2 Days in Istanbul: How to Maximize Your Time!

How to spend 2 days in Istanbul, Turkey! Istanbul is one of the most interesting cities I have been to! With it straddling the European and Asian continents, it has an incredible mix of architecture, food, and culture from both places.

Even only having 2 days in the city, we were able to see must-see sites like the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar as well as visit the newer town, cruise the river, visit an incredible underground cistern and more!

Here is how to spend 2 days in Istanbul splitting your time between the old town and new town to maximize your time and seeing the best of Istanbul!

Istanbul is split by the Bosphorus River and on one side is considered the old town and on the other, the new town.

To maximize your time, spend one day mostly exploring the old town and the next day exploring more of the new town!

An overview of your two days in Istanbul:
Day 1: Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar & River cruise
Day 2: Galataport & Karaköy, Galata Tower, İstiklal Avenue, & Rooftop dinner

With two days, you may not be able to dive into the nooks and crannies of Istanbul or see all of the hidden gems, but you WILL be able to see a lot of the must-see sites of Istanbul!

Basilica Cistern

I recommend starting at the Basilica Cistern because the lines get long (which is why I recommend pre-booking skip-the-line tickets!) AND because the experience will be better with less people.

Underneath Istanbul are hundreds of ancient cisterns and the Basilica Cistern is one of the largest and most beautiful, dating back to the Byzantine Constantinople days.

Inside are hundreds of giant marble columns that stand in about 2-3 feet of water. The lighting and the water create incredible reflections of the columns; it is a photographer’s dream!

The basilica opens around 9am and I recommend getting there when it opens (or close to it.) We landed in Istanbul around 7:30am and made our way to the city and came straight here. We got here around 11am and the wait was already an hour long for general admission!

The price to enter the cistern is about 37 euros if you opt for the skip-the-line tickets.

It will only take about an hour to walk around the Basilica Cistern, and when you are done you will be close to the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque!

Everything to know about visiting the Basilica Cistern!

Blue Mosque

The Basilica Cistern is located just next to Hagia Sophia. However, I recommend heading to the Blue Mosque first due to its popularity.

The Blue Mosque (aka the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) is probably the most popular mosque in Istanbul due to its large size and incredible blue tile work in the interior.

I highly recommend entering the inside the Blue Mosque to see the inside, especially since it is free to enter!

You can enter the mosque between 8:30am to 6:30pm (5pm in the winter) EXCEPT for the 5 day prayer times (two of which fall in this time frame of 1:16pm and 4;40pm.)

During these times, the mosque will close for 30-45 minutes and then reopen until the next prayer time.

Remember when you visit, you need to wear a scarf (hijab) to cover your hair and you will take your shoes off at the door.

You should plan for 30-45 minutes to see the interior and walk around the exterior of the mosque (plus waiting time, which is why I recommend going here first.)

Hagia Sophia

Another popular and impressive mosque in the old town is the Hagia Sophia. It is unique because it is pink (rather than grey or blue) on the outside. AND it was constructed as a church before being converted into a mosque, so you can see a bit of both religions on the inside.

The Hagia Sophia is, again, located just next to the Basilica Cistern. If you don’t plan to enter the mosque, you can see it from the outside on your way from the cistern to the Blue Mosque.

If you DO want to enter the Hagia Sophia, you should probably know that it is NOT free to enter.

The cost to enter is around 25 euros which will grant you access to the interior (aside from the lower floor that is designated for worshippers) and to the museum.

Purchase tickets to Hagia Sophia

If you want more details on the history of the mosques and cistern, you can book a guided tour of Basilica Cistern, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia which can shine a little more light on the importance of the mosques and the cistern.

While I think the Basilica Cistern is fine to visit without a guide, I enjoyed learning more about the mosques on our tour.

Grand Bazaar

From the hilltop mosques, head toward the Grand Bazaar, which is about a 12 minute walk (or trolly.)

