Best Apr · May · Sep · Oct ~A$100/day 5 days is about right

Istanbul

Two continents, one city, and the ferry between them costs less than a coffee. Byzantine mosaics, Ottoman domes, and a breakfast that takes two hours.

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Ideal stay

5 days

Typical spend

~A$100/day

Rough mid-range estimate

Landmarks

6 listed

Things to do

Things to do in Istanbul

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Where to stay

Where to stay in Istanbul

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If you only have

Istanbul in a day, two days, three

Day 1

·Basilica Cistern

·Blue Mosque· UNESCO

·Galata Tower

Guide for day 1 →

Day 2

·Grand Bazaar

·Hagia Sophia· UNESCO

·Topkapı Palace· UNESCO

Guide for day 2 →

Landmarks

Landmarks in Istanbul

Basilica Cistern

Blue Mosque

Galata Tower

Grand Bazaar

Hagia Sophia

Topkapı Palace

Names and UNESCO status only. Ticks are yours and stay on this device.

Getting in

From the airport

When to go

When to go to Istanbul: Apr or May or Sep or Oct

Guides about here

Itineraries

Three days in Istanbul, and the ticket the museum pass does not cover

Three days in Istanbul across both continents, with the €25 Hagia Sophia ticket the Museum Pass excludes and the metro that reaches the airport.

Yasmine Belkacem · 2 Sep 2026

Itineraries

Turkey in 10 days, and the three mornings you need in Cappadocia

Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Aegean in 10 days. Why one balloon morning is a coin flip, and how many nights it actually takes to fly.

Yasmine Belkacem · 2 Sep 2026

Where to stay

Where to stay in Istanbul, both sides of the water

Sultanahmet is not the trap everyone claims for a short trip. Which Istanbul area suits your stay, the new airport metro, and where there is no rail.

Yasmine Belkacem · 1 Sep 2026

When to go

The best time to visit Turkey, decided by the thing you came for

The best time to visit Turkey by region, with the month-by-month odds that a Cappadocia balloon actually flies and the shoulder seasons that cost least.

Yasmine Belkacem · 4 Sep 2026