Straddling Asia and Europe and separated by the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul will explode your senses. It is one of the most exciting cities to visit in Europe and a great place to begin a journey through Turkiye. While you could certainly spend a week exploring all it has to offer, we managed to pack a LOT into our 3 days in Istanbul.

Formerly known as Constantinople, Istanbul is easily the most iconic city in Turkiye, embracing centuries of culture and religious history. From the mesmerizing blend of Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman architecture, to awe-inspiring mosques, kaleidoscope bazaars, and lavish sultan palaces, visitors delight in the 2500+ years of rich history.

Many of the top things to do in Istanbul are within walking distance of Sultanahmet, the old town, but we also took the tram across the Bosphorus and taxi to explore the colorful village of Balat.

Istanbul at a Glance

• Area: 2,109 mi²
• Elevation: 131′
• Population: 15.5 million

Getting Around

There are several ways to get from Istanbul airport to the city center. Once there, the best way to get around is by walking or taking the metro or tram. Automobile traffic is abysmal in the city. If you need to take a taxi try to avoid during rush hour. FYI, while the trams are convenient, be prepared for a challenge as the machines often malfunction. Luckily, they often post transportation employees at the ticket booths to assist travelers in getting tickets.

Also, be aware that Istanbul is a very popular tourist city and major tourist attractions get crowded. Two tips are (1) to go early to the spots that are at the top of our list, even before they open; and/or (2) to pay in advance for a skip-the-line ticket.

Brief History of Istanbul

• 7th century BC – founded by Greek settlers and called Byzantium.
• 330 AD – It became the capital of the Roman Empire and the name was changed to Constantinople, the city of Constantine the Great.
• 1261-1453 –It became an important stop along the Silk Road and served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
• 1453 – The city was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and became the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate until 1922.
• 1923 – Ankara became the capital when the country became the Republic of Turkey.
• 1930 – The city’s was renamed Istanbul and currently hosts several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Is Istanbul safe?

Istanbul is about as safe as any other big city in Europe, such as Rome, Barcelona, or Athens. If you keep your wits about you, protect your belongings, and watch out for scams, you’ll be just fine.

While vendors might seem friendly, they often want to get you into their shop. Also, be aware of the shoe-shine scam where the vendor drops his brush. Don’t pick it up! And don’t accept anything for “free;” it’s not.

Here are my tips to avoid pickpocketing in Europe.

Are 3 Days Enough in Istanbul?

Yes, you can see the main attractions of Istanbul, and we felt it was enough time, but we are go, go, go types of people, and Istanbul was just the first stop in our month-long road trip through Turkiye. If you prefer slow travel and want to get to know the Turkish city on a more authentic level, then there’s plenty to do to keep you busy for a week.

Here are our favorite things to do in 3 days in Istanbul:

10 Istaklal Street

Near the Galata Tower, the famous Istiklal Avenue, historically known as the Grand Avenue of Pera, is a 1.4-mile-long pedestrian street containing boutique shops, restaurants, and bars. It is sometimes compared to Oxford Street in London, Fifth Avenue in New York City, or Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris, although full transparency I don’t think it’s as spectacular as any of those.

It’s where you can “experience” magic ice cream (see #9). I also had kunefe – a pastry called kadayıf soaked in syrup with cheese or cream inside, sometimes with added pistachios. It was a lot different and not as good as the kunefe I was addicted to in Jordan, but I still enjoyed it.

9 Magic Ice Cream

Turkish ice cream, called dondurma, has a different, almost chewy texture than traditional US ice cream.

While walking on Istiklal Street, I encountered one of the infamous “magic ice cream” vendors. The vendor pretended to hand me my cone, and though I could touch the cone I could never take it… every single time I tried, the vendor tricked me, taking it away, turning it upside down, sticking it to my nose, replacing it with a foot of ice cream, etc. It was so much fun, and luckily I got my ice cream in the end.

8 Topkapi Palace

Home to the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years, the UNESCO Topkapi Palace was the heart of the vast Ottoman Empire. Built in the 15th century, the palace has hundreds of rooms decorated with ornate mosaic tiles and art, lush gardens and courtyards.

Topkapi was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from the mid-1400s until 1856 when another majestic palace, Dolmabahçe Palace, took its place. Made into a museum in 1924, it houses weapons from the Ottoman Empire, manuscripts, books, religious artifacts, and imperial remains.

