Istanbul in 1 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

In Istanbul two worlds converge and you will have at your disposal places that will conquer you at first sight. With its beautiful and imposing monuments, ancient mosques and grand bazaars, Istanbul is a must-see destination.

This place is a must on your visit to Istanbul, so I consider it the first stop of the day: it is the Topkapi Palace, the center of the ancient Ottoman Empire and, along with the Topkapi Harem, a place where you can explore stories full of magic.

Keep in mind that given its beauty and cultural richness, it is usually very crowded, so I recommend you book a guided tour of the Topkapi Palace to tour it comfortably and listening to all the information that the guide will provide you:

• In the Topkapi Palace Museum you can appreciate great collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, Ottoman miniatures, manuscripts and much more.
• In the Palace Treasury, you can admire a collection of jewels, including the famous and legendary Topkapi Dagger.

As you leave the Topkapi Palace you can find, just a few meters away, the oldest park in Istanbul.

Gülhane Park was part of the outer garden of the palace and in 1912 the City Council decided to convert part of this area into the park you can enjoy today. Here, and depending on the season, you can take walks and enjoy beautiful vegetation and a quieter atmosphere, compared to the bustle of other areas of Istanbul.

A highly recommended place if you are traveling with children to Istanbul or if you are traveling between the months of May to November, where the weather will be ideal to enjoy it.

Continue your route by visiting a symbol of Istanbul and a masterpiece of universal architecture: the Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia, transformed three times throughout its history and considered the oldest cathedral in the world.

Impressive domes, marble columns and beautiful mosaics, this place will dazzle you and will certainly leave you with a travel memory difficult to erase. A magical place that rises on the first hill of Istanbul, surrounded by the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara.

Book a guided tour of Hagia Sophia to not miss any detail. It is well worth it because it also includes a visit to the Blue Mosque, one of the most important mosques in Istanbul.

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar could easily take you half a day. If you like shopping and bargaining with convincing vendors, this is the place for you. From the Blue Mosque you will only have to walk 15 minutes to reach this covered market, considered one of the largest and oldest in the world.

In this magical place you will find a multitude of exotic objects such as:

• Turkish carpets, recognized worldwide.
• Beautifullamps.
• Decorative objects to take home as souvenirs.
• Local handicrafts that you will not find in any other country.
• Souvenirs to take home or to give as gifts.

Do you like to cook? If the answer is yes, a visit to the Spice Bazaar is a must for you. Also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, here you will have a universe of smells, flavors, as well as other delicacies such as Turkish sweets and dried fruits.

This place is located in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, just behind the Yeni Mosque and next to the Flower Market.

Surely this tour will whet your appetite and here you will find many places with traditional Turkish food to recharge your energy, but if you are really interested in Turkish cuisine, my recommendation is to book a food tour of Istanbul, a delicious and convenient way to try the best local dishes.

After this shopping route that can easily take up the afternoon, it's time to enjoy the sunset and get ready to enjoy the night in Istanbul.

The next stop is the Galata Bridge, about 500 meters long and from where you can appreciate the fishermen, and find numerous cafes and restaurants below.

I recommend walking across the bridge and take the Tünel funicular that will take you to the Galata Tower, the iconic viewpoint of the city.

Night falls in Istanbul and it's time to say goodbye. Close as it should, crossing the waters of the Bosphorus, on a cruise to appreciate the sunset and contemplate, from another perspective, some beautiful monuments of the city:

• The Bosphorus Bridge
• The Rumeli Fortress
• Beylerbeyi Palace
• The Yildiz Palace
• The Jewish Quarter

In addition, you can choose from many options, such as taking a Bosphorus cruise or booking a dinner cruise with live music to round off your stay in Istanbul.

I have just given you my recommended route to explore Istanbul in one day. However, it will always be important to listen to your intuition and above all to fit your traveling personality. While many people enjoy going on their own and getting lost in the destinations they visit, others prefer to be more practical and take tours with which they can get to know the city, without stress and with time to rest.

I leave you with other alternatives to modify your route and organize your day in Istanbul.

Book a sightseeing bus tour

Booking a seat on the Istanbul sightseeing bus is the ideal option for those who are looking for something more practical or need a timed agenda to explore the city.

The most attractive thing about this type of tour is that you can make as many stops as you wish on the one of your choice and admire or even stop at places like Topkapi Palace, Taksim Square, Bosphorus Bridge or the Golden Horn, among others.

Take a guided walking tour of the city

Another alternative for practical travelers is to book a guided tour of Istanbul, which can take about 3 hours. With so much to explore in Istanbul, this is an excellent option to get a comprehensive, albeit quick, look at the city, and leave you wanting to plan a second visit.

In addition, local guides on these types of tours will take you around the city's sites, giving you interesting facts, in a timely tour that will ensure you don't waste time, if you're short on time.

For the foodies a gastronomic tour

If you are a lover of good food, I recommend you to include a gastronomic tour of Istanbul in your day, which will take you through a journey of flavors and tradition.

I highly recommend you to take a street food tour in Istanbul, which can last up to 7 hours and in which you can visit local shops and bazaars to taste the most traditional side of Turkish cuisine. This tour usually includes a visit to the colorful Kadikoy market, among other activities.

Visit the Turkish baths of Istanbul

If what you want is to enjoy your day in Istanbul at leisure, visiting a Turkish bath in I stanbul may be an option. An ancient tradition that has crossed borders. These enclosures are spaces for social gatherings and in the most traditional ones you will find separate rooms for men and women.

Don't expect a luxurious atmosphere or five-star spa care; Turkish baths are traditional spaces, so it will be a great opportunity to connect with local tradition while relaxing.

Explore the Basilica Cistern

A place that you can also include to modify the route that I propose and that is within walking distance of the Topkapi Palace.

It is a water tank of 336 columns and nine meters high. This place is also known as the Submerged Palace, and was built during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

Book a guided tour of the Basilica Cistern to not miss any details about this amazing work of engineering.

With only one day in a city as large and with so many places of interest as Istanbul, here are some tips to make your stay as practical as possible and to enjoy this whirlwind tour of the city.

• Choose strategically your place of accommodation and have as a reference the distance to connect with the city's airports.
• Do some research on how public transportation works in Istanbul so that you can use it during your day in the city. This will make it easier for you to get around, depending on the places you want to see.
• Even if you are only in Istanbul for one day, carry some cash to be able to shop, for example, in the Grand Bazaar, since many stalls do not have electronic means of payment, and it will also be easier for you to bargain.

Finally, I recommend you to consider buying the Istanbul Tourist Pass, a card that gives you access to 85 attractions in the city of Istanbul and includes free transfer to Istanbul Airport and discounts for Sabiha Gökçen Airport.