None of the world’s great cities can be as romantic as Istanbul, the sprawling metropolis that
straddles the Bosphorus with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul – its three names echo down the ages, speaking of the glories of three empires, the Roman, the Byzantine and the Ottoman. Much of the twentieth century was grim for Istanbul but today it has shot back into its own. Istanbul has the art, the architecture, the cutting-edge shops, even the gastronomy. Above all it has the spectacular scenery created by the Black Sea, the Bosphorus, the Sea of the Marmara and the Golden Horn.
The size and history of the city inevitably confuses those who want to visit.
Of course, it is not possible to visit all of Istanbul in a short 1-week trip. Despite this, we offer 7-day routes for curious travelers, which we group by geographical location.
DAY 1: THE HISTORIC PENINSULA (INSIDE THE WALLS)
You will not be able to enter all of them but you must see the Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque and The Grand Bazaar.
1.1. Topkapı Palace
1.2. Istanbul Archeological Museums
1.3. Hagia Sophia Mosque and Around
1.4. Sultanahmet and the Blue Mosque
1.5. The Hippodrome
1.6. Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
1.7. Basilica Cistern
1.8. Cağaloğlu
1.9. Divan Yolu
1.10. Çemberlitaş
1.11. The Grand Bazaar and the Hans
1.12. Beyazıt Mosque and Around
1.13. Laleli and Aksaray
1.14. Cerrahpaşa and Around
1.15. Süleymaniye Mosque and Around
1.16. Aqueduct of Valens, Zeyrek and Vefa
1.17. Fatih
1.18. Çarşamba and the Sultan Selim Mosque
1.19. Edirnekapı and Karagümrük
1.20. Kariye Mosque (Chora Chuch)
1.21. The Land Walls I (From Topkapı to Avansaray)
1.22. The Land Walls II (From Yedikule to Topkapı)
DAY 2: THE COAST ROAD (FROM CANKURTARAN TO YEŞİLKÖY)
2.23. Cankurtaran and the Sea Walls
2.24. Küçük Ayasofya
2.25. Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Mosque and Kadırga
2.26. Kumkapı
2.27. Yenikapı and Samatya
2.28. Bakırköy and Ataköy
2.29. Florya and Yeşilköy
DAY 3: THE GOLDEN HORN
3.30. Gülhane Park and Sarayburnu
3.31. Sirkeci and Eminönü
3.32. New Mosque and Spice Market
3.33. Galata Bridge
3.34. Rüstem Paşa Mosque and Tahtakale
3.35. Cibali and the Sea Walls
3.36. Fener
3.37. Balat (p. 240)
3.38. Eyüp
3.39. Sütlüce, Miniatürk and SantralIstanbul
3.40. Hasköy and the Rahmi M. Koç Museum
3.41. Aynalıkavak Pavilion and Kasımpaşa
3.42. Karaköy, Perşembe Pazarı and Azapkapı
DAY 4: FROM TAKSİM TO MASLAK
4.43. Taksim Square and Gümüşsuyu
4.44 . Talimhane, Tarlabaşı and Dolapdere
4.45 . Cihangir and Çukurcuma
4.46. İstiklal Caddesi I
4.47. İstiklal Caddesi II
4.48. Tünel and Around
4.49. Galata Tower and Around
4.50. Şişhane, Tepebaşı and Pera Museum
4.51. Harbiye and the Military Museum
4.52. Nişantaşı, Teşvikiye and Maçka
4.53. Kurtuluş, Şişli and Mecidiyeköy
4.54. Etiler and Ulus
4.55 Levent and Maslak
DAY 5: THE BOSPHORUS (EUROPEAN SHORE)
5.56. The Bosphorus and its Bridges
5.57. Tophane and Kabataş
5.58. Dolmabahçe Palace
5.59. Beşiktaş
5.60. Yıldız Park, Chalet and Palace
5.61. Çırağan Palace
5.62. Ortaköy
5.63. Kuruçeşme and Arnavutköy
5.64. Bebek
5.65. Rumeli Hisarı and Aşiyan
5.66. Emirgan and Boyacıköy
5.67. Sakıp Sabancı Museum
5.68. İstinye and Yeniköy
5.69. Kalender, Tarabya and Kireçburnu
5.70. Büyükdere and Sadberk Hanım Museum
5.71. Sarıyer, Rumeli Kavağı, Garipçe and Rumeli Feneri
DAY 6: THE BOSPHORUS (EUROPEAN SHORE)
6.72. Fenerbahçe and Kalamış
6.73. Kadıköy and Moda
6.74. Bağdat Caddesi and the Sahil Yolu
6.75. Haydarpaşa and Selimiye
6.76. The Maiden’s Tower
6.77. Üsküdar, Bağlarbaşı and Çamlıca
6.78. Kuzguncuk
6.79. Beylerbeyi
6.80. Çengelköy, Kuleli and Vaniköy
6.81. Kandilli and Küçüksu Mansion
6.82. Anadolu Hisarı
6.83. Kanlıca
6.84. Çubuklu and the Khedive’s Villa
6.85. Paşabahçe and Beykoz
6.86. Anadolu Kavağı
DAY 7: ISTANBUL ESCAPES
You should choose one destination. I prefer Büyükada for the escape route.
7.87. Belgrade Forest
7.88. Kilyos
7.89. Şile
7.90. Polonezköy and Riva
7.91. Ağva
7.92. Kınalıada
7.93. Burgazada
7.94. Heybeliada
7.95. Büyükada
7.96. The Other Princes’ Islands
7.97. The Marmara Islands
7.98. Eskihisar
7.99. Gebze
7.100. Hereke