1 Day In Istanbul: How To See The Top Attractions

Just 1 day in Istanbul is not enough to appreciate the beauty of this cosmopolitan city. However, it is enough to see some of its top attractions.

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The one day in Istanbul itinerary below is ambitious yet doable. So, lace up your running shoes and get ready to explore Istanbul.

Istanbul In One Day At A Glance

9 AM – 10 AM Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque

10 AM – 11 AM Sultanahmet Square

11 AM – 12 PM  Basilica Cistern

12 PM – 1 PM Lunch

1 PM – 3 PM Topkapi Palace (closed on Tuesdays)

3:30 PM – 4 PM Suleymaniye Mosque (skip on Friday)

4 PM – 5:00 PM Grand Bazaar (closed on Sundays)

5:15 PM – 6 PM Spice Bazaar

After 6 PM Galata Bridge, Galata Tower, and Bosphorus Dinner Cruise

1 Day In Istanbul: Best Things To See

Spending one day in Istanbul can be enough to see the main attractions, especially if it’s your first visit to the city.

The places to visit with this one day Istanbul itinerary are: The Blue Mosque, The Istanbul Hippodrome, The Serpent, The Istanbul Obelisk, The Egyptian Obelisk, The German Fountain, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul Spice Market, Suleymaniye Mosque, Galata Bridge, and Galata Tower.

These are some of the best things to do in Istanbul.

Where To Stay In Istanbul For One Day

TIP: To make the most of your time in Istanbul, choose a place to stay in Fatih district, close to Sultanahmet Square. You will have most of the things to see in Istanbul within walking distance.

Consider one of the options below to make the most of your stay in Istanbul.

How To Spend One Day In Istanbul Itinerary

To make the most of your Istanbul in one day itinerary, start your day early.

After a hearty Turkish breakfast, head to Hagia Sofia and The Blue Mosque. They are both at Sultanahmet Square in the heart of Istanbul. No trip to Istanbul is complete without visiting these two iconic Istanbul landmarks.

As they are both functioning mosques, you will not be allowed to enter during prayer times, and half an hour before. Prayers are five times a day and the exact prayer times depend on the sunrise and the sunset.

Check when the prayer times are on the day of your visit. The best time to visit them all year round should be between 9 and 10 in the morning.

Hagia Sophia

Byzantine Emperor Justinian I constructed the cathedral in the historic city of Constantinople, now Istanbul, in 537 AD. At the time of construction, it was the world’s largest building. “Hagia Sophia” is in Greek and means “Holy Wisdom”.

The dome of Hagia Sophia is 31 meters (102 feet) high. It rests on a square base pierced by windows, which was a revolutionary design at the time of its construction. The windows create the illusion of the dome floating over light.

In 1453, after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed II, the cathedral was converted into a mosque. In 1935, Turkish President Atatürk turned Hagia Sophia into a museum. It served as a museum until 2020 when it was converted back into a mosque.

Hagia Sophia is a cultural and architectural landmark and a symbol of both the Christian and Islamic faiths.

Since it has been converted back into a functioning mosque, the Christian religious symbols, such as the stunning wall frescoes, have been covered and the once beautiful marble floor is covered in green carpet.

Address: Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1

Opening hours: It is open 24/7 every day of the week. Avoid prayer times, especially on Friday morning.

Entry fee: free

The Blue Mosque

Side by side with Hagia Sophia stands the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque. It was built by Mehmet Ağa, a disciple of the famous architect Sinan. Sultan Ahmet I was the one who ordered the construction.

The Blue Mosque opened for worship in 1616. In 1985 UNESCO added it to its World Heritage Site list.

Since the Blue Mosque is a functioning mosque, you can only visit it outside of prayer times. You may not be allowed to enter half an hour before prayer time.

Make sure to avoid especially the Friday prayer, when you will not be allowed a visit until early in the afternoon. Prayer times at all mosques are 5 times a day. You can check the times here. 

Address: Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd No:10

Opening hours: every day 8:30 AM – 5:45 PM, except prayer times

Entry fee: free

TIP: If you are for the first time in Istanbul, please pay attention to the etiquette for visiting mosques.

See Istanbul Sultanahmet Square

Next, walk around Sultanahmet Square to see the Hippodrome, the Serpent, the Istanbul Obelisk, the Egyptian Obelisk, and the German Fountain. Sultanahmet Square is the place where you can see Istanbul main attractions all in one place.

Istanbul Hippodrome

The Istanbul Hippodrome was built by Emperor Septimius Severus at the beginning of 3rd century AD.

Emperor Constantine I expanded the complex after the Circus Maximus in Rome. After the expansions, the track was 429 meters long and 119 meters wide. Its grandstands had a capacity of approximately 100,000 spectators.

The Istanbul Hippodrome was one of the largest in the world. It is located at Sultanahmet Square, between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

Address: Sultan Ahmet Parkı 2

The Serpent

The Three-headed Serpent is one of the three columns standing at Sultanahmet Square, on the former site of the Hippodrome.

