Istanbul in One Day: A 24 Hour Istanbul Itinerary - Backpack Adventures (2023)

FAQs

Can you do Istanbul in 1 day? ›

About Istanbul

Know that if you plan to spend just one day there, you certainly won't get to see everything, but you will be able to easily see most of the biggest sites in the Old City, all of which are within short walking distance of each other.

Istanbul demands a minimum of two days, but we'd suggest at least four days to do it justice. Even with a week, you'd find yourself running out of time trying to tackle everything the city has to offer.

The short answer is yes, 3 days is sufficient time to get to see the main attractions of Istanbul, though the longer answer is that 72 hours isn't really enough time if you truly want to get to know the Turkish city on a more local level.

The best time to visit Istanbul is mid-spring, in April and May, and also fall, from September to October. During these times the Turkish capital enjoys pleasantly mild weather, with temperatures running from the around 62℉ or 47℃ to 77℉ or 62℃.

From seeing UNESCO World Heritage sites, to learning about archaeology, to making friends with bookstore owners, to boat tours of the Bosphorus and everything in-between, Istanbul is absolutely worth visiting!

Traveling to Istanbul alone is great, but you're going to need to know where to stay! There are a ton of options here for every type of traveler, but if you're satisfied with staying in the center of town where there's always going to be something going on, that's really not a bad decision if you're on your own!

A generous budget of 276 USD per person per day (or 1932 USD/week) is more than enough for Istanbul.

The best ways to get around Istanbul are the buses and trams, which conveniently cover the touristy areas. But remember, buses don't have maps inside and drivers do not announce stops, so you'll need to remain vigilant and watch where you are going.

Shorts are not ever permissible for men or women at the Hagia Sophia. Full length trousers should be worn instead of shorts.

How to plan an itinerary in Istanbul? ›

Visiting Istanbul and going out aimlessly, discovering streets, flavors, and people is what makes it interesting when traveling, however, to adequately discover Istanbul, with a local guide is the guarantee that you won't miss a thing of this magical city.

In the City

In Turkish cities, shorts and T-shirts are acceptable. There is no problem wearing shorts for comfort, except when you visit mosques. As for Turks, most of them will be wearing "smart casual" clothes: sleeved summer dresses or sleeved top and skirt for women, short-sleeved shirt and long trousers for men.

January is the coldest month with daily average highs of just 8.6°C. December is warmer, with average temperatures of 10.8°C, but sees the highest levels of rainfall, with an average of 85mm.

Spring (March through mid-June) is prime because the weather is moderate throughout the country and the days are long. April can be rainy. This is high season for Istanbul and Cappadocia, with many boutique hotels fully booked, and prices at their highest.

The cheapest time is the winter, from December to February, but the cold weather is less inviting. Best Time for Sightseeing: During the summer months of June, July, and August, the crowds around the sights in the old city can be overwhelming – and made worse by the hot and sticky weather.

While both cities offer wonderful hospitality, Istanbul is more modern and comfortable. The new airport in Istanbul is very convenient and that takes a lot of hassle away from a visit. Istanbul is a walkable city while Cairo traffic makes walking “not recommended”.

Istanbul, that offers unique historical and cultural riches together has hosted many different civilizations with its geography spread over two continents. This unique city which is admired by its charming nature and the attractive atmosphere is also the symbol of dynamic and modern city life.

Average Daily Costs

While meal prices in Turkey can vary, the average cost of food in Turkey is TRY317 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Turkey should cost around TRY127 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner.

Is Covid test required to enter Istanbul? ›

COVID test is not required when arriving in Turkey.

Istanbul is, [laughs] I would say is a walking city but it's a sprawling city, and it has so many layers to it and so many hills.

Yes, Istanbul is safe for American tourists. But more recently, the US Travel Advisory has recommended American visitors to be extra cautious due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions.

Exercise increased caution when traveling to Turkey due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

U.S. citizens do typically need an e-visa to enter Turkiye, but cruise ship passengers are permitted to come ashore without a visa for day visits by special arrangements.

“Istanbul bridges the divide between Europe and Asia, so it just takes a quick walk to traverse between the city's metropolitan city center and its historic district.

Arnavutköy is located between Kuruçeşme and Bebek on the European shore of the Bosphorus. It is famous for its historical wooden mansions overlooking the water. If you enjoy seafood, this is the place for you! There are plenty of fish restaurants along the coast of Arnavutköy.

Reserve a ride with Uber in advance in Istanbul

Complete your plans today by reserving a ride with Uber in Istanbul. Request a ride up to 30 days in advance, at any time and on any day of the year.

What is closed in Istanbul on Sunday? ›

Yes, the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays, as well as on the first day of religious holidays. What are the Opening Hours of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul? The Grand Bazaar is open every day from 8:30 to 19:00, except Sundays and the first day of religious holidays.

Istanbul is one of the most important tourist spots not only in Turkey but also in the world. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist-oriented industries in the city.

