Istanbul, earlier Constantinople has been a bridge between East & the West and has been the epicenter of many civilizations & powerful empires since time immemorial. This is evident from the historical buildings scattered around every corner of the city with a unique story to tell, there is an indelible mark of all the empires and their cultures making Istanbul one of the culturally diverse cities in the world.
As a traveller, I noticed the contrasts in the typography with rolling hills of Istanbul on one side and the famous Bosporous strait on another which connects Black Sea & Marmara sea. The European side of Istanbul is bustling with crowds in the Sultanahmet area with bazaars heavy with scents of exotic spices , its cultural treasures such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque or the many restaurants offering authentic Turkish food as this area is visited by hordes of tourists. But as we crossed to the Asian side, we were greeted by art galleries , museums , hip cafes & bars catering to the modern sensibilities of the local populace.
Although 3 days are not enough but if you are not tight schedule, like we were, the below itinerary can help you to explore Istanbul in its totality and not just the touristy part
Day 1 : Beautiful night Bosphorous cruise, Galata Tower, Karakoy
After reaching your hotel, go for a stroll in the colourful streets of Balat ,where we chose to stay instead of the Sultanahamet area. Go out for coffee at one of the many cute cafes in the neighbourhood, strike a conversation with the friendly locals, and observe the daily routine of local people.
In the evening opt for the sunset bosphorous cruise from one of the many options available online. We booked through the Airbnb – link here and it was a wonderful experience . The boat was new and in great condition. It was a small crowd, so we were able to connect to everyone on board & even went for dinner with together. It was a delightful 2-hour cruise, and we witnessed a spectacular sunset and a totally different view of Istanbul
Galata Tower : You will get down at Karakoy pier and from here you can go to the Galata tower , which was built in 500 A.D. as watchtower to help defend the city. The area around Galata Tower is very lively , full of restaurants, bars & shops. I would advise to walk a little further to Kilic Ali Pasa Medcidi Street in Karakoy for lot more options of food.
Day 2 : Historical Sightseeing – Hagia Sophia , Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace , Bascilia Cistern & Grand Bazaar
We kept aside 1 whole day to cover the above important and must-see historical sights. We planned the day as below keeping in mind the opening & closing hours of these places. All the monuments are nearby – either at walking distance or via tram.
- Start your day with a visit to Topkapi Palace which opens at 9am and will easily take 3 hours to cover the palace. Do not forget to take the tickets online (on Viator or getyourguide) as the queues can get invariable long
- Go for quick lunch followed by visit to Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque which are right opposite to each other. There is a huge crowd, but it moves fast as both the mosques are quite big and can handle hundreds of people at a time.
- Thereafter you can go to Basilica Cistern , which I found to be equally spooky & magnificent . The city of Istanbul has many underground cisterns all over the city which were used to store water . Basilica Cistern is even more famous for the two inverted Medusa heads carved into the pillars.
- Head to the Grand Bazaar, the oldest shopping mall of the world but make sure you reach there by 6pm as it closes by 730-740 pm. You can pick up souvenirs , ceramics, linen, bags – basically shop till you drop.
Day 2 can get a little hectic but saves a lot more time in the overall itinerary.
Day3 :Asian Side of Istanbul- Kadikoy Walking Tour
Dedicate one day to explore the Asian side of Istanbul which most of the tourists tend to skip. We opted for a walking tour via Airbnb (link here) and it was really insightful as our host, a well-travelled history teacher, took us to many local hotspots providing so many insights into the customs and history of this area.
One of my favourites was the very charming Kuzguncuk neighbourhood, which was previously home to Jews, Armenians, Greeks, and Turks for many years and still retains the original character. I would have preferred another whole day to explore Kuzguncuk.
The tour lasts for 4-5 hours and you will be dropped at Karakoy pier where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset before getting on the ferry.
Wear comfortable shoes & carry a water bottle as there will be a lot of walking.
Spend rest of the evening near the Galata Tower or Balat at one of the many beautiful restaurants till late night as this will be the last day of your trip:)
Conclusion
By the end of 3 days we have fallen irrevocably in love with the vibrancy of the city & did not want to leave. It is a city you can easily spend several months and yet discover a new facet every time. Happy Traveling !
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