel category can be upgraded or a Bosphorus seafood dinner added. Send us your dates and the number of travelers, and we will send you the final offer in detail.
Our driver meets you at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) and takes you to your hotel in a private car. The ride to the city center usually takes between 45 and 75 minutes, depending on the airport and traffic. After check-in and a rest, you can stroll in the evening through Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue and ride the historic tram. We hand you a SIM card and go over the program for the coming days with you on WhatsApp.
A full day in the heart of Ottoman and Byzantine history. We start with the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) and the Hippodrome square, then Hagia Sophia and the underground Basilica Cistern. In the afternoon we visit Topkapı Palace, home of the Sacred Relics, with wonderful views over the Bosphorus, and then move on to the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) in Eminönü. We recommend comfortable shoes, as most of the sights are close together and are visited on foot.
We begin with Dolmabahçe Palace on the European shore of the Bosphorus, then Ortaköy for photos by its mosque overlooking the bridge, and continue along the coast through Bebek to Rumeli Fortress and Emirgan Park. In the afternoon there is a Bosphorus boat tour of about an hour and a half, then we cross to the Asian side to visit the Grand Çamlıca Mosque and watch the sunset from Çamlıca Hill. You can end the day with an optional seafood dinner with folklore shows.
We set off in the morning for Sapanca, about two hours from Istanbul. We stop first in the village of Maşukiye, with its small waterfalls, streams and restaurants among the trees, then take the Kartepe cable car to see the forests from above. In the afternoon we stroll along the shore of Lake Sapanca, with the option of a boat ride or activities such as ATV riding and ziplining, then return to Istanbul in the evening.
Depending on your flight time, you can spend the morning shopping at one of the big malls such as Mall of Istanbul or Istinye Park, or buying Turkish sweets and coffee at the nearby markets. The driver picks you up at the hotel at the agreed time and takes you to the airport well before departure; we recommend about three hours for international flights. We wish you a safe journey home.
| City | Nights | Suggested |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | 4 | A 4-star hotel in Taksim, Şişli or Sultanahmet, close to transport and restaurants. An upgrade to 5-star hotels or rooms with a Bosphorus view is available. |
Book this program
Add your arrival date, the number of travelers and the hotel level, and you will receive a written offer with the final price via WhatsApp.
Questions & answers
5 days are enough to see Istanbul's main sights: the Old City, the Bosphorus and the Asian side, with a day trip outside the city and time for shopping. If you would like Bursa with an overnight stay, choose the 7-day Istanbul and Bursa program.
The program does not include international flights, but we can book your tickets from your home country to Istanbul as part of the same request, since booking flights is one of our core services.
Yes. Day 4 can become a trip to Bursa and the Uludağ cable car, or a ferry tour of the Princes' Islands, depending on your interests and the season.
Taksim and Şişli are good for shopping, restaurants and evening life, while Sultanahmet is within walking distance of the historic sights. We suggest a hotel based on your budget and the nature of your trip.
From the OYA guide
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Personal service from start to finish
We design a custom program for you, with the number of days, cities and hotels you want — just tell us.
