Istanbul is an amazing city to visit with lots of unique historical sites, rooftop bars and restaurants, huge bazaars and so on. Even for locals of Istanbul, there are still undiscovered parts of Istanbul so there is never enough time to totally discover the city. You can still enjoy your long weekend break and experience the highlights of Istanbul.
Day 1, Friday – Old City of Istanbul
Morning flight to Istanbul is always ideal time to arrive Istanbul. Check in to your hotel in the old city (Sirkeci is a great place to stay which is a suburb in the middle of Sultanahmet and new part of Istanbul) Enjoy your lunch at ‘Kasap Osman’ which means ‘Osman the Butcher’ for one of the best kebap in town. If you don’t prefer meat, try ‘Ali Usta’ for traditional ‘çiğ köfte’ wrap which is raw meat kebap made from tomato paste.
With your full stomach and happy soul, head to Sultanahmet – which was the center of the city for centuries during Roman, Byzantium and Ottoman Empire times. Highlights of Sultanahmet district are Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern Spice Market and Grand Bazaar.
For the evening, try a rooftop restaurant in Karaköy suburb – our suggestion will be ‘Mükellef’ which is a local tavern (meyhane) owned by the most famous Turkish chef, Arda Turkmen.
Day 2, Saturday – Bosporus Cruise and Street Food Tour
Enjoy your Turkish breakfast at your hotel’s breakfast lounge and head to the harbor of Eminonu. Experience the Bosporus Cruise and enjoy being in the middle of 2 continents, Asia and Europe. In the midday, experience a real historical tradition, a scrub and a soup massage in a Turkish bath.
Try to pass the lunch and join SGA Travel’s ‘Street Food in 2 Different Continents’ tour to try different samples of street food bites on both Asian and European side of Istanbul. Once you get to Asian side, stay at Kadıköy district and try Noasis Jazz Club to enjoy live jam sessions.
Day 3, Sunday – Traditional Brunch, Walk on the Seaside and Final Shopping!
Breakfast will be served at your hotel probably but we suggest you to experience a real ‘Sunday Brunch’ here in Istanbul. Take a cab to ‘Bebek’ district which is one of the fanciest area in Istanbul. Try ‘Mangerie Bebek’ lounge which has breathtaking views of Marmara Sea and amazing breakfast menu.
After breakfast, walk along the water and get to Ortaköy. Try to find a seat close to the water front and enjoy your tea (çay), or taste ‘kumpir’ which is baked potato filled with salad, sausage and sauces, walk through the narrow streets where you find local artisans producing souvenirs.
Continue to Besiktas suburb through the water front and finish your walk at Dolmabahce Palace, which was the mansion of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk for over a decade. From the palace, take the traditional tunnel up the hill and get to Taksim square, center of modern Istanbul. Enjoy a walk on Istiklal Street, where you are able to find restaurants, pubs, shops and malls. Enjoy your last minute shopping, until the next time!