This is the largest covered bazaar in the WORLD and dates back to the mid 1400’s, making it the oldest covered bazaar in the world as well!

It is home to over 4,000 shops and 60-something streets of jewelry, textiles, lamps and anything you can think of!

If you are a shopper, you could spend hours here. However, with only two days in Istanbul, you have a lot to see and little time to do it. So, be mindful of your time here!

Spice Bazaar

From the Grand Bazaar, head to the Spice Bazaar (sometimes call the Egyptian Bazaar), which is about an 8 minute walk.

This bazaar is what it sounds like; a bazaar full of spices as well Turkish delights, nuts, herbs, teas, and more!

It is a sensory shock with some of the brightest colors and fragrant smells!

This is a good place to try what is called a Turkish Delight– a sweet treat with loads of different flavors that vary from citrus to hazelnut to pistachio.

This bazaar is smaller than the Grand Bazaar and requires less time to walk through.

Eminonu Square

The Spice Bazaar is located close to the Bosphorus River in the old town of Istanbul.

When you exit you will come upon Eminonu Square where you can find vendors, street food and great views of the river, Galata Bridge and the newer town across the river.

Spend some time taking in the views of the fisherman on Galata Bridge and the New Mosque (Yeni Mosque) that is located just beside Eminonu Square.

Evening: Bosphorus River Cruise

While you are in this area, you might as well hop on a boat and take a ride down the Bosphorus River!

We did ours during the day, but I think a sunset cruise would be better!

The Bosphorus River Cruise will take you down the Bosphorus River where you will ride between the Europe and Asian Continents! You will see the Beylerbeyi Palace and Bosphorus Bridge before turning around and coming back.

The cruise is about 2 hours long and only costs about 10 euros (unless you opt for a cruise that includes dinner!– which costs about 25 euros)

Morning: Galataport & Karaköy

Spend the morning strolling along the Bosphorus River on the “new side” of Istanbul!

Karaköy is a neighborhood area located along the river that is full of charming cafes, shops and streets and is known for its art scene.

In the Karaköy area is also Galataport, a luxurious port that is home to higher-end shopping and dining.

Shops in the Galataport area typically open around 10am, so you can sleep in a little and take your time to get started on day 2!

This area is a great place to either grab breakfast or lunch!

Afternoon: Galata Tower & İstiklal Avenue

After exploring the Karaköy neighborhood, make your way toward Galata Tower! This will be anywhere from a 10 minute to 20 minute walk, depending on if you are coming from Galataport (further away) or the west side of Karaköy (closer.)

Galata Tower is located in the Beyoğlu district where you can find a lot of shopping and restaurants; this is a good place to find souvenirs!

Galata Tower boasts some of the best views in Istanbul, being built as a watchtower on the highest hill of Istanbul.

Now, it is a museum and, of course, costs to enter and climb the tower. I find it to be on the pricier side at 35 euros to enter.

Book tickets to Galata Tower if you want to get the view from above!

Galata Tower is located at the beginning of İstiklal Avenue, Istanbul’s most popular shopping street. It is a little less than a mile (1.4 km) of

İstiklal Avenue runs from Tünel to Taksim Square and is home to Istanbul’s vibrant nightlife, shopping, bars, restaurants, cafes, art galleries and more!

Along the avenue is a traditional red tram and nearby is the world’s second OLDEST underground metro/subway, Tünel (aka F2.)

Tünel connects Karaköy to the end of İstiklal Avenue near Taksim Square and is a must-do activity since its so old and historic!

Evening: Rooftop Dinner

I recommend having at least one rooftop dinner or drink while in Istanbul! We had dinner in the new town at Peymane Restaurant. It specializes in kebabs where you can see them cooking the meat over open coals!

The restaurant is located at the top of Grand Hotel de Pera. It isn’t well-labeled when you enter the hotel. If you get lost, just ask for directions!

Plus, the views are just as good as the food!