Your Perfect 5-Day Istanbul Itinerary

Where History Meets Comfort in Five Days

Whether you’re booking your first Istanbul flight ticket or looking for an upgrade package to revisit a favorite city, Istanbul rewards slow exploration. This 5-day itinerary is designed for travelers who want both depth and ease—connecting world-famous landmarks with hidden alleys, and traditional flavors with rooftop views. With direct routes from all over Europe and beyond, including cheap flight tickets to Türkiye and easy access from Sabiha Gökçen Airport, your journey begins the moment you land. Along the way, you’ll uncover insider tips, scenic districts, and immersive moments—guided by this personalized Türkiye travel guide.

Day 1: Arrive at Sabiha Gökçen & Settle into Sultanahmet Charm

Morning: Land at Sabiha Gökçen Airport, located on Istanbul’s Asian side and known for its smooth layout and ease of use—quick baggage pickup, efficient security lines, and direct transport options. Catch a taxi or shuttle across the Bosphorus and head to Sultanahmet, the heart of the city’s historic peninsula. This is the old city’s epicenter, where Byzantine and Ottoman empires once ruled, and where ancient marvels stand within walking distance of each other.

Drop your bags at your hotel and take a short stroll into Cankurtaran, a charming neighborhood within Sultanahmet. Start your trip with a full Turkish breakfast: enjoy menemen (scrambled eggs cooked with tomato and peppers), simit (sesame-crusted bread rings), kaymak (a rich clotted cream) served with honey, olives, fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, and multiple tulip glasses of tea. The warmth of the spread matches the morning sun rising over the minarets.

Midday: Walk into Sultanahmet Square, once the Roman hippodrome, and orient yourself around Istanbul’s iconic trio: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Gülhane Park. Even from outside, the Hagia Sophia stuns—one of the world’s greatest pieces of architecture, it began as a Byzantine cathedral, later became a mosque, then a museum, and is now a mosque again. Just across the way, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque) dazzles with its six minarets and Iznik tile-covered interior. Continue to the Basilica Cistern, the city’s underground water reservoir supported by ancient columns—including the mysterious upside-down Medusa head. (Yes, James Bond once filmed here.)

Evening: Stroll toward Küçük Ayasofya or the Sirkeci neighborhood, once the last stop of the famed Orient Express. Duck into a traditional meyhane, a Turkish tavern known for its shared plates (meze), raki, and long conversations. Sit beneath lanterns and grapevines as you sample grilled eggplant salad, white cheese, and pan-fried liver. End your evening walking through cobbled alleys beneath softly glowing domes.

Day 2: Dive into Old Istanbul — Sultanahmet & the Grand Bazaar

Morning: Wake up with breakfast in Gülhane, where cafés tucked beside old bookshops serve menemen in copper pans, plus tahini-molasses spread on fresh bread. Fuel up and then head back to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque—this time, to go inside and absorb the history layer by layer. Then descend once more into the Basilica Cistern, where rows of dimly lit columns and reflections in the water set an unforgettable scene.

Midday: Head to Topkapı Palace, the opulent seat of the Ottoman sultans. Stroll the royal courtyards, enter the Harem, and gaze out from the imperial terraces across the Bosphorus. For lunch, stop at a nearby courtyard serving Ottoman-inspired cuisine: hünkar beğendi (lamb on smoked eggplant purée) or stuffed grape leaves with cinnamon and currants.

Evening: Wander uphill into Beyazıt, an old student quarter filled with calligraphy shops and antique bookstores. Enter the Grand Bazaar, the world’s oldest covered shopping mall, with over 4,000 shops under its domes. Pick up souvenirs, have your fortune told over Turkish coffee, and watch silversmiths at work. Head home via tram or walk back under golden light.

Day 3: Spice, Ferries, and Golden Horn Views

Morning: Start your day in Eminönü, where the scent of börek and gözleme fills the air. Sit outside near the Spice Bazaar, one of Istanbul’s oldest markets, and enjoy a flaky pastry with Turkish tea. Watch as locals shop for saffron, dried apricots, and nuts by the kilo.

Midday: Take a ferry up the Bosphorus to Emirgan, one of the city’s greenest enclaves. The boat glides past palaces and waterfront mansions while seagulls follow in your wake. In Emirgan, choose a terrace café overlooking the water and dine on seasonal fish and meze. Afterwards, stroll through Emirgan Park, especially stunning during tulip season.

Evening: Return to the European side and climb toward Galata Tower, a medieval stone watchtower offering panoramic views. Near here, Ottoman aviator Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi is said to have flown across the Bosphorus with artificial wings in the 17th century. Head toward Asmalımescit and Tünel for a cozy night of live music and late-night lahmacun, a crisp, thin flatbread topped with minced meat, herbs, and lemon.

Day 4: Local Life & Hidden Gems on the Asian Side

Morning: Board the ferry to Kadıköy, Istanbul’s creative hub on the Asian side. Wander the morning market stalls before heading to Moda, where breakfast is served with a sea breeze. Order poğaça (savory pastries), feta, olives, tomatoes, and an endless glass of tea. Locals read the paper or walk their dogs along the shoreline here—it’s a slow start in the best way.

Midday: Head inland to Yeldeğirmeni, full of colorful murals, artist studios, and tiny libraries. For lunch, sample lahmacun, köfte, or midye dolma (rice-stuffed mussels) at a local stall. Then walk the Moda Sahil, where couples sip tea from samovars and students nap under trees.

Evening: Either stay for dinner by the sea – the meyhanes here are once again excellent – or ferry back to the European side. As you cross, take one last look at the skyline—a poetic contrast of minarets, domes, and high-rises.

Day 5: A Last Stroll & Departure from Sabiha Gökçen

Morning: Spend your final morning with a breakfast near Sultanahmet, savoring more menemen and honey-drenched kaymak. Soak in the sounds of a city waking up—vendors wheeling carts, kids on their way to school, and the distant call to prayer.

Midday: Pack up and wander through Gülhane Park for a final, quiet stroll. If you still need a souvenir, visit the Arasta Bazaar, smaller than the Grand Bazaar but just as atmospheric. Pause at Sirkeci, the old terminal of the Orient Express, and imagine the travelers who came before you—filled with as much wonder as you are now.

Evening: Travel to Sabiha Gökçen Airport, not far from Istanbul’s Pendik train station if you ever want to switch from train to plane. The airport’s simple layout and calm terminals make for an easy departure. Whether you’re flying home or onto your next adventure, you’ll carry with you five days of memories etched in spice, stone, and starlight.