Istanbul in 3 Days: everything you need to know

From its spring days with tulip gardens, the beaches and ferry rides in the summer, the polychrome of autumn and the mythical winter nights, Istanbul can be a perfect city for a short getaway.

Three days can be enough to visit some of the most iconic places in Istanbul. I propose alternatives to visit the soul of the ancient Constantinople, cradle of the cultural bridge that unites East and West.

The best place in my opinion from where to start a tour in Istanbul. This is the area where several of Istanbul's great treasures and monuments are located that you cannot miss during your visit to this magical city.

Visit the Topkapi Palace

Start your day by visiting this architectural gem. In addition to the breathtaking views from this part of the Bosphorus strait, the Topkapi Palace has four courtyards and multiple buildings inside, including the Archaeological Museum, which houses the famous sarcophagus of Alexander the Great. An ideal alternative to include in your first day in Istanbul. You can take guided toursinside in a visit that can last from one to two hours.

The place has many objects of traditional Islamic art, relics of the great prophet Mohammed and inside you can learn about the life of the great Sultans who reigned in ancient Constantinople.

One of the most famous rooms is The Treasury which brings together two great attractions such as the Kasikci Diamond, with its 86 carats, considered one of the most exotic jewels of the East and the Topkapi dagger, which is embedded with three huge emeralds and is the symbol of the palace.

Useful information:

• Price: Palace + Harem + Hagia Irene for approximately 17.50€ (285 Turkish Lira), Palace + Hagia Irene for approximately 12.30€ (200 Turkish Lira). Free admission for children under 6 years old.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Closed on Tuesdays
• Address: Cankurtaran Mh., 34122 Fatih / Istanbul.

Explore the Blue Mosque

If only the exterior of this place amazes with its huge gardens, nothing to say about its huge courtyard and the thousands of tiles that decorate its vault and to which it owes its name.

This structure rests on what was once the Great Palace of Constantinople and was built opposite the Hagia Sophia Mosque, in a sign of the greatness of the Ottoman Empire. Nearby, you can admire other classics of the city such as the Hippodrome and the Egyptian Obelisk, perfect to spend a morning discovering the treasures of the city. Here is a list of the 10 best mosques in Istanbul that you must visit.

Useful information:

• Price: free admission
• Hours: daily from 09:00 to 19:00.
• Address: Sultanahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul.

Tour the Grand Bazaar

After this tour of some of the jewels and monuments in Istanbul, it's time to enjoy a tour of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, which for more than 600 years, has been the economic and commercial center of the city, with more than four thousand stores clustered inside and selling all kinds of decorative objects, traditional carpets, lamps, typical Turkish gold and silverware, jewelry, spices and much more.

Nowadays this huge market, with more than 60 streets to walk through, is open every day except Sunday and you can find nearby some mosques, hammams (Turkish baths) and food stalls, famous for their coffee and typical desserts. I suggest you to investigate before which are the most interesting areas of the bazaar for you, because, if you like shopping, this can be an adventure for a whole day.

Useful information:

• Price: free admission
• Hours: daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Address: Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul.

I recommend the tour in this order: visit the Topkapi Palace, in the morning, as it is usually very crowded and then have the rest of the day to appreciate other important points of the city. In addition to these three places that I highlight, on your first day you can also include:

• Basilica Cistern
• Hippodrome of Constantinople
• Church of St. Sergius and St. Bacchus

Dinner in the Fatih District

With a wide gastronomic offer, this area of the city will allow you to enter fully into the culinary culture of the country, from the famous kebabs to the structured and delicious "meze". This area offers a wide possibility to delight you with the culinary curiosities of the country.

In this district there are also many proposals of bars and terraces to have a beer or a raki, considered the traditional drink of Turkey, in addition to live a deep experience with the Sufist heritage of the city and admire the perfection of the dance of the Dervish Girovagos in the Hodjapasha Cultural Center.

I suggest you also book agastronomic tour of Istanbul that will allow you to enjoy all these delights with the help of an expert local guide.

A city like Istanbul, with its array of seas and coasts, must necessarily offer the maritime experience to enjoy beautiful places and good fresh fish in the best Turkish style.

Galata Bridge

Legendary and beautiful, this bridge is the pure connection between the two continents. From the classic fishermen whose rods hang over the Marmara, to the imposing Galata Tower and its surroundings, this tour will make you discover the most European area of the city.

An area where there are also plenty of cafes, museums and galleries in one of the most iconic neighborhoods of the city: the Beyoğlu district, known for its antique stores and bohemian life, where you can also find the best nightclubs in Istanbul. I recommend you look for the Kamondo staircase, a fantastic place where you can take great pictures with its art nouveau architecture.

