- Day 1
- Sultanahmet and the great monuments
- Day 2
- The Bosphorus, palaces and Galata
- Day 3
- Balat, Chora, the markets or the Asian side
- Closed days
- Topkapı Tuesdays · Dolmabahçe Mondays · Grand Bazaar Sundays
- Best single addition
- The Chora Church mosaics
- Pace
- Comfortable, with time to sit down
Days one and two
Run these exactly as in our two-day itinerary: the old city on foot on day one — Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace — and the water on day two, with a Bosphorus cruise, Dolmabahçe or Galata, and sunset from the Asian shore.
Having three days means you can take both of those at a gentler pace — a long lunch instead of a sandwich, an hour longer in the palace.
Day three, option A — the Golden Horn
Our favourite third day. Start at the Chora Church (Kariye) if it is open — fourteenth-century Byzantine mosaics that are, quite simply, the finest in the world, and usually near-empty. Then downhill into Balat and Fener: the coloured houses, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the cast-iron church of St Stephen, and lunch in one of the small restaurants on Vodina Caddesi. Finish along the Golden Horn.
Day three, option B — markets and the working city
Start at the Spice Bazaar and, more importantly, the streets behind it where Istanbul actually shops. Walk uphill to Süleymaniye Mosque — Sinan's masterpiece, the tombs of Süleyman and Roxelana, and the terrace view over the Golden Horn. Continue to the Grand Bazaar for the afternoon. Closed Sundays.
Day three, option C — the Asian side
Take the ferry to Kadıköy and spend the morning in its food market — this is where Istanbullus eat, and it is superb. Walk to Moda for coffee by the sea. In the late afternoon move up to Üsküdar for its Ottoman mosques and the Salacak promenade at sunset. You will see almost no other visitors all day.
If you have a fourth day
In summer, the Princes' Islands — an hour by ferry, no cars, pine trees, horse-drawn carriages replaced in recent years by electric vehicles, and nineteenth-century wooden mansions. In winter, a proper hamam, the Archaeological Museum, and the parts of the Grand Bazaar you did not reach.
Making three days work
The main risk with three days is losing time crossing the city. Day three in particular involves getting up the Golden Horn or across to Asia, which is where a private car saves an hour or more. On a private tailor-made Istanbul tour we sequence the three days so that no day doubles back on another, and so the closed days never bite.
Three days in Istanbul — frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for Istanbul?
Three days is the first point at which Istanbul feels properly seen: the old city, the Bosphorus and one real neighbourhood, with time to sit down. Four or five days is better still, but three is a genuinely good trip.
What should I do on day 3 in Istanbul?
Choose one: the Golden Horn (Chora mosaics and Balat), the markets (Spice Bazaar, Süleymaniye and the Grand Bazaar), or the Asian side (Kadıköy food market, Moda and sunset at Üsküdar).
Can you see the Asian side of Istanbul in 3 days?
Yes — a half or full day is enough for Kadıköy's food market, Moda and Üsküdar, and the ferry crossing is one of the pleasures of the city. Very few short-stay visitors bother, which is exactly why we recommend it.
See it with a private local guide
Every tour we run is private and tailor-made — you choose the places, your licensed local guide plans the day with you, and a private car is always included.
Plan my private Istanbul tour
