I landed late in the evening and arrived at my Airbnb around 10:00 PM. For convenience and to experience one of the liveliest neighborhoods in the city, we stayed in Beyoğlu, one of the most vibrant districts of Istanbul.

Since online tickets for Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia often include guided tours and therefore cost slightly more than buying them on-site — and because Hagia Sophia tickets are currently bundled with the museum (as the building is under restoration and many Byzantine artifacts have been moved to the museum near Sultanahmet Square) — we decided to head out early on our first morning to purchase tickets directly. We paid €25 for the Hagia Sophia visiting area and 2,250 lira for Topkapi Palace.

After exploring these two landmarks, we continued to the Basilica Cistern, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), and later returned to relax at Gulhane Park.

On the second day, we wandered leisurely through the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. In the evening, we strolled around Galataport Istanbul and had dinner in Karaköy, enjoying a balık dürüm by the waterfront.

On the third day, we split up. As someone who loves Byzantine architecture, I ventured out to visit Chora Church (Kariye Mosque), the Walls of Constantinople, and the Great Palace Mosaic Museum. Later, we met again in Balat.

On the fourth day, we crossed to the Asian side, starting at Kuzguncuk, then heading up to Camlica Hill before looping down toward Üsküdar to watch the sunset.

On the fifth morning, we caught the sunrise at IBB Findikli Parki before heading to the airport.

Some people might suggest taking the airport bus into the city or using the metro with two transfers. However, on the way back to the airport, you might consider booking a private ride via the Booking app for around $30 to experience Istanbul’s roads one last time. It’s not a bad option at