Ready to take a trip to the unique and beautiful city of Istanbul? In this post, I’ve created a 2 day travel itinerary for Istanbul full of some of the most well-known landmarks throughout the city. Istanbul is unique in that it sits on both European and Asian continents. My husband and I spent about 2 days wandering through the streets of Istanbul, where we encountered the friendliest cats, delicious Turkish food, and some of the nicest people. I would also recommend you try to learn a few basic words in Turkish as this is a great way to connect. Keep reading to learn more about some of the best things to do in Istanbul, Turkey:
1. The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) is an Ottoman-era mosque constructed between 1609 and 1616. It’s located next to the Hagia Sophia, another breathtaking mosque built in 537 AD, which throughout history was also known as a church and a museum. There’s so much history surrounding each of these grand mosques so be sure to research before visiting in order to gain a better understanding. These landmarks are also part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Galata Tower
The Galata Tower was first built as a watchtower, then turned into a prison, but today, it’s a museum with a 360-view of the city of Istanbul which attracts many tourists. We actually stayed in accommodation relatively close to this tower, and it was pretty neat to see it lit up at night.
3. Suleymaniye Mosque
The Suleymaniye Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque built around the 1550’s. It contains mausoleums for past royalty and their family members. Throughout history like many monuments, it’s been destroyed and restored various times. This mosque is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Gülhane Park
Istanbul has a number of public parks you can visit, so we ended up strolling through Gülhane Park. It’s one of the oldest parks in the city, beautifully designed, and colorful flowers can be found everywhere. If you’re wanting a relaxing, calm walk in the afternoon then this is definitely your place.
5. Turkish food
During your time in Istanbul, you have to try as much Turkish food as possible. Some of our favorites were lentil soup, pumpkin soup, baklava, pide (similar to flatbread), and su boregi (white cheese and pasta). We also tried some vegan treats like tiramisu and donuts, which were wonderful. Some restaurants we recommend include: Balkan Lokantasi, Cihangir Tarihi Simit Firini, Hocapasa Pidecisi, and Tarihi Sultanahmet Koftecisi Selim Usta. Just look them up on Google Maps beforehand and you’ll be ready to go!
6. Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar was filled with people so we only stayed here for a short time; however, it was fascinating to see all the stalls selling food, spices, clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs. It’s one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with over 4,000 shops, so good luck seeing the entire market!
7. Take a ferry ride between Europe and Asia
I think one of the best ways to see the different coastlines of Istanbul is to take the ferry across the Bosporus Strait. They have a ferry ride which leaves about every hour between the two sides and it’s totally worth it. You’ll see amazing views from the water, especially if you depart during sunset. Highly recommend adding this to your 2 day travel itinerary for Istanbul.
8. Cuddle with the friendliest cats
To our surprise, some of the cutest and friendliest cats can be found in Istanbul! The city is home to a lot of strays, but the shop owners often leave food and water outside. We sat down at a small café for a quick bite and were greeted by a few cats just wanting to lay down on our laps. I absolutely loved it and didn’t want to leave.
Although there’s so many more things you could add to your 2 day travel itinerary for Istanbul, I hope this post helped you start your own dream agenda. I can’t wait to hear how your trip goes! Searching for more travel inspiration? Feel free to check out my most recent blog posts and let me know in the comment section where your travels take you next!