Istanbul in one week: the 7-day itinerary

A week in Istanbul lets you see everything without rushing, and keep time to wander, take a hammam or spend an evening in Kadıköy. This seven-day itinerary links the old city, the bazaars and Galata, the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, the Princes' Islands, a day of museums and modern districts, then a day trip outside the city. It alternates busy and light days, takes into account the weekly closures of Topkapı, the Grand Bazaar and Dolmabahçe, and points to a detailed guide for each day. Hours and prices: see the attraction pages, as of October 2026.

The principle: alternate busy and light days

Seven days of sightseeing in a row is tiring: the itinerary spaces out the three busiest days (1, 2 and 4) and leaves days 3 and 5 lighter. Weekly closures set the order: Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesday, the Grand Bazaar on Sunday and Dolmabahçe Palace on Monday. If you arrive on an awkward day, shift the days rather than drop a visit.

Overview

Day	Theme	Pace
1	Sultanahmet	Busy
2	Bazaars and Galata	Busy
3	Bosphorus and the Asian side	Medium
4	Golden Horn	Busy
5	Princes' Islands	Light, by ferry
6	Museums and modern districts	Medium, indoors
7	Excursion or free day	Your choice

Days 1 to 3: the essentials

Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque seen from the Galata Tower, above the Golden Horn

The hour-by-hour programme is in our guide Istanbul in 3 days. Day 1: Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern. Day 2: the Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye, the Galata Tower, İstiklal Avenue. Day 3: Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy, Üsküdar, Kadıköy.

Day 4: the Golden Horn

The colourful houses of Balat on the shore of the Golden Horn

The Chora Church in the morning, Balat and Fener at midday, then Eyüp and Pierre Loti Hill for sunset. The full route is in Istanbul in 4 days.

Day 5: the Princes' Islands

A day by ferry to Büyükada and Heybeliada, car-free, with walks and a fish lunch. Details on the page Princes' Islands and in Istanbul in 5 days. Keep this day for good weather: if it rains or is foggy, swap it with day 6.

Day 6: museums and modern districts

This is the classic rainy-day itinerary, but also the one that shows another Istanbul. In the morning, the Istanbul Archaeology Museums (next to Gülhane Park) or the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, on the Hippodrome. In the afternoon, move to Beyoğlu and Karaköy: Istanbul Modern, the Pera Museum or the Museum of Innocence. Finish in Nişantaşı for boutiques and cafés. Check each museum's closing day on its page: they are not all closed on the same day.

Day 7: excursion or free day

Two options. The excursion: the city of Bursa, the first Ottoman capital, can be visited in a day, see day trip to Bursa from Istanbul; our guide to excursions from Istanbul presents other ideas once that page is published. The free day: go back to what you liked, take the time for a hammam, shop with our guide to shopping and souvenirs or book an evening of whirling dervishes.

Planning meals and evenings

Each district has its speciality: see our guide what to eat in Istanbul. For evenings, Istanbul nightlife covers Beyoğlu and Kadıköy. Plan a quiet evening after each busy day.