The Serpent stood in front of the temple of Apollo in Delphi. Constantine I brought it to its new capital Constantinople in 331. After the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, one of the heads was damaged.

Only part of the base of the Serpent Column remains until nowadays.

Istanbul Obelisk

The Walled obelisk is another landmark at Sultanahmet Square.

It is a 32-meter high obelisk from the reign of Emperor Constantine VII, or the 10th century AD. It was covered with copper and brass plaques. That is why it is called the Walled Obelisk. Later the plaques of the column were stolen.

At the end of the 19th century, the Walled Obelisk was damaged by an earthquake. Though only the core of the column is visible, it is still an impressive monument.

The Egyptian Obelisk

In fact there are two obelisks at Sultanahmet Square.

The ancient Egyptian obelisk was brought from Karnak in Luxor, Egypt to Constantinople by Emperor Theodosius I in 390. Since then it has been called The Obelisk of Theodosius.

The German Fountain

This gazebo-like fountain is located in Sultanahmet Square, at the northern end of the Hippodrome. It was a gift from Germany to commemorate the visit of German Emperor Wilhelm II to Istanbul.

The fountain was made in Germany and transported piece by piece to Istanbul where it was assembled and inaugurated in 1901. Its dome is supported by eight marble columns and the interior is decorated with golden mosaics.

All the places to visit in Istanbul Sultanahmet Square will take you an hour at most, although you could easily spend more time admiring them. But remember: your time to visit Istanbul main attractions is limited, so stick to the perfect 1 day itinerary to see as much of Istanbul in a day as possible.

If you feel overwhelmed with getting around Istanbul in one day, you may consider booking a tour. Keep in mind that the public transport system in Istanbul is efficient and easy to use, and with this itinerary, you can see the best of Istanbul for a day with minimal use of public transportation.

After you have visited all Istanbul attractions at Sultanahmet Square, continue your 1 day in Istanbul itinerary with a visit to the Basilica Cistern. It is just across Sultanahmet Square.

Basilica Cistern

One of Istanbul’s most remarkable attractions you should definitely visit is the Basilica Cistern.

It was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century to serve as a water reservoir for the Great Palace. The Basilica Cistern’s ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns, beautifully lit.

It is a great photo opportunity, but be prepared to take photos in low-lighting conditions.

On certain days of the week, there are Night Shift events at the Basilica Cistern from 7:30 PM to 10 PM when concerts take place. So you may come across a surprise concert in the unique atmosphere of the Basilica Cistern.

TIP: There is usually a long queue waiting to enter. You may be lucky to enter without waiting if you go there just before closing time. Or consider booking a skip-the-line tour. It might save you a lot of time.

Address: Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3

Opening hours: every day from 9 AM till 10 PM, closed from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Entry fee for foreign visitors: for entry from 9 AM to 6:30 PM – 450 TRY; entry from 7:30 PM – 10 PM – 1000 TRY. Credit cards are accepted. For the Night Shift visits, you can only purchase your tickets after 7:30 PM.

The Basilica Cistern visit will take you 45 min to one hour.

By now it should be lunchtime. Don’t sit in the restaurants on Sultanahmet Square. Take a short walk towards Topkapi Palace. You will find many places to eat along the way. Have a look at the side streets if you want to pay less for your food.

Istanbul In A Day: In The Afternoon

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace is the next stop in your 1 day in Istanbul itinerary. It was the administrative and educational center of the Ottoman Empire for about 400 years. Today it is a museum. It is closed on Tuesdays, so if you have to spend 1 day in Istanbul on a Tuesday, skip this leg of the itinerary.

Topkapi palace is huge with an area of about 700,000 square meters. It resembles an open-air museum and the highlight is the harem section.

Address: Cankurtaran Mah. Babı Hümayun Cad. No:1

Opening hours: from 9 AM to 6 PM, closed on Tuesdays

Entry fee: Topkapı Palace + Harem + Hagia Irene – 950 TRY; Topkapı Palace + Hagia Irene – 750 TRY.

Your next stop is the Suleymaniye Mosque. It is 20-30 minutes walk away from Topkapi Palace. Using public transportation will take you almost the same time and a lot of walking too. If you feel tired, call an Uber.

Remember to check the prayer times. And if you’re visiting Istanbul on a Friday, skip it, as it will be closed already.

Suleymaniye Mosque

The Suleymaniye Mosque is one of the most magnificent mosques in Istanbul. It is a masterpiece of the architect Sinan. He started the construction in 1550 and finished it 7 years later.

Suleymaniye Mosque was built on the order of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. At the opening ceremony, Sinan told him that the mosque would stand upright as long as the world existed.

Tip: If the northeast gallery stairs are open, be sure to climb to the balcony to enjoy the spectacular view.

Address: Süleymaniye Mahallesi Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi No: 1

Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM, Friday till 1:30 PM.

