Istanbul – Short Travel Guide

The following information is shared by an anonymous member in Facebook group and shared here for information purposes.

Following information shall be used as a guideline and you are advised to research more yourself to get up to date information based on your particular preferences.

Istanbul itinerary

Day 1

1. start with paying tribute to Eyup Sultan (Hazrat Abu Eyup Ansari R.A Mosque and Tomb). 
2. Pierre Loti, a hill near tomb with view of Istanbul, chairlift service available.
3. try to find Sahabas graves nearby if interested.
4. Relatively cheap and better food than Sultan Ahmet.

1. Take taxi to Sultan Fatih mosque and Tomb. 
2. You can do lunch around. As its mostly residential and non Tourist area so food would be authentic and cheaper.

1. Take taxi to Sulemaniye Mosque (and Tomb of great Sultan Suleman). You can have a beautiful view of Istanbul from Terrace of the mosque.
2. If still not tired take a 1 km walk to Grand bazar (or do it on a shopping day) or take taxi (hard to find there)
3. go hotel with Tram (from çemberlitaş station). Rest there.
4. In the evening take ferry from eminonu to Uskudar and enjoy the easter bank of bosphorus and have dinner.

Day 2

1. Visit Sultan Ahmet region all by foot and tram.
2. Topkapi Palace
3. Basilica Cistern.

You must be tired after these two, if get chance pray Zohar at Ayasofya or Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet). During Esha and Fajar Aya sofya is less crowded.

1. Ayasofya
2. Sultan Ahmet Blue Mosque

You can do Esal Sawab to Sultan Abdulhamit 2 (last Caliph of ummah) tomb if you like.

Day 3

1. Take Taxi to Dolmabahche palace.
2. If you like to visit more palaces you can visit (Cigran Sarayi, Yildiz Sarayi) you may read about them to develop interest.
3. MID DAY REST
4. Galata Tower, accessible by Tram and walk depending upon from where you go.
5. Istiklal Street (it’s a shopping street new Galata Tower)

Day 4

Bosphorus day.

1. Take ferry from Eminonu which goes to Arnavutkoy. You can either sit for 2 hours and go until the last stop and come back and getoff at Ortakoy or you directly first get off at Ortakoy. Eat Kumpir. Pray in Mecidiye Masjid.
2. Take ferry again to Kabatas station at Besiktas. Enjoy the best baklava at Gulluoglu.
3. Take tram back to hotel.

Evening just relax anywhere.

Day 5

Shopping and do the missed places.

Tip:

Try to find hotel near Eminonu OR Sirkeci (Yasmak Sultan Hotel is good for couples) its near to sirkeci tram and subway station and you can walk to eminonu (ferry stations, buses etc) take any hotel within 200 m distance either from Sirkeci, or Gulhane or Eminonu or Sultan Ahmet (sura Hagia Sophia hotel is best choice there) tram station. 

Do check google map and trace all these locations and try to understand the plan accordingly

From Sirkeci you can go any where in Istanbul with public transport. People suggest Taksim square but its far and consumes alot of time. 

Always try to convince taxi drivers to charge according to meter. Not possible in Sultan Ahmet region.

If you book from booking .com do all the dealings through booking.com don’t commit anything privately(WhatsApp etc.)to hotel personals. My hotel cancelled my booking unofficially a night before and booking.com found me another hotel (with a bit effort i succeed in getting 5 star hotel).

–credit Anonymous member