Neighbourhoods
Sultanahmet
The historic core — Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı — touristy but essential.
Karaköy / Galata
Trendy, food-and-design-forward, best café density.
Kadıköy (Asian side)
Local, less touristy, a genuinely good food scene and ferry ride away.
Things to do
Hagia Sophia, first entry
Go right at opening — by midday it's one of the most crowded sites in the city.
Bosphorus ferry to Kadıköy
A cheap public ferry, not a tourist cruise — better views, a fraction of the price.
Kadıköy food market
The city's best, least touristy food scene, worth the ferry ride alone.
Grand Bazaar, mid-morning
Go for the atmosphere, not necessarily to buy — bargaining is expected if you do.
Eating & drinking
Any balık ekmek stand near Galata Bridge
Grilled fish sandwich, eaten standing by the water — a genuine Istanbul staple, not a tourist trap.
A proper Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı)
A spread of small dishes meant to be lingered over — book a full morning, not a quick bite.
Day trips
Local logistics
City-specific transport and safety notes — for country-wide context, see the Türkiye guide.
The tram covers Sultanahmet well; a ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadıköy is cheap, scenic, and worth doing for the crossing alone, not just the destination.
Safe in tourist areas; standard caution around Taksim Square during any political demonstrations, and the usual bazaar-crowd pickpocket awareness in the Grand Bazaar.
Pacing & budget
Pacing: 4 days covers the historic core plus a taste of both the European and Asian sides.
Budget: One of the best-value major world cities right now for the quality on offer.
Visa, money, culture & transport for all of Türkiye
Currency, key phrases, getting around by train, and everything that applies to your whole trip — not just Istanbul.