Istanbul: a 3-day plan and the best time to go

The best time to go

The most comfortable months for walking about are May, June, September and October: mild days and less rain. The warmest month is August, at about 84°F (29°C) in the afternoon. The wettest is December.

1. Jan47°79 mm
2. Feb48°68 mm
3. Mar53°53 mm
4. Apr60°42 mm
5. May70°35 mm
6. Jun79°36 mm
7. Jul84°20 mm
8. Aug84°22 mm
9. Sep77°54 mm
10. Oct67°70 mm
11. Nov59°63 mm
12. Dec50°82 mm

Bars show the typical night-time low to daytime high; the numbers are daytime highs in °F and rain in millimetres for the month. Averages for 2001–2020 from NASA POWER, so a given year can be warmer, colder or wetter.

Three days in Istanbul

Written with AI from public facts about Istanbul, then checked by Sureno's rules. Opening times and prices change: check them before you go.

Day 1 Historic peninsula

Morning

Hagia Sophia

Sultanahmet

Take time to admire this landmark’s architecture and layered history.

Afternoon

Sultanahmet Square

Sultanahmet

Stroll at an easy pace among major historic sights, with breaks as needed.

Evening

Dinner in Sultanahmet

Sultanahmet

Choose a nearby restaurant and enjoy Turkish dishes without adding a long journey.

Day 2 Bosphorus day

Morning

Spice Bazaar

Eminönü

Browse the lively market and its stalls of spices, sweets and everyday goods.

Afternoon

Bosphorus ferry

Eminönü

Take a public ferry ride for views of the city from the water.

Evening

Dinner in Karaköy

Karaköy

Have an unhurried meal in this central waterfront neighbourhood.

Day 3 Asian-side pause

Morning

Kadıköy Market

Kadıköy

Wander the market streets and pause at a café when you need a rest.

Afternoon

Üsküdar waterfront

Üsküdar

Enjoy open views across the Bosphorus towards the historic peninsula.

Evening

Dinner in Üsküdar

Üsküdar

Finish with a relaxed meal close to the waterfront and ferry connections.

What to eat

• Try simit, a sesame-crusted bread ring, from a bakery.
• Look for meze, small shared dishes, and grilled fish at restaurants.
• Turkish tea and baklava make a pleasant café break.

Getting there

• Fly into Istanbul Airport (IST).
• From New York: about 10 h 9 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From Los Angeles: about 13 h 39 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From London: about 3 h 38 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• Use ferries, trams and taxis to reduce walking. Check routes before setting out, and allow extra time for hills, crowds and transfers.
• Check official Turkish entry rules before travel.
• May, June, September and October are suggested months; book ahead and plan for busy public spaces.

Plan the flight from your city

Where to stay

• SultanahmetIt is close to many historic sights, though streets can be busy and uneven.
• KaraköyIt has waterfront access and useful connections to central areas.
• KadıköyIt offers a lively neighbourhood feel and ferry links to the European side.

Where to sleep, on Wikivoyage

About Istanbul

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, a megacity, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia. Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus – one of the world's busiest waterways – in northwestern Turkey, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its area of 5,461 square kilometers (2,109 mi2) is coterminous wi…

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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