If you walk past the bridge, you can find good places to taste fresh fish at any time in multiple presentations and see one of the best sunsets in the city aboard the ferry.

Visit Taksim Square

Also known as Independence Square, this place concentrates the most modern area of Istanbul. Nearby you can find the Atatürk Cultural Center, where you can enjoy exhibitions and musical or dance performances throughout the year.

At this point is born one of the most popular roads in the city, the important İstiklal Caddesi that you can discover aboard a streetcar that seems lost in time. It is a shopping area quite frequented by locals and with a wide gastronomic offer.

Climbing the tower of the Istanbul Sapphire, a modern shopping mall that was once the tallest building in Istanbul, can offer a beautiful panoramic view of the city and, if you like adrenaline, you can live a virtual reality experience simulating a tour of the city aboard a helicopter.

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace was one of the first European-style palaces to be built in Istanbul.

Located on a rather striking promenade, this place can take you on a journey back in time to the era of the sultans and get a glimpse of how they lived in these huge palaces, surrounded by comfortable facilities and the glamor of this exotic corner of Asia.

A good experience inspired by the Thousand and One Nights, with chandeliers and salons worthy of princes and princesses, with more than 280 rooms and a Crystal Bridge that make this a good visit. If you are lucky you can see the changing of the palace guard in one of the largest buildings in Turkey.

Visit a Turkish bath

They abound in Istanbul and will be the perfect space to relax while getting a good massage with healing herbs or a bubble bath.

Turkish baths in Istanbul are one of the things you can not miss if you have little time in the city. Usually located in traditional areas of Istanbul, they will allow you a space for relaxation through an ancient tradition, perfect for regaining strength and energy after a day of discovering the city.

Keep in mind that many of these places have rooms only for men or women, so if you want an experience with your family, your partner or friends, I recommend you consult those mixed hammams.

In these places you can also enjoy aromatic infusions and a good spa; a plan that will leave you ready to enjoy your last day in Istanbul.

One of the most legendary areas of the city and where you can admire the enormous intercultural richness of the city.

Spice Bazaar

One of the oldest markets in Europe and will be the perfect place to enjoy all the colors, smells and flavors of Asia in one place.

A space with more than four centuries old, specialized in fruits, cereals, vegetables, spices and typical foods of Turkish cuisine and Asia in general, is also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, and is the perfect place to try a dondurma, the most popular ice cream in Istanbul.

With a gelatinous texture, these ice creams are most famous for the show that vendors make to attract customers. Also classic is the market of traditional herbs and home remedies, amulets against the evil eye and pomegranate fruit, to attract prosperity.

Tour the Eyüp neighborhood

It is probably one of the most Islamic neighborhoods of the city and is located just outside the ancient wall of Constantinople. It is also the third place of pilgrimage in all of Islam, after Mecca and Jerusalem, as in the Eyüp Camii Mosque lies Abbu Ayyub al-Ansari, one of the closest disciples of Muhammad. If you want to explore the best mosques in Istanbul, I suggest you include this place in your tour.

Another of the beautiful viewpoints of Istanbul and its famous Golden Horn is located in the Pierre Loti cafe, perfect for a coffee and enjoy this unique view of the city and the local cemetery, where the remains of poets of Islam and sultans of the Ottoman Empire rest.

A highly recommended walk if you are doing this tour, is to take the cable car in the area and admire these wonders from above.

Cruise on the Bosphorus

The best way to say goodbye to the city, a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, will be a good option to have a deeper insight into the soul of Istanbul.

From a ferry or from a cruise ship, a sea trip along the strait can leave in your head and in your photo album, the best images of Istanbul. A tour in which you can appreciate the great structures that fill the city with magic, while you have a drink and admire a traditional show such as belly dancing or live Turkish music shows.

I recommend you to book a tour, as it is a good option to admire the city from the water and enjoy a traditional gastronomic experience in Istanbul.

• There are two airports in the city: Atatürk International Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Check your transfer options to and from Istanbul airport to make your schedule more practical.
• If you're visiting Istanbul mosques and other religious sites, you probably won't be allowed in sleeveless shirts or shorts.
• Many places, especially bazaars, markets or street food stalls, do not have electronic means of payment. If you are going to visit one of them, I recommend you to carry Turkish lira in cash.
• To move around the city and in all available means of transport, I recommend you to buy an Istanbulkart card, which you can recharge to use during the days of your trip.