Istanbul Itinerary: Things to See on Your Layover
I’ve spent around 48 hours total in the city of Istanbul, the majority of which have been at or around the airport and I can still confidently say it’s one of my favorite cities that I’ve visited. Sitting between two continents, this gem of a city has centuries of history. Absolutely impossible to take it all in on a short layover, however it’s still worth leaving the airport and getting a taste of what Istanbul has to offer. You can still experience plenty in a new city during a weekend visit or even a single day. I fell in love with this fascinating city on my short stop here and am already planning a trip back.
This Istanbul Itinerary is short but designed to help you explore iconic landmarks, walk through historic neighborhoods, and eat plenty of phenomenal food. You can still make the most of your visit here, balancing seeing the sites while soaking in the atmosphere, even if time is limited. Istanbul rewards you for going out to explore, the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque are just some of the few things on my Istanbul Itinerary that will make your layover unforgettable.
Protip: If you don’t feel like organizing everything or get anxious leaving the airport on a layover, and you are flying with Turkish Airlines, they offer different layover programs that take care of everything. Look into “Touristanbul” it’s a complimentary service for layovers 6-24 hours, they will take you on guided tours of the city and get you back to the airport in time for your flight.
Table of Contents
Starting my Istanbul Itinerary, Getting From The Airport to The City
Of the couple days I spent in Istanbul about 18 hours were on the ground exploring. It doesn’t sound like much but I was determined to make the most of it and not spend it all in the airport (though the airport is pretty nice). After landing I made my way outside and hopped on a shuttle towards Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s old city. My hostel had arranged a shuttle for me as part of staying there, it cost a little more than I would normally pay when leaving an airport but time was of the essence, this time it made sense.
Outside the airport, you’ll find shuttles and taxis. They cost the most, but they get you there quickly. That’s what I did simply because of the lack of time, however if that’s still not your style there are still buses and a metro. The buses will take you directly to Sultanahmet for a lot less, it’ll just be a longer trip. The journey to Sultanahmet was just under an hour for me, very convenient getting dropped outside of my hostel instead of having to track it down as well. With that I checked in, dropped off my bags and hit the streets. The time was 4:30pm and the race had just begun.
Istanbul Itinerary, The First 6 Hours
It was late afternoon and the sun was starting its descent, there was no time to spare for my Istanbul Itinerary. From my hostel I walked to my first stop, The Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Market. The two markets are just a 10-minute walk apart. The Grand Bazaar, built in 1461, ranks among the oldest in the world. The huge covered market stretches as far as the eye can see, with over 4,000 stores selling antiques and souvenirs. The Egyptian Spice Market is only slightly newer, built in 1664 it focuses more on food, spices, and edible gifts.
Walking through the Grand Bazaar is a strange feeling, while essentially you’re walking through a huge mall you’re also walking through a huge piece of history. Even if I had all the time in the world, I don’t know if I could manage to walk through the whole thing. Trying not to get lost in the maze of vendors in the section I was in was hard enough, I imagine the occasional local gets turned around in there as well. I haggled for a few old coins, just a small souvenir to say I was part of the experience, then headed southeast to the Egyptian Spice Market.
An Attack on The Senses (In a Good Way)
I have never smelt anything like the Egyptian Spice Market and have not smelt anything like it since. An incredible mixture of saffron, sumac, and cinnamon spices to name a few, and that’s not even getting into the herbs. Smells aside, the visual of the bright spices and exotic foods puts on it’s own show. This market would be a chefs dream, the combination of dishes you could create here would be endless. This market is a lot smaller than the Grand Bazaar and a lot harder to get lost in. You can walk through it in an hour, and I grabbed a Turkish coffee as I went—a coffee heated in hot sand for a richer, stronger flavor.
Having seen the sights at both markets and drinking my weight in Turkish Coffee for extra energy, it was time to set off to the next stop on my Istanbul Itinerary. Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque due to the blue tiles inside. The Blue Mosque is about 1km away Northwest of the Egyptian Market, a quick 15 minute walk away. There are no boring parts on my short Istanbul Itinerary, simply walking between the iconic landmarks is a highlight on it’s own.
Istanbul Itinerary, The Evening And End of Day
Walking up to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque you’ll feel an immense sense of awe. It’s one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks and an incredible piece of architecture, a sight you simply cannot miss. Construction began in 1609 and finished in 1616. Sultan Ahmed I built it to rival the Hagia Sophia, which stands right across from it—conveniently, my next stop on the Istanbul Itinerary. The architects paid insane attention to detail: inside, artisans painted over 20,000 tiles in different shades of blue, giving the mosque its nickname, the Blue Mosque. That combined with the beautiful stain glass windows and it’s hard not to feel something while walking inside.
