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How long have you got? Three, five or seven days in Istanbul
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The city of Istanbul is a true melting pot. Here, at this Turkish trading post, east meets west to create a unique, pulsating culture.
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Three days in IstanbulDay one Start your exploration in Taksim Square. This is the heart of modern Istanbul and provides a great starting point to your visit. See the Republic Monument in the middle of the square before heading along Istiklal Avenue, a pedestrian thoroughfare running through Beyoglu. Take photos of the elegant Ottoman-era architecture and spot Genoese buildings around the Galata Tower where the observation deck commands stunning views over the Bosphorus. Have lunch at Hacibaba (kebabs, naturally) before walking back along Istiklal, visiting boutiques (try Eternal Child for one-of-a-kind knits) and popping into Mandabatmaz for a strong Turkish coffee. Burn off the caffeine with a stroll back to Sisli and your hotel, the thoroughly modern Hilton Istanbul Bomonti.
Day two Take the bright red tram that trundles along Istiklal, before getting off at Tünel station and boarding the world’s second-oldest underground railway. The Tünel, which dates back to 1875, takes just 90 seconds to descend to Karaköy at sea level. From here, walk across the Galata Bridge, where you’ll see the locals reeling in their fishing lines, to reach Sultanahmet and its big-hitting sights. Visit the opulent Topkapi Palace, where the Ottoman Sultan once lived with his harem, the hulking Hagia Sophia, with its mighty dome, and the stunning Blue Mosque, named for its blue-tiled interior, and its six minarets that pierce the sky. Dinner is at Giritli, a fish restaurant with a fixed-price menu, where the glasses of the local beer are never empty.
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Day three Time to hit the shops. Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is justifiably world-famous, stretching over some 61 covered streets and playing host to more than 3,000 shops. This is the place to buy a traditional carpet, modern clothing or gold jewellery – and to perfect the art of haggling, of course.
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Five days in IstanbulDay four Head over the Bosphorus to the Asian side of the city. Although there’s a shiny new underground railway (the world’s deepest), take a ferry across instead to soak up the atmosphere of one of the few cities to span two continents. Here, head to Kadikoy, one of the oldest districts this side of the river and home to Istanbul’s best market. Pick up a lahmacun (a lamb-topped flatbread) or choose one of the numerous seafood restaurants before wandering through this charmingly hectic area of hipster shops and bars, the epicentre of which is Kadife Sokak, aka Bar Street. Arkaoda is the pick of the bunch here, with intimate indie gigs and a cosy back garden.
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Day five Recuperate the next day with a hammam at Cemberlitas Hamami, 400-year-old traditional baths where you can be scrubbed and rubbed until you gleam. After that you’ll be ready for 360 Istanbul, one of the many rooftop bars that have blossomed over the city in recent years, which is home to all-encompassing views and a great G&T.
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Seven days in IstanbulDay six With the luxury of a week, you can get back out on the water with a full-day cruise with Istanbul Day Cruises. You’ll be picked up from the hotel and taken on a laidback cruise along the Bosphorus to the Black Sea, sailing under soaring bridges and visiting the Maiden’s Tower, marooned on a small rock some 200 metres off the coast. Return to the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti and its glamorous eforea spa, to swim outdoors and indulge in a traditional Turkish bath.
Day seven Return to the river’s edge the following day, to sip coffee in Ortaköy, where a calm atmosphere prevails and you can watch the boats coming and going past the beautiful Ortaköy Mosque. Enjoy your last supper at the House Café, feasting on the city’s best steak on the expansive terrace as the lights of Asia twinkle from across the water.
