This is the ultimate 1 day in Istanbul itinerary with everything you must see in your short time in this cool city. Istanbul is not only Turkey’s largest city, but also Europe’s largest, therefore, you won’t see it all, but with this itinerary, you will get to see some of the best bits the city has to offer. Your day in Istanbul will be jam-packed with historic sites, cruises, amazing views, cultural experiences, and, of course, lots of delicious food.
Istanbul is one of my favourite cities in the world, I spent one month here and fell for its charming and somewhat chaotic ways. As soon as you step foot in Istanbul, you will be engulfed in noises of people shouting and cars beeping. Cats are on every corner, street vendors selling simit and roasted chestnuts, the melodic call of prayer, and the constant sound of ferry horns across the Bosphorus. This is all against a backdrop of mosques from the Byzantine period standing beside contemporary buildings, Ottoman style wooden houses tucked next to lively modern streets. This is a special kind of sensory overload.
With just 24 hours in Istanbul you can experience so much! My itinerary is doable, fun and allows you to immerse yourself in the many different sides the city has to offer.
Please note some of my links are affiliate links, if you purchase via the link I might make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
1 Day In Istanbul Quick Tips
- Traffic is heavy in Istanbul. Skip the taxis; walk or take the metro instead!
- Spending the night? Magnaura Palace is located in Sultanahmet, where this itinerary begins and ends. Some of Istanbul’s best historic sites are located here. The hotel offers spacious rooms with a classic Turkish decor.
- Pack a scarf/shawl to use when entering mosques.
1 Day In Istanbul Itinerary
Morning – Sultanahmet
Breakfast
Option A: Turkish Breakfast
Kick the day off with fuel to last you your full 24 hours in Istanbul. A Turkish breakfast is a big spread, consisting of an assortment of cheese, olives, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam, honey, fruit, sausage, and Turkish tea. It’s so delicious and every place does it a little different.
I recommend Old House Restaurant Terrace, enjoy your breakfast on a rooftop terrace overlooking the historical side of Istanbul. Prices are also reasonable for the location.
Option B: Simit + Turkish Coffee
If you don’t fancy a sit down hearty breakfast or you just want something fast, another traditional breakfast, albeit much smaller, is the simit. A simit is a circular bread, it’s similar to a bagel but crisper on the outside and slightly sweet. There are many street vendors on Sultanahmet Square selling them for a good price. Washed down with a Turkish coffee it’s the perfect quick start to your day.
Coffee No.4 serves both Turkish style and regular coffee; the pistachio Turkish coffee is soo good!
RELATED: 30 Practical Tips For Travelling To Istanbul
Hagia Sofia + Blue Mosque (1 hour 30 minutes)
After fuelling up we are off to the first location, Sultanahmet Square. This historical square is bookended by two stunning and significant mosques, Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. The sense of peace and serenity you feel in a mosque is an out of this world. I recommend that you visit both Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque as they are very different to one another. However if you can only visit one I suggest the Blue Mosque due to its unique and intricate blue tiles.
Make sure to plan your visit around prayer times as the mosque closes for tourists for a few minutes with prayers are being held. You also need to to dress modestly, which mean covering your knees, shoulders and hair.
Basilica Cistern (40 minutes)
The Basilica Cistern is an ancient underground water reservoir that used to supply the city’s main palace. It’s huge and walking through it is pretty cool. The whole place is dimly lit and super quiet except for the sound of water dripping, which makes for a really unique atmosphere.
Movie fans might recognise it from films like Inferno and the James Bond movie From Russia With Love.
Many tours combine Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern. If you don’t want to join a tour I recommend skip the line tickets. I waited 25 minutes in the heat just to get in, which wasn’t fun.
RELATED: 3 Days In Istanbul Itinerary
Grand Bazaar (1 hour 30 minutes)
The Grand Bazaar is seriously mind blowing, it has been around since the 1400s, and it’s one of the biggest and oldest markets in the world. With 4,000 shops down 61 winding alleys, it can be a little overwhelming at first. Stalls mostly sell Turkish rugs, jewellery, spices, and pottery. Oh, and a few designer knock offs dupes.
Aside from haggling the best designer bag, the highlight of the Grand Bazaar is the Turkish sweets and coffee! I actually got hooked on Turkish delight while I was there! The shop owners are super friendly and always let you try samples. You have to spend time wandering the alleys of the Grand Bazaar during your 1 day in Istanbul itinerary, it’s one of the coolest spots in the city.
