Istanbul has been on my bucket list for quite some time. I finally got the chance to visit this city. It met all my expectations. It was a chaotic (in a good way), vibrant and beautiful city with a mix of old and new. It still has its flaws, but that's true for all places.
I had a blast exploring Istanbul, this guide can help you plan your trip.
Travel Guide Budget and Itinerary for Istanbul
Istanbul is a centuries old city that has undergone great change throughout its lifetime. It's a bustling and booming city with plenty to do and see. You can see vestiges of its varied past through the mosques, bazaars, random ruins and museums. It's a huge city with various neighborhoods that will take time to explore and discover. I spent more than a week here and it was still not enough. I was only able to see the highlights.
Getting a Visa
Getting a Turkish tourist visa is straightforward. You can send in your application online and book an appointment for the interview. I got both a sticker visa and e-visa during my trip to Europe.
Here's a detailed guide: how to get a Turkey tourist visa for Filipinos
Things to Do and Places to See
Istanbul has plenty of historic and cultural attractions that will keep you busy for days. There are many monuments, museums, mosques and all sorts of attractions that can easily fill your itinerary. Here are some of the places to see and things to do when you are making a budget and itinerary for Istanbul.
Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia or Aya Sofya was originally a church that Emperor Justinian had built. However, after the Ottomans took Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque. The mosque is full of history, you'll see the different influences on the frescoes and interior of the Hagia Sophia. This isn't just a museum, people also come here to pray as it is a working mosque.
How to go: The nearest tram station is Sultanahment. From there, you could easily walk to the Hagia Sophia.
Entrance: Free
Topkapi Palace
The Ottoman Empire's sultans lived in and ruled from the Topkapi Palace. Mehmet the Conqueror had the palace built back in the 15th century. This huge complex showcases the affluence of the Ottoman Empire. You'll see beautiful Islamic art, elaborate rooms, tilework, courtyards and views of the city. The palace is huge and may take 2-4 hours to explore but that depends on your pace. The harem is a separate museum and ticket.
Blue Mosque
Grand Bazaar
How to go: The nearest tram stop is Beyazit. You can walk to the bazaar from here. There are signs pointing you towards one of the entrances.
Suleymaniye Mosque
How to go: The nearest subway station is Vezneciler. The mosque is within walking distance from the station.
Spice Bazaar
The Spice Bazaar draws huge crowds of both locals and tourists. Buy Turkish delight, spices, some nuts, dried fruits and others while you're here.
How to go: The nearest tram stop is Eminonu. You can walk to the bazaar from the station, it's not far.
Fatih Mosque
Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror had this stunning mosque built. During his time, the Ottomans were able to take Constantinople and end the rule of the Byzantines. The mosque underwent a reconstruction because of the damage inflicted by an earthquake in the 18th century. Like many of the grand mosques in the city built by sultans, the exterior and interior of Fatih Mosque is, simply put, beautiful. Many locals and visitors come here to pray.
How to go: Alight at either Emniyet-Fatih or Vezneciler subway station. Either station is still quite far from the mosque but is within walking distance.
Entrance fee: Free
Galata Tower
The Galata Tower stands 52m high and is one of the most recognizable structures in Istanbul's cityscape. The tower has an observation deck and restaurant that provides visitors with overlooking views of the city. The walkway along the Galata Bridge provides you with great views of the city. You can also take pictures from either Eminonu or Karakoy.
Museum of Innocence
Dolmabahce Palace
Taksim
Taksim is one of the most famous parts of Istanbul. This area is full of food kiosks, fast food chains, restaurants, dessert places, shops, major outlet stores, and hotels. You can also find beautiful architecture when you explore the commercial district and the nearby residential area.
How to go: The nearest sbuway station is Taksim.
Balat
Balat is an interesting and colorful neighborhood with plenty of quaint shops, roadside cafes and restaurants. The colorful buildings are picture perfect. I liked walking along the district's narrow streets. Balat is a good place to hang out in after visiting some of the city's main attractions.