While visiting a mosque in Istanbul, women need to cover their heads, shoulders, knees .. and oh, toes can show. Chest and legs should be covered. You can carry your own scarf to cover your head but please note scarves are provided at the entrance of every mosque.

Wear a long dress or long pants – Legs must be covered in order to enter the Blue Mosque. Cover your shoulders – No itty-bitty spaghetti straps, tube tops, or tank tops. Women must cover their shoulders while in the Blue Mosque.

All visitors, Muslims and non-Muslims are allowed to enter Hagia Sophia Mosque. Visitors should remove their shoes before stepping onto the mosque's carpets.

It is definitely worth visiting the Galata Tower as the views of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus along with the landscape of Istanbul is unmatchable!

Istanbul Airport is located northwest of the city in the Arnavutköy district. The distance (far) from Istanbul Airport (ist airport) to the center of Istanbul city is 54 kilometers. If you get a private taxi, it takes 45 minutes to get to the center of Istanbul.

You don't have to make reservations for every restaurant, especially in week days. Even in weekend you can find a table in restaurants unless they are high-end, trendy venues with live shows etc.

But even if you're an expert, having a tour guide can bring so much more knowledge to enrich your experience. No matter how experienced you are as a traveler, it's the tour guide who can tell you the interesting facts and not-on-Google-secrets about a place.

Witness the beauty of Istanbul with a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Audio commentary in 8 languages allows you to learn about popular attractions. Hop on an open-top bus and enjoy the sightseeing experience in the city of Istanbul. You can hop on and off at any stop and visit popular attractions of Istanbul hassle-free.

Is it rude not to tip Istanbul? ›

It is customary to tip a restaurant in Istanbul if the tip is not already included in the bill. It can be 10% of the total bill. You can leave a tip in the bill book.

Can I stay with my girlfriend in a hotel in Istanbul? Yes, it is forbidden to ask if you are married or not in Turkey. Of course you can share the room with your loved one!

Yes, it is safe to cook with tap water. The tap water in Istanbul is generally very clean, even good enough to drink straight from the tap. When you cook with tap water, you are only ingesting a tiny amount of tap water into your body in the worst-case scenario.

Do wear modest loose fitting clothing, meaning no shorts for males or females. Do cover your head and no bare shoulders if you are female. Don't visit a mosque on a Friday, the Muslim day for worship. Don't talk or laugh loudly in a mosque.

If you just want to see the attractions of Istanbul, a day or two should enough! If you like having a full itinerary, three days in Istanbul is more than plenty. However, if you are a more leisurely visitor, allow yourself extra time to enjoy all that the complicated city has to offer.

Dry-brining your turkey

By simply seasoning the raw turkey all over with salt up to two days before roasting, you'll end up with a much juicier roast. A whole bird can be seasoned two days before, a crown up to a day before and a boneless turkey breast should be seasoned no earlier than the night before.

The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas. You can get local currency from banks and exchange bureaus, known as DOVIZ in Turkish. As of 13 October 2022, Turkish banks will no longer accept the old style £20 and £50 sterling banknotes.

A generous budget of 276 USD per person per day (or 1932 USD/week) is more than enough for Istanbul.

What clothes to wear in Istanbul in October? ›

In spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November) you may encounter rain, and the air may be cool or even chilly at night, but comfortable during the day; bring a warm jacket or a sweater and windbreaker.

Turkey has a mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. The hottest month of the year is July with an average daily maximum of 35 C and an average low of 25 C. The coolest month of the year is January with an average daily maximum of 14 C and an average low of 5 C.

April, May, September and October are pleasantly warm, with temperatures of 20°C to 30°C, so are typically the best times to visit Turkey's grand array of ancient sites. The summer months (June through to September) are very hot, with temperatures reaching the mid-thirties on the south coast.

Turkiye experiences extreme climates and can thus be extremely cold during winters and can got excessively hot during peak summers. Thus, end of summer, spring and Autumn have the best climate to visit Turkey that allow you to freely roam without the weather becoming a hurdle.

How long you visit will of course depend on your schedule, but we think 2 days in Istanbul will give you enough time to see the main highlights. You could do this either as a weekend in Istanbul, or as the start of a longer trip, such as that outlined in our 2-week Turkey itinerary.

Recommended minimum layover duration is 7 hours for travelers whose flights are connected and have their boarding pass with them. We can accommodate business travelers with shorter layover duration. To be on safe side, you may consider a tour when you will have plus 8 hour layover in Istanbul.

How much spending money would I need per day in Istanbul? ›

A generous budget of 276 USD per person per day (or 1932 USD/week) is more than enough for Istanbul.

First time visitors usually prefer old town to be near sights. If you're interested in nightlife than sightseeing, you may prefer Taksim area to be near clubs, bars etc. Rail transport available btw old town and Taksim with connection that takes around 20-30 min. 2.