Planning 1 day in Istanbul? This ultimate 1 day in Istanbul itinerary will show you how to see the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, and more in just 24 hours. I spent one month in Istanbul testing different routes, and this is the most efficient way to experience the city’s highlights without feeling rushed.
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.
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1 Day Instanbul Essentials
Travel Insurance: I recommend True Traveller for EU/UK citizens and World Nomads for anyone outside of here.
Airalo is a super convenient e-sim that you can just download to your phone for mobile data! Prices start from $4.50. Please note that e-sim packages are data only and you will not get an international number.
Best Experiences: Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern combined tour, Bosphorus Cruise, Whirling Dervishes at HodjaPasha Culture Center
Mosques close 5 times daily for prayer, especially around 1pm (30-45 min closure). Visit Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia between 8-11am or 3-6pm. Check exact times here.
Best Way to Get Around Istanbul in One Day
The best way to navigate Istanbul is by metro and tram – the city’s traffic is notoriously bad, and taxis or buses will eat up precious time from your 24 hour itinerary. The public transport system is incredibly efficient and connects all the major sites in this itinerary – you’ll use the T1 tram line most frequently to travel between Sultanahmet and the Grand Bazaar, then again to reach Galata Tower.
Get an Istanbulkart as soon as you arrive, this is a prepaid transport card that’s significantly cheaper than buying single tickets and works on metros, trams, ferries and funiculars throughout the city. You can purchase one from the yellow and blue ticket machines (called biletmatik) at any metro, tram, or ferry station or download the Istanbulkart app. If you’re arriving at Istanbul Airport, head to the -2 level arrivals hall where you’ll find machines, load it with 200-300 Lira (€10-15) which should cover your entire day including the Bosphorus ferry. One card can be used by multiple people; just tap it once, pass it to your travel partner, and they tap again.
For this specific itinerary, you’ll walk most of the morning (Blue Mosque to Hagia Sophia to Basilica Cistern are all within 10 minutes of each other), take the T1 tram to the Grand Bazaar, then use the tram or metro to reach Taksim Square and Galata Tower in the evening. The ferry across the Bosphorus also accepts the Istanbulkart. If you absolutely need a taxi, use the BiTaksi or Uber app instead of hailing one on the street, trust me it avoids all the haggling and overcharging.
Where To Stay In Istanbul
For this itinerary, stay in Fatih (Sultanahmet area), the historic heart of Istanbul where this itinerary begins and ends. You’ll be within a 5-10 minute walk of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Basilica Cistern, which means you can start your day at 8am without wasting time commuting. The area is packed with restaurants, cafes, and hotels at all price points, as well as easy tram access (T1 line) to reach the Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower later in the day. Yes, it’s touristy around Sultanahmet Square and slightly pricier than other Istanbul neighbourhoods, but for a 1 day visit Fatih saves you around a 1 hour commute .
Another option is Beyoğlu (near Galata Tower), which has a more modern, local vibe with excellent cafes and restaurants where actual Istanbul residents eat. However, you’ll start your morning with a 25-30 minute tram ride to Sultanahmet, which eats into your limited time. I’d only recommend Beyoğlu if you’re more interested in Istanbul’s contemporary side than the historic sites.
My top pick hotel is Magnaura Palace in Fatih, it’s a 3-minute walk to the Blue Mosque with spacious rooms and classic Turkish decor. The extra €20-30 you might pay to stay in Fatih versus outer neighbourhoods is worth it when you only have 24 hours in Istanbul. You’re essentially paying for convenience and an extra hour of sightseeing time instead of sitting on the metro. Avoid staying near Istanbul Airport or Taksim Square for a 1-day visit – the airport is 50km away (90 minutes each way) and Taksim requires too much commuting to the historic sites.
1 Day In Istanbul Itinerary
1 Day In Istanbul Map
Cost
- Blue Mosque: Free
- Hagia Sophia: 1,200 TL (€25)
- Basilica Cistern: 600 TL (€13)
- Grand Bazaar: Free
- Galata Tower: 650 TL (€14)
- Bosphorus Cruise: 400-800 TL (€8-17)
- Food:
- Turkish Breakfast: 300-600 TL (€6-13)
- Lunch: 400-700 TL (€8-15)
- Snacks/Desserts: 200-400 TL (€4-8)
- Transport:
- Istanbulkart + all-day travel: 200 TL (€4)
- TOTAL: €75-110 per person (budget conscious) TOTAL: €120-160 per person (comfortable)
Morning – Start Your 1 Day in Istanbul in 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 at 500 TL (€11) for a traditional breakfast.
You can read my Turkish food guide here.
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. It should cost between 5 – 20 TL (10 – 40 cent) from a cart.
👍 Coffee No.4 serves both Turkish style and regular coffee; the pistachio Turkish coffee is soo good!
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. You can check prayer times here for day you are visiting – please note times change daily.
Hagia Sofia costs €25 to enter while the Blue Mosque is fee.
Check out my 30 Practical Tips For Travelling To Istanbul which include tips on Istanbul mosques.
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.
From Basilica Cistern it’s a 12 minute, slightly uphill walk to the Grand Bazaar.
👍 SHORT ON TIME? Skip the Basilica Cistern if you’re behind schedule. Use that 40 minutes for more time at Hagia Sophia or the Grand Bazaar. While atmospheric, it’s the least essential stop on this itinerary.
RELATED: 3 Days In Istanbul Itinerary
Grand Bazaar (1 hour 30 minutes)
The Grand Bazaar is 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.
To reach the next activity on this 1 day itinerary we need to either walk 15 minutes or take the tram to Eminonu Square, where lots of Bosphorus cruises depart. I advise the tram to give yourself a little break from walking.
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 way 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: End Your Day in Istanbul
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.
Entrance to Galata Tower costs € 35.00.
Try 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 do during your 24 hours in Istanbul. It’s best washed down with some coffee or tea.
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 Galata tower
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 a converted 550-year-old Turkish bath house.
Thank you for reading this 1 day in Istanbul itinerary, I hope it helps you plan an unforgettable trip 🙂 Keep reading for FAQs!
5 Mistakes to Avoid on Your 1 Day in Istanbul
- Buying the Museum Pass – The Istanbul Museum Pass (€50 for 5 days) includes Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and 12+ museums. However, this itinerary only visits Hagia Sophia, making it worse value than buying individual tickets. The pass makes sense if you’re visiting Topkapi Palace or staying 3+ days in Istanbul. For our 1-day route, skip it and save €20.
- Wearing the wrong clothes to mosques – Shoulders, knees, and head (women) must be covered.
- Taking taxis from Sultanahmet – Drivers here are notorious for scams. Use Uber or BiTaksi app instead. Or just walk – everything is close.
- Visiting on Friday – Mosques have very restricted hours on Friday due to the midday prayer lasting 2 hours.
- Skipping the Bosphorus cruise – This was the highlight of my day. Don’t cut it to squeeze in another museum.
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.
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