Istanbul in three days

Use the first day for the historic places that matter most to you. Choose a manageable number, check current access details and leave time for a meal and a walk nearby.

If you choose the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, its official listing below provides museum hours. It is separate from the Hagia Sophia Mosque and the listing does not describe mosque visitor arrangements.

Choose Beyoğlu and Karaköy for passages, cafés and waterfront streets, or Kadıköy for market lanes and a different shore. Spend more time in one area instead of adding multiple long transfers.

Take a ferry crossing and build the rest of the day around the district where you arrive. A slower route might include a market, a waterfront walk and a long meal.

This is a starting framework, not a schedule. Swap days to suit opening times, weather, mobility and your interests. Verify transit and visitor details close to the visit.