# 5 days in Istanbul: a day-by-day itinerary > Five days in Istanbul are the highlights plus two neighbourhoods that short trips miss. The first three days cover the old city, the Bosphorus, the bazaars, Topkapı, Galata and Dolmabahçe. Day four is the Asian side: Kadıköy, the Maiden's Tower, Üsküdar and Çamlıca. Day five is the Golden Horn: the tiled mosques of Eminönü, colourful Balat, the mosaics of Chora and the sunset from Pierre Loti hill. Web page: https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/in-5-days ## Day 1 1. [Hagia Sophia](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/hagia-sophia.md) — YesGo score 91/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 15 min · €25 ↓ 3 min on foot 2. [Basilica Cistern](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/basilica-cistern.md) — YesGo score 70/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · ≈ 1,950–2,250 TL ↓ 5 min on foot 3. [Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square)](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/hippodrome.md) — YesGo score 77/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free ↓ 3 min on foot 4. [Blue Mosque](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/blue-mosque.md) — YesGo score 86/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 19 min by transport 5. [Bosphorus ferry cruise](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/bosphorus-ferry.md) — YesGo score 76/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Price: verifying Total with walks: 6 h 35 min ## Day 2 1. [Süleymaniye Mosque](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/suleymaniye-mosque.md) — YesGo score 70/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free ↓ 12 min on foot 2. [Grand Bazaar](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/grand-bazaar.md) — YesGo score 61/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 19 min by transport 3. [Topkapı Palace](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/topkapi-palace.md) — YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h · 2,750 TL with the Harem Total with walks: 6 h 46 min ## Day 3 1. [Fatih Mosque](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/fatih-mosque.md) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free ↓ 20 min by transport 2. [Spice Bazaar](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/spice-bazaar.md) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free ↓ 16 min on foot 3. [Gülhane Park](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/gulhane-park.md) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free ↓ 19 min by transport 4. [Galata Tower](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/galata-tower.md) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Price: verifying Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 23 min by transport 5. [Dolmabahçe Palace](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/dolmabahce-palace.md) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · 2,000 TL Total with walks: 6 h 43 min ## Day 4 1. [Kadıköy](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/kadikoy.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 26 min by transport 2. [Maiden’s Tower](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/maidens-tower.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Boat and entry: verifying ↓ 21 min on foot 3. [Üsküdar](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/uskudar.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free ↓ 29 min by transport 4. [Çamlıca Mosque](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/camlica-mosque.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free Total with walks: 8 h 16 min ## Day 5 1. [New Mosque](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/new-mosque.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free ↓ 5 min on foot 2. [Rüstem Pasha Mosque](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/rustem-pasha-mosque.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free ↓ 22 min by transport 3. [Balat and Fener](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/balat.md) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 14 min on foot 4. [Chora Church](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/chora-church.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · €20 ↓ 23 min by transport 5. [Pierre Loti Hill](https://yesgo.io/turkey/istanbul/pierre-loti-hill.md) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free Total with walks: 6 h 29 min ## How the five days work The first three days are the same as the 3-day itinerary: the places with the highest YesGo score in the order with the least walking. Days four and five are built by neighbourhood rather than score: places close to each other, one area per day. The Asian side and the Golden Horn are the most varied days. Kadıköy and Üsküdar are lively districts with markets and waterfronts and few tourists. Balat and Fener are old quarters with colourful houses and the mosaics of Chora, and the trip ends with sunset from Pierre Loti hill. ## Day four: the Asian side The ferry from Eminönü to Kadıköy takes about 20 minutes — transport and a short Bosphorus cruise in one. From Kadıköy along the water to Üsküdar, a boat to the Maiden's Tower, and in the evening the M5 metro to the Çamlıca mosque on its hill. Back by ferry from Üsküdar. ## Day five: the Golden Horn and Balat The morning is two mosques at Eminönü: the New Mosque and the tiled Rüstem Pasha. Then the T5 tram along the Golden Horn to Balat: colourful houses, cafés and the red Phanar school. Uphill to Chora and its mosaics, and for the sunset the cable car to Pierre Loti hill. ## Istanbul in a week: what to add Day six — the Princes' Islands: the ferry to Büyükada takes about an hour and a half, and the islands need a full day. Day seven — the European shore of the Bosphorus: the Ortaköy mosque, Bebek and Rumelihisarı fortress, and tulips in Emirgan park in spring. ## Where to stay for 5 days Five days are a reason to change area: the first three nights in Sultanahmet or Sirkeci, the last two in Karaköy or Kadıköy. If you would rather not move, choose Karaköy: one or two tram stops to the old city and a short ferry to the Asian side. ## Tips - Top up one Istanbulkart for the whole trip: tram, metro, ferries and the Pierre Loti cable car all use it. - The ferry to Kadıköy and Üsküdar is the cheapest way to cross the Bosphorus again. - Chora is closed to visitors on Fridays; the New Mosque opens after the midday prayer. - Leave Grand Bazaar shopping for the last day, when you know the prices. - Good shoes matter most on day five: Balat and Chora have steep climbs. ## Questions ### Is 5 days in Istanbul enough? Yes: the classics in three days plus the Asian side and the Golden Horn, without rushing. ### What is a good Istanbul itinerary for 5 days? Three days of classics, then the Asian side (Kadıköy, Üsküdar, Çamlıca) and the Golden Horn (Eminönü mosques, Balat, Chora, Pierre Loti). ### Is 5 days in Istanbul too much? No: the last two days show neighbourhoods most short trips never reach. ### How do I get to Balat? By the T5 tram from Eminönü, about 15 minutes. ### When is Chora open? Every day except Friday for visitors; foreigners need a ticket. ### How do I get up Pierre Loti hill? By cable car with an Istanbulkart, or on foot through Eyüp cemetery. ### What to add for a week in Istanbul? The Princes' Islands and the European shore of the Bosphorus with Ortaköy, Bebek and Rumelihisarı. ### Where to stay for 5 days? Sultanahmet or Sirkeci for three nights and Karaköy or Kadıköy for two, or Karaköy for all five. ### What is closed on which day? Topkapı on Tuesdays, Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi on Mondays, the Grand Bazaar on Sundays, Chora on Fridays. ### Is it good with kids? Yes: ferries, the Maiden's Tower boat, the Pierre Loti cable car and Galata Tower are popular with children. --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.