How to go: You can alight at the Balat or Fener tram stations and just walk to the neighborhood.
Eat!
Istanbul is a foodie destination. You can eat all sorts of Turkish food such as the usuals kebaps, doners, baklava, Turkish delight, kunefe and other regional specific dishes. You can also find all sorts of cuisine during your stay. I have a sweet tooth, so I think I ate one too many baklavas and Turkish delights.
Other places you might want to visit include:
- Istanbul Archaeology Museum
- Hippodrome
- Basilica Cister
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
- Rüstem Paşa Mosque
- Yedikule Fortress
Tours
It's possible to explore Istanbul on your own, but you might want to consider these hassle-free tours so you don't have to plan your own day:
- Bosphorous Cruise: This tour will take you on a cruise of the Bosphorous. You'll get to see the beautiful cityscape of Istanbul while relaxing on a boat.
- Bosphorous Strait Afternoon Cruise: This is a longer half-day cruise that includes some snacks. Get to see some of the city's highlights while you relax and unwind.
- Istanbul Classics Tour: See some of the highlights of the city such as the Grand Bazaar and Hagia Sophia. Your guide will provide you with a background of your destinations.
- Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Full Day Tour: This full day tour takes you to some of the city's main attractions such as the Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, and Blue Mosque. Your guide will provide information about the history of the Byzantine Empire. You'll also have lunch at a Turkish restaurant.
- Bosphorous Strait Dinner Cruise: This dinner cruise includes food, drinks, dances and music. Enjoy the city bathed in light at night and get to see some of Istanbul's highlights while relaxing and unwinding on a boat.
Day Trips
If you have time to spare, you can also doa couple of day trips when planning your budget and itinerary for Istanbul. There are regular buses that go to and from the cities I'll mention below. However, you have to start early so that you won't be arriving too late.
Edirne
Edirne or formerly Adrianople is a city worth visiting if you have a day to spare while in Istanbul. A day isn't enough to really know Edirne, but it's enough to see the highlights. One of the main draws of the city is the UNESCO-listed Selimiye Mosque. It's currently under construction at the time of this writing, but you could catch a glimpse of the beautiful interior. The mosque dates back to the 1570s. The town's center is also a good place to explore.
Link to post: day trip to Edirne
How to go: There are direct buses to Edirne from Istanbul. Fare is around 400 lira per way.
Bursa
How to go: There are direct buses from Istanbul to Bursa. Fare is around 250 lira one way.
*You can check schedules here: https://www.metroturizm.com.tr/en/
*You can also book bus tickets through www.flixbus.com.
Getting around Istanbul
Istanbul is a huge city, I spent more than a week here and have only scratched the surface. It's relatively easy to get around the city because of its extensive public transportation network. There are buses, metro lines, trams, dolmus (mini vans) and ferries that can take you to different parts of the bustling metropolis. I use the metro and tram the most. I don't mind walking a bit to reach my destination, because for me it's easier and less confusing to take the tram and metro than the bus. Get an Istanbul card because you can use it for most modes of transportation within the city. It costs around 50 lira from kiosks. You can just top it up at machines near the stations.
You can view a map of the metro lines here: https://www.metro.istanbul/en/
Where to Stay in Istanbul
You have plenty of accommodation options when you plan your budget and itinerary for Istanbul. I stayed somewhere in Taksim and Sultanahmet during my trip. Sultanahment is a touristy area so restaurants and shops tend to be more expensive in this part of the city.