The Mosque is still an active place of worship, Non-Muslims can enter the Mosque outside prayer times and I highly recommend you do as part of my Istanbul Itinerary. Of course there is a modest dress code, cover your shoulders and legs, woman must also cover their hair. Outside the Mosque the courtyard is very picturesque, I got some great shots with the domes of the Mosque towering overhead. Having soaked in and enjoyed everything the Blue Mosque had to offer I walked across the square to the Hagia Sophia, another iconic landmark to visit.
Hagia Sophia Across The Square
A short walk from the Blue Mosque sits the Hagia Sophia, a landmark famous not only in Istanbul but across the world. Builders completed the Hagia Sophia in 537 as a cathedral, and in 1453 the Ottomans converted it into a mosque. In 1935, authorities converted it into a museum for a brief period, but they later returned it to use as a mosque, where it remains today. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site, showcasing a fascinating blend of Christianity and Islam and reminding visitors of the rich history that has shaped this great city.
Non-Muslims can enter this Mosque as well except for during times of prayer. The Hagia Sophia’s interior defies description: Christian mosaics share the same space as Islamic calligraphy, creating a blend of religions I had never experienced before. I was glad I was visiting in the evening, light filters in differently at different times of the day changing the dynamic of the entire structure. The Hagia Sophia is an incredible blend of history and religion, an absolute cannot miss on any Istanbul Itinerary.
The End of Day 1
The sun was starting to set on my first day in Istanbul, I was blown away with what I had already seen. It was dark when I got back to my hostel, just in time for a family supper. Common at most hostels family suppers are a great way to meet people from around the world, I still occasionally talk to some guys I met that night. After dinner I started hitting the beers and went on a pub-crawl, I don’t have much to say about it except that the rooftop bars offer a stunning few of Istanbul at night. I tried to spend the rest of the night living in the moment with everyone.
Istanbul Itinerary, Day 2 And Leaving
Aside from sleeping in longer then I probably should have due to the night before and cutting into my Istanbul Itinerary, I felt great. Maybe it was the energy of the city, or just my body being stubborn and refusing to get hungover when there was still more to experience, who knows. As I mentioned before the nightlife in Istanbul is a blast, we went to Back Street Roof Bar, from what I can remember it was a vibe. I had 10 hours until my flight and the airport was roughly an hour away, probably longer as I would be driving in rush hour. Realistically I had 6 hours left, that thought sprung me out of bed and got me on the move.
My goal for today was to walk across the Galata Bridge and visit the Galata Tower, the Galata bridge crosses the Golden Horn waterway in Istanbul. The bridge has always been a economic hub with fishing as well as a popular social hub, this is where all the cats hang out. Built in 1348, Galata Tower served as a watchtower for spotting fires and defending the city, providing a prime lookout for invaders approaching the Golden Horn. With more Turkish Coffee flowing through my veins I set off on my final walk around Istanbul.
Experiencing The Galata's on my Istanbul Itinerary
I couldn’t ask for a better day as I walked across the Golden Horn heading towards Galata Tower. Fishermen lined Galata Bridge, dropping their long lines several meters into the water below. Close by the cats were patiently waiting for a snack. A lot goes on while walking across Galata Bridge, boats constantly pass under you, while the cars drive beside the pedestrian walkway on top there is a lower level with different cafes. An excellent way to take in the city while following my Istanbul Itinerary.
While walking over the bridge Galata Tower sticks out along the skyline, beckoning people to climb the hill it sits on. Standing 67 meters tall, the tower has served over the years as a lookout, an observatory, and even a prison. Galata Tower offers amazing views of Istanbul from the top, coming here for pictures at sunset is on my Istanbul Itinerary next time I visit. With visiting the tower and walking through the Galata streets, it was time to leave Istanbul and head to the airport. My hostel again helped me out with the shuttle, dealing with flight schedules is the only time I won’t use a bus.
Final Thoughts And my Full Istanbul Itinerary
I said it before and I’ll say it again, Istanbul deserves more then just a layover, However if that’s all the time you have I still would encourage you to make the most of this wonderful city. Walking through the streets is like living in a history book, the city tells stories everywhere you look that are centuries old. Whether you have weeks here or hours, there is an Istanbul Itinerary for you. No one will regret coming to see what Istanbul has to offer.
My official short layover Istanbul Itinerary
- From the airport go to Sultanahmet, the old city
- Visit the Grand Bazaar
- Visit the Egyptian Spice Market
- Visit the Blue Mosque
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Cross Galata Bridge
- Visit Galata Tower
- Enjoy the nightlife (it’s fun)
