Welcome to my Ultimate 4-day Istanbul travel itinerary! In this guide, I share my top tips and recommendations for a 4-day trip to Istanbul, Turkey. I share a mix of food, culture, history, and architecture to pack into your next trip to the city. I also include tips on transportation within the city and the best time of year to visit.

İstanbul, Türkiye

The Ultimate 4-day Istanbul, Turkiye Itinerary

Thank you for purchasing my Ultimate 4-day Istanbul travel itinerary! Below you'll find my top tips and recommendations for a 4-day trip to Istanbul, Turkey. I also include tips on transportation within the city, safety, and the best time of year to visit.

The Blue Mosque is currently under construction so there isn’t much to see inside, but the Hagia Sophia mosque is a stunning and ancient religious building that's a must-see on your trip!

Make your way from the Cistern towards the Grand Bazaar via the above-ground tram. The Grand Bazaar is one of the world's largest and oldest covered markets, and it's a great place to purchase gifts, sweets, spices, rugs, and more. Allocate at least a couple hours here because it's easy to get lost amidst the maze of stores and lose track of time - in a good way!

Around the mosque there are many rooftop restaurants and lounges with beautiful views of the mosque and the rest of the city. My personal favorite is the Mihrişah Teras Restaurant. This is a great place to get dinner as you take in the sunset views. 

Next you'll make your way down to Moda neighborhood in Kadikoy (either by bus or taxi). This is one of Istanbul's most trendy districts - it has a young vibe with lots of great international food options. 

May through June and September through October are great times to visit Istanbul if you want to avoid the summer heat and the large crowds during July and August. 

The public transportation system in Istanbul is very well-developed, clean, and easy to use. You can get around the city using public transportation through the city's buses, below-ground metros, above-ground trams, ferry boats, and more. 

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The weather is very mild during September and October with minimal rain. Temperatures are typically around mid-60's to 70's F this time of year. May and June will have slightly more tourists but the weather will be a bit warmer, with temperatures around 70's to 80's F. 

Both of these time frames make for ideal sightseeing weather and walking around outdoors. 

You can purchase a fillable metro card - called an IstanbulKart - at any of the underground metro stations at the yellow kiosks. You can also find some local shops and convenience stores selling them as well. You can fill up your metro card as often as you'd like by inserting cash (Turkish lira) into the yellow kiosk machine. Each one-way trip is around 7.5 Turkish lira. 

Istanbul is a very large city that literally spans across two continents. Many of the tourist attractions are located within the public transportation map, but some attractions and neighborhoods you may not be able to reach via public transportation.

In that case, taking a taxi is your best bet. Istanbul is known for their scammy taxi drivers. To avoid this, do not use the Uber app (as it's technically not allowed in Istanbul and drivers will use this to their advantage), and instead download and use the local BiTaksi app. This works very similar to Uber and it's the local taxi app for the city.

In addition to Bitaksi, you can also hail down a taxi on the side of the road. You won't usually have an issue finding a taxi unless it's raining or if it's a weekend night. When you get into a taxi, do not agree on a fixed price. Taxi drivers in Istanbul are legally required to use the meters in their taxis, which starts at around 10 Turkish lira and the trip minimum will be around 30 Turkish lira.  

Istanbul makes for a great 4-day trip, as most of the top sights in the city can be explored over a few days - with time leftover to get lost wandering the charming streets or to people-watch for a few hours at a cafe. If you want to explore Turkey outside of Istanbul, allot at least 10 days in total for your trip. 

Start your first day in Istanbul with a traditional Turkish breakfast on Buyuk Hendek Caddesi (Street) with a view of the beautiful Galata Tower. Turkish breakfast consists of a giant spread of fresh jams, pastries, eggs, and produce. You have to try it at least once on your trip!

After breakfast, make your way up to the top of Galata Tower. The Tower is among the oldest towers in the world, built in 507 AD and formerly used as a watchtower. It's also home to amazing views of the entire city of Istanbul.

Along Istiklal Street you will find Sent Antuan Kilisesi Church, a beautiful Catholic Church in the city. It's free to enter and you can admire the intricate architecture and beautiful ceilings. If you're interested in religious architecture I highly recommend a quick stop here!

Before you reach the end of Istiklal Street, turn down some side streets and explore the Cihangir neighborhood. This boho district has a distinct vibe and is famous for their cafe culture and antique shops. 

This neighborhood instantly takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the city, so it's a great place to stop for a late-morning coffee before lunch. It's a popular area to live for artists, expats, and locals alike and you'll quickly see why! 