Entry fee: free

It’s time to go shopping. Or window shopping 😊. Even if shopping is not your thing, there are two places in Istanbul you can’t miss: The Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar.

The Grand Bazaar is a short 10-15 minute walk from Suleymaniye Mosque

The Grand Bazaar

Since the middle of the 15th century, the Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) has been the most famous bazaar in Istanbul. This 15th-century bazaar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a city within the city with covered streets full of shops.

It deserves a visit for its unique atmosphere and colorful display of gold jewelry, antiques, leather clothing, accessories, handicrafts, and souvenirs. Although I wouldn’t advise you to shop there, as it’s too touristy and overpriced, it does make for a good photo opportunity.

Address: The Grand Bazaar is located amidst Beyazit district. It has 22 gates through which you can enter from all directions.

Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 7 PM, closed on Sundays.

Entry fee: free

Next, walk 10 minutes to the Spice Market.

Istanbul Spice Market

Istanbul Spice Market, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı), is my favorite. It is located in Eminönü Square, just across the Galata Bridge.

The construction of the Istanbul Spice Market began in the middle of the 17th century under Sultan Mehmed III and was completed on behalf of the mother of Sultan Mehmed IV.

Since the construction of the Istanbul Spice Market, the rents from the shops have been used to maintain the New Mosque, which is just to the left of the Spice Bazaar.

The name of Istanbul Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar) is based on the goods, especially spices, that came from Egypt and were sold here.

The Spice Bazaar was once the last stop for camel caravans traveling the Silk Roads of China, India, and Persia. In the Byzantine era, the entire area was the place where merchants from Venice and Genoa sold their goods.

Many of the 100 or so shops are traditional spice merchants. You can also find cheese and sausage shops, as well as dried fruits, nuts, and teas. The variety of colors also makes for a great photo opportunity.

Address: Rüstem Paşa, Erzak Ambarı Sok. No:92

Opening hours: 8 AM – 7 PM

Entry fee: free

Next, walk across the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn. Take your time to admire the view, take some pictures, or watch the many fishermen on the bridge.

Galata Bridge

The Galata Bridge is an iconic landmark over the Golden Horn. It symbolically connects the Orient and the Occident. No visit to Istanbul is complete without a walk across Galata Bridge.

It is less than a kilometer long but offers precious sights and endless photo opportunities.

It is a bridge with two levels. The upper level is a multi-lane road with a tram line. It is the same tram line T1 that goes to Sultanahmet Square and the main attractions of Istanbul.

The lower part of the bridge is filled with restaurants and cafes. They are, of course, a bit of a tourist trap, but you might consider taking a seat for dinner, or just a cup of tea, to admire the ferries crossing the Golden Horn and the screeching seagulls.
Take a stroll across Galata Bridge and watch hundreds of fishermen haul their catch out of the water. Take your time at the railings to take some fabulous photos.

If you are hungry but don’t want to pay too much for your food, I will share with you one of my favorite places to eat in Istanbul. It is called Akın Balık Karaköy. The restaurant is mainly frequented by locals and is not a fancy place. The food is fabulous and cheap and they serve alcohol.

When you get to the end of Galata Bridge, cross to the side of Galata Tower. Turn slightly to the left, pass a small fish market and right after it you will find Akın Balık Karaköy Restaurant. The Karaköy (Turyol) Ferry Terminal is right in front of it.

Don’t leave Istanbul without visiting the Galata Tower. It is the last stop of the one day itinerary in Istanbul. It is quite a steep climb up the hill from the Galata Bridge to the Galata Tower. To avoid the climb, take the Karaköy Funicular (Tunel). You’ll have to walk back to the Galata Tower for 5 minutes, but it’s a downhill walk. 

Galata Tower

The Galata Tower is one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks. It is a medieval stone tower that offers a panoramic view of the city, the Golden Horn, and the Bosphorus.

There are elevators inside the tower, but the very top is accessible only by stairs. For the best light for photography, try to visit half an hour before sunset.

Address: Bereketzade, Galata kulesi

Opening hours: every day from 8:30 AM till 11 PM in summer and till 10 PM in winter.

Entry fee: 650 TRY.

If you only have 1 day in Istanbul and want to see as much of it as possible, you’d better book skip-the-line tours where possible.

24 Hours In Istanbul: In The Evening

There are many ways to end your day in Istanbul.

If you are not too tired after visiting the Galata Tower, take a walk down the pedestrian Istiklal Cad. to Taksim Square. Take a picture of the historic red tram, go shopping or just people-watch.

After visiting the Galata Tower, you can explore the vibrant Galata district with its cafes and shops.

The most picturesque way to end the day is with a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus.

Conclusion

To wrap it up: 1 day in Istanbul is enough to get a sense of the beauty of Istanbul. On a well-organized day of sightseeing, you can visit some of its top attractions. Undoubtedly, it will be an unforgettable day that will make you want to come back.

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