You won’t find much lunch food at the Grand Bazaar, the Last Ottoman is a 15 minute walk away and serves delicious Turkish food, their hummus is a must try.
RELATED: 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary
Afternoon
Bosporus River Cruise (2.5 hours)
The Bosphorus Strait runs between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. Its banks are lined with fishermen, historical buildings and cafes. When you are in Istanbul for 24 hours you have to cross to the Asian side, the best way to do this is by hopping onboard a cruise. Normally, I’d suggest taking a passenger ferry; however due to limited time, a cruise allows you to see much more.
Pass by iconic buildings like Galata Tower, the Dolmabahçe Palace, Bosphorus bridges and Rumeli Fortress as you cross to the Asian side, then stop in Kanlica, the greenest point of the Asian side where you will try local kanlica yogurt. The cruise has a guide who will share interesting information on the sites you are seeing.
When the cruise is finished I recommend trying a balik ekmek (fish sandwhich), the fish is so fresh and its served in a baguette with fresh vegetables. Yum!
Taksim Square + IstikIal Avenue (1 hour 30 mins)
After the cruise I suggest you take the metro to Taksim Square, this wy you can walk downhill to Galata Tower, which is where we will go for sunset.
Takisim Square is considered the modern heart of Istanbul. It’s a large grand square surrounded by hotels, restaurants, shops and Taksim Mosque. From here walk down IstikIal Avenue, a 1.4 km lively street lined with shops, cafes, street musicians and the infamous Turkish ice cream vendors.
Check out Atlas Passage, Flower Passage and Hazzopulo Passage. These are historic covered arcades with rows of cafes and shops, they are lots of fun to wander down and are perfect for finding souvenirs.
Don’t forget to try on some baklava, the sweet and sticky pastries stuffed with chopped pistachios.
Hafız Mustafa 1864 Pera is a historic bakery serving up delicious traditional Turkish desserts. They also have large souvenir boxes that you can take home, so you can be reminded of your 1 day in Istanbul when you are at home.
Evening
Sunset Galata Tower (30 minutes)
Legend has it if you climb Galata Tower with your partner you will be destined to get married. Well, there’s only one way to find out I guess!
Standing in Beyoglu is the towering Galata Tower. Climb its 146 steps to the observation deck for sprawling views of Istanbul’s domes, minarets and strait. It’s one of the best places for sunset in Istanbul, watching the sunset behind Hagia Sofia is the perfect way to set the tone for the evening.
San Sebastian Cheesecake (40 minutes)
You’ve climbed 146 steps, now it’s time for a treat! San Sebastian is a rich slice of creamy cheesecake smothered in a thick chocolate sauce. Needless to say it’s insanely delicious and a must try during your 24 hours in Istanbul.
The only way to top the experience is by eating one of these bad boys with views of Galata Tower.
The cheesecake in the photo is from Sirinfirin Bakery. If you sit outside, you will be treated to views of the tower
RELATED: 13 Fun Things To Do In Skopje
Whirling Dervishes Show
We are ending this 1 day in Istanbul itinerary on a “dizzying” high. The Mevlevi Sema is a traditional Sufi ceremony where performers (called dervishes) spin in white robes and tall hats while Sufi music plays. It represents the spiritual journey to connect with God through movement and meditation.
When I went, it was a really powerful experience. Everyone had to be completely quiet and couldn’t take photos since it’s a religious ceremony. You could really feel how meaningful it was to everyone there. I saw it at the HodjaPasha Culture Center, which is actually a converted 550-year-old Turkish bath house.
RELATED: 26 Top Things To Do For Free In Madrid
Thank you for reading this 1 day in Istanbul itinerary, I hope it helps you plan an unforgettable trip 🙂 Keep reading for FAQs!
24 Hours In Istanbul FAQ
Istanbul is the largest city in Europe, don’t expect to see it all in 1 day. However, you can still see a lot and experience the culture with careful planning.
The sweet spot is 5 – 7 days to see all the top sites, you will also have time to explore neighbourhoods outside of the city centre.
It takes approximately 90 minutes to get from Istanbul airport to the city centre, this leaves you with just 4 hours to sightsee and board your flight. For 7 hours I advise enjoying Istanbul Airport as it’s not enough time to comfortably experience the city.