7 Grand Bazaar

Dating back to the 15th century, this unique marketplace is renowned all over the world. The bustling Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest bazaars in Istanbul and an experience you should not miss. This ancient covered labyrinth of alleys encompasses somewhere between 3600-5000 shops selling spices, jewelry, iconic colored glass lamps, hand-woven carpets, and other Middle Eastern wares. It’s a great place to find unique souvenirs and try a sample of delicious Turkish Delight. Prices are negotiable and sellers expect guests to barter.

Don’t miss the shop where you can dress in traditional Turkish costume and get a photo for only $6!

6 Blue Mosque

Built more than 400 years ago, the magnificent Blue Mosque is the best-known active place of prayer in Istanbul. It is known as the Blue Mosque due to the hand-painted blue tiles surrounding the walls of the interior. The Ottoman imperial mosque contains the tomb of Ruler Ahmed I. The UNESCO mosque features five main domes as well as six minarets.

Note that you must be covered properly, including a head covering for women to go into the mosque and will need to remove your shoes.

5 Galata Tower

The Galata Tower is an old Genoese 9-story tower in the Galata part of the historic Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. Built in the Romanesque style, it was built as a watchtower at the highest point of the (lost) Walls of Galata and was for centuries the highest structure in Constantinople.

You can climb the nine stories of this seaside watchtower to get a nice panoramic view of the Bosporus Sea, but unless you get there when it opens in the morning (which we did not), you’ll be waiting in a line winding around the tower in the blazing sun for hours (which we did not).

4 Basilica Cistern

I am a huge fan of Dan Brown’s books, so I couldn’t wait to go to the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul where a part of his book, Inferno, was filmed. I was not disappointed!

Built in the 6th century, the Turkish Basilica Cistern is one of the largest ancient cisterns, capable of holding almost 80,000 cubic meters of water. the impressive complex hosts the largest of a network made of several hundred ancient cisterns (built to catch and keep rainwater) located underneath the city After two thousand years of many wars and earthquakes, the chamber still stands strong as proof of the excellent engineering skills of the Byzantine Empire and the solutions it introduced to the world.

The recent 5-year extensive renovation has introduced an almost spiritual quality to the reservoir by creating an ongoing light show that alters views and reveals hidden details and architectural delights like the upside-down mythological Medusa head and 300 carved marble columns.

3 Hagia Sophia

The most visited attraction in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia (aka the Church of the Holy Wisdom) receives approximately 3.7 million visitors per year. This historic gem is located in the heart of Sultanahmet (old town) and was completed in 537 A.D.

Hagia Sophia stands despite the turbulent past the city has endured. It was first an Eastern Orthodox Church – the greatest and largest church in Christendom – until the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453 with the addition of minarets and the removal of several Christian icons. It then it became a mosque until 1935, then a museum, and finally converted into a mosque again in 2020. It is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. I loved how the color changed around sunset.

Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are both located in Sultanahmet Square where you can also find the Milion Pillar, the last remaining column of a once intricately designed arched structure from 4 AD in the Byzantine era.

2 Balat

Balat just might be my favorite section of Istanbul!  This UNESCO World Heritage gem is a historic bohemian neighborhood brimming with Byzantine and Ottoman mansions, vibrantly colored sloping wooden townhouses, and hilly cobbled streets lined with hip cafés, boutique shops, and cutting-edge galleries. Wandering around the spectacular streets is a feast for your eyes, and a must-do if you’re visiting Istanbul!

1 Rooftops Views

Our favorite thing to do in my 3 days in Istanbul was exploring the rooftops! Who doesn’t want to sip on a Turkish tea (chai) or coffee with a view of the Bosphorus? We ate one lunch on a rooftop and also enjoyed a dinner with sunset at another.

The scene is so spectacular that many movies and TV series have featured this city.

I was able to realize one of my Bucket List experiences – a professional flying dress photoshoot on the rooftop! It was quite tricky climbing steps and ladders in the outrageous pink ruffled dress with the long train, but I was beyond pleased with the results!

 

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More Things to Do in Istanbul

We only had 3 days in Istanbul, and while we saw most of the iconic sights, here are some other places we wanted to visit, but ran out of time:

• Ortakoy
• Spice Market
• Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus
• Chora Church

Most photos by Kary Kern.

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.

She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.

Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.