At the end of Istiklal Street you will find Taksim Square. This is a famous and historic square where you'll find live performances, food vendors, and a beautiful mosque. This area is always lively no matter the time of day. This is also a great place to try Doner, as they have about 6 vendors selling the popular street food sandwiches. 

If you're not yet tired of walking, continue your journey onward about 25 minutes beyond Taksim Square. Otherwise, hop on the underground metro in Taksim and get off after just one stop at "Osmanbey."

Spend an hour or two exploring and shopping in the trendy district of Nişantaşi. You'll instantly feel the shift in vibes as you walk the streets of Nişantaşi. It's known as the fashion district of Istanbul, and they have many high-end dress stores and fabric shops across the district. This is a great place to grab a late lunch in the afternoon.

For dinner on your first day, head to the high-end district of Etiler. This lively district is located close to the Bosphorus and can be reached via the M5 metro line. 

There are lots of fancy restaurants and lounges in this area, making it a great option for a nice dinner and nightlife after if you choose. 

Best neighborhoods to visit in Istanbul pt. 2📍Cihangir. I love this neighborhood because it’s unique from other areas in the city and has a great artsy/boho aesthetic. There is a decent international food scene, cute tea gardens, and so many antique stores to shop at. #cihangir #cihangiristanbul #istanbul #turkey #turkiye #turkeytravel #istanbultravel #istanbultravelguide #thingstodoistanbul  #istanbulvlog 

On your second day in the city, get up bright and early and head to Sultanahmet Square.

This historic square is home to two of Istanbul's famous historic mosques: the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Mosque.

Make your way a few minutes across the road to the Basilica Cistern. This ancient underground cistern museum just recently reopened in 2022 after 5 years of restorations and renovations. The cistern formerly supplied water to the city's palaces, but now it is used as a museum. Be sure to purchase your ticket online in advance through the Passo app, otherwise you will have to wait in a long line outside. 

Close to the Grand Bazaar is the beautiful Suleymaniye Mosque and courtyard. This mosque is less-visited than the two mosques in Sultanahmet Square, and I always find it to be more peaceful.

The courtyard of the mosque is stunning and makes for a perfect photo location. 

Head over to Sirkeci to the Hodjapasha Cultural Center to see a traditional Turkish dance show. They offer shows most nights throughout the week and weekends, and here you can immerse yourself into the Turkish culture through a beautiful traditional dancing show. This is a must!

Baklava at Hafiz Mustafa

Tip: Be sure to bring a headscarf with you and look up the daily prayer times online to time your visit when it’s not prayer time, as the mosque will temporarily close to tourists during those times.

To end your busy day of travel, eat some traditional Turkish desserts and sweets (baklava and lokum!) at the famous Hafiz Mustafa cafe.

On your third day in the city you will spend the day exploring the Asian side of Istanbul. The city is split up across two continents, separated by the Bosphorus Strait. 

You'll start the day by taking a public transportation ferry boat from the Kabataş port to Uskudar on the Asian side. This is an inexpensive way to get a beautiful view of the water and both sides of the city, while also avoiding the traffic over the bridge!

First up is Beylerbeyi Palace. Istanbul is home to many ancient palaces, though I always recommend Beylerbeyi Palace as it stands out to me in its beauty and it's never as crowded or touristy as the others!

The palace is stunning both inside and out, with historic furniture, intricate architecture, and beautiful gardens. Like many places in Istanbul, it truly feels like you're going back in time here!

Make your way via bus to the trendy Cengelkoy neighborhood for some street food for lunch. This is one of the best neighborhoods to sample street food because they have so many options along their main street! It's located right along the water and they have many rooftop cafes and restaurants with a beautiful view of the Bosphorus. 

Next you'll visit Çamlıca Camii, otherwise known as the largest mosque in Turkey. It's different from the mosques you saw yesterday because Çamlıca Camii is newly built. It has the capacity to hold over 60,000 people inside. As the mosque is atop a large hill, its courtyard looks out to a viewpoint of the city. There's also an Islamic history museum inside. 

Grab a snack to-go and head to Moda Sahil Park. This beautiful park is right along the water and looks out to some of Istanbul's islands. The park is lively throughout the day, oftentimes with live music performers and street food vendors. 

Take a ferry boat from the Kadikoy port back to the European side of the city to the Kabataş port. 

Head down the street to Galataport for dinner and drinks. This is a newly developed cruise-ship port in Istanbul. It's home to luxury shops, high-end restaurants, bars, and cafes. It's also a great place to walk along the water and admire the large docked cruise ships. 

Book a 40-minute consultation call with me to discuss travel in Istanbul, Turkiye (Turkey) and ask me any questions you have about the city and planning a trip.

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