Budget
Agora Guesthouse: Rates and Availability
Antique Hostel: Rates and Availability
Hotel Tulip House: Rates and Availability
Stay Inn Taksim Hostel: Rates and Availability
Taksim Wooden House Hostel: Rates and Availability
Mid Price
Villa Pera Suite Hotel: Rates and Availability
Paris Garden Hotel Istanbul: Rates and Availability
Atlantis Royal Hotel: Rates and Availability
Zem Hotel: Rates and Availability
Browse for more accommodation options in Agoda:
How to Get to Istanbul
By Air
Istanbul has two airports that most people come and go in, it's Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Airport (SAW). IST is the main airport and is a hub for many international carriers. It's bigger and provides more options when it comes to food, shopping and accommodation. SAW is smaller and mostly functional, it's easier to get in and out of this airport. Pegasus (a low-cost airline) uses SAW for most of its flights. SAW is also located in the Anatolian (Asian) side of the city. However, both airports are far from the city center. Traveling to either one can take around an hour or so (or less) depending on traffic and the location of your accommodation.
For me, the most convenient way to get out of SAW and IST is by taking the Havaist bus. The bus from IST to Aksaray is around 40+ lira. The bus from SAW to Taksim costs around 40+ lira. The prices for the bus vary slightly depending on where you will go from either airport. You also have the option to book a private transfer through your accommodation. This options costs around 20-25 Euros per vehicle.
You can also arrange a private transfer. Book here: Istanbul airport transfer
By Land
There are many bus companies that connect Istanbul to various cities and towns around the country. Renting a car and driving on your own is also an option. Many locals travel by bus because it is affordable and comfortable. There are limited trains that take passengers to selected cities in Turkey. I haven't tried taking the train yet because it's full for several days. You might have to purchase tickets way in advance. It's easy to book a bus ticket at bus company kiosks and agencies in various parts of the city or you can show up at one of the main bus stations to purchase a ticket. It's possible to get a ticket for your onward destination on the day you leave, but there's still a chance you might not be able to buy a ticket so plan accordingly.
You can browse schedules here: metroturizm.com.tr
Budget for Istanbul
A budget of roughly 1200 lira a day covers 1 paid attraction a day and mostly free places to visit, a bed in a hostel dorm, budget meals, and use of public transportation.
I went in and out of Istanbul during my trip around Turkey and to Europe. The city is HUGE and has plenty of things to do and see outside of the highlights. It's a crazy, beautiful metropolis teeming with culture and history.
I got to see the highlights and see some of the city's different neighborhoods. I went to Fatih, Sultanahmet, Taksim, Beyoglu, Balat, Galata, and some other places I don't precisely remember. Istanbul is such a big, sprawling metropolis. I was also working at some point in the morning, so that consumes time I could've spent exploring the city.
***Istanbul was part of a longer trip around Turkey.
You might also want to read my other posts about Turkey:
- Budget and itinerary for Selcuk
- Budget and itinerary for Pamukkale
- Budget and itinerary for Cappadocia
- Budget and itinerary for Bergama
- Budget and itinerary for Bursa
Itinerary for Istanbul
Istanbul is a huge city with plenty to do. Even if you're not visiting attractions, you can enjoy walking around the city's different districts. Try the many restaurants, cafes, dessert spots, and bars in the city. Here's a sample itinerary for your upcoming trip to Istanbul.
*This assumes four full days at least.
Day 1
Hagia Sophia
Topkapi Palace
Blue Mosque
Hippodrome
Day 2
Suleymaniye Mosque
Grand Bazaar
Spice Bazaar
Rustem Pasa Mosque
Day 3
Fatih Mosque
Explore Balat
Day 4
Dolmabahce Palace
Taksim Square
Istiklal Caddesi
Galata Tower and Street
Karakoy
This is just a sample itinerary. You can add or remove places depending on your interests. The city has plenty of museums, if you're into that. There are also plenty of interesting spots in the city to just get lost in and soak in the history, culture and chaos (in a good way). The city itself is picturesque with its distinct architecture. You can visit just a few mosques because once you see the best and biggest ones, they'll start to look similar. There are still places in the city I have yet to explore such as Uskudar and Kadikoy. I have only scratched the surface of this beautiful city. Four days really isn't enough, but it does give you enough time to see the highlights and get a general feel of Istanbul.
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