THE BEST OF ISTANBUL IN THREE DAYS
Top 10 Things To Do in Istanbul
DAY 1

Tour of the Blue Mosque Area. ST. SOPHIA IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS!
Please note that all of these sites are close in proximity and you can visit at your own pace, so if you arrive in Istanbul by mid day, you will still be able to do this tour. First visit Hagia Sophia Museum (or St. Sophia or Ayasofya) - probably one of the most exquisite buildings in the world. I suggest you find a guide near the ticket booth to take you through the church - you will learn so much - it is worth it. Go southwest from Ayasofya to the Blue Mosque (or Sultanahmet Mosque). The entrance is on the northwest side. On you way out of the Blue Mosque go east to the site of the ancient Hippodrome. All that remains today are 3 of the many statues, paintings, columns and busts that adorned this huge structure - the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and Walled Obelisk. Continue North to the site of the ancient Cistern. From here go back toward the Blue Mosque and enjoy an apple tea and a smoke from a water pipe at one of the Tea Houses on the street outside.

DAY 2

Walking Tour of Topkapi Palace Area: TOPKAPI PALACE & HAGIA EIRENE ARE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS! ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS. HOURS: 9AM - 5PM.
Be at Topkapi Palace by 10am. Buy your ticket at the booths that are located to the right of the tree-lined promenade before the main entrance. Students and teachers get a discount in most all museums in Turkey - so ask for it. The Harem Section is a separate ticket and it included a guide, so be sure to purchase it. If you want a guide, you will have to get one in this area. Make sure they speak your language and that you can understand them. Go through the main entrance.  If it is summer, go straight away to the Harem before it gets busy. The Harem building is about 100 yards ahead from the entrance on the left. Have lunch at the restaurant inside the Topkapi Palace Restaurant. There is a great view from there and the food is surprisingly very good.

To the north of Topkapi Palace, back through the tree-lined walkway, just inside the royal gates, is the Hagia Eirene - site of one of the world's first churches. Just east of Hagia Eirene is the Archeological Museum   Don't miss the sarcophagus depicting Alexander the Great's battles.

In the evening, you can go to the Orient House Dinner & Show at 8pm. It's a great show with fabulous Belly Dancers. Make reservations in advance!

DAY 3
Tour of the Covered and Spice Bazaars. BOTH THE COVERED BAZAAR an SPICE BAZAAR ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS!
Head for The Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi or the Covered Bazaar) opens at 10am. Be there at 10am or you will run out of time. Go to the Main Gate at "Nuruosmaniye" right by the mosque. Walk around and have fun! The bazaar has over 4,399 shops in over 5 miles of covered passageways. This is the best place in the world to buy gold, silver, carpets and leather. Leave the Grand Bazaar by 2:00 pm so you have time for the Spice Bazaar. Go to the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) or Misir Carcasi (Mi-sir Char-sha-si. If you are tired, you can take a cab from the same Main Gate at Nuruosmaniye, but I recommend you walk. If you walk, go back out the main gate and at the main street in front of you go left and follow Carsi Caddesi (Char-sha Jad-esi) all the way down the hill to the Golden Horn and the Spice Bazaar. It's a fun walk, full of local shops and shoppers - if you are lucky you will catch the "Pazar" or street market. The Spice Bazaar is close to Yeni Cami and the Galata Bridge, all in the area of the Golden Horn.

Tip: You are allowed to bring dried herbs, spices, hard cheese, nuts and dried fruits through US customs - but you must declare them. Stock up!

For a special treat, go to the restaurants that are under the Galata Bridge. This is a great place to watch the sunset and have dinner. Go to the restaurants on the South facing side of the bridge so you can enjoy the ferry boat port and the view of the Sea of Marmara. Order one thing at a time and share. Specialties are fried Anchovies, fried Sardines, fried Mussels, Stuffed Mussels and fresh local fish (Calamari is expensive). The local Efes beer is a perfect beverage to accompany your meal. Sometimes they take advantage of tourists - so make sure you check the menu and prices and don't accept any food the put on your table that you have not ordered. This is my favorite place to dine in Istanbul!
DAY 4

Go to the Ferry Station at Galata Bridge (Golden Horn). Take a ferry around the Bosphorus. To do this you just get on the ferry and travel through the stops, when the ferry turns back you should get off at Bostanci for a great fish lunch. Then catch the ferry back to Istanbul. Upon your return, get a taxi and go to Suleymaniye Mosque, built by the famous architect Sinan. Then visit Kariye Museum in the Chora Church renowned for its unsurpassed 11-14 century frescos (Closed Wednesdays). Then stop by the world famous Pera Palace, built for the passengers of the Orient Express Train and where Agatha Cristy wrote Murder On The Orient Express, for a spot of tea - the best Tea Time in Istanbul. Click here for tips on visiting a Mosque.
 
Topkapi Palace
Constructed during the time of Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1481, Topkapı Palace was the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans - at one point in during the 18th Century, housed a population of more than 10,000!  The most popular section of the museum, the Harem section, is a vast labyrinth of rooms and corridors (only part is open to the public), once occupied by the black eunuchs, concubines, the sultan's mother and the sultan himself. Another popular section, The Imperial Treasury, houses the Topkapi Dagger, Spoonmaker Diamond and the Throne of Nadir Shah. Other sections include the Palace Garments, Miniatures, Sacred Relics, Books, Maps and Historical Documents.
Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm, Closed on Tuesdays
Admission: about $20.00 USD. Harem Admission $10.00
For more information about Topkapi Palace visit http://topkapipalace.com/
 
Hagia Eirene
Hagia Eirene, one of the oldest churches in Constantinople and the Church of the Patriarch prior to Hagia Sophia, said to have housed the cross of Jesus Christ. It was enlarged in the early 4th century, and at that period played a major -and sometimes bloody- role in the controversies between Arian and Orthodox Christians. The church was burned down in the Nika Rebellion and rebuilt by Justinian. Hagia Eirene is the only Byzantine church in Istanbul with its atrium intact. The plan is a good example of the transition from a basilica to a Greek cross. Thick walls support the main dome and the small dome to the east, while columns divide the nave from the aisles. The plain cross in the apse must date from the iconoclastic period and the remains of the mosaics in the narthex probably date from the time of Justinian. Hagia Eirene was enclosed by the palace walls soon after the Ottoman conquest and was used by janissaries as an armory.
Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm, Closed on Tuesdays
Admission: Free to enter.
 
Archeological Museum
This exquisite museum houses treasures such as the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great, the sarcophagus of weeping maidens, the Lycian sarcophagus found at Sayda in Syria, a collection of up to 60 thousand various archeological finds, 500 thousand coins and medallions and 75 thousand inscription tablets. It is a must see.
Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm, Closed on Tuesdays
Admission: about $10 USD
 
Grand Bazaar (Coverer Bazar)
Within the complex of the Grand Bazaar are s over 4,399 shops in over 5 miles of covered passageways. Several hans (inns) are included in the complex, in particular the Valide Han, built in 1651, and the Zincirli at the northwest corner. Throughout Turkey such hans provided accommodation for merchants, their animals and their merchandise, as well as for travelers during the Ottoman Empire. Closed on Sundays.
 
Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)
The Spice Bazaar offers everything from Soup to Nuts! Herbs, spices and teas are the most popular. Saffron is very cheap, all the spices and teas are very fresh. You can also get olive oil soap, the best feta cheese and olives and the apple tea. After spice shopping you must visit the outdoor part of the bazaar - my kids call it the "Istanbul Zoo". Here they sell plants, seeds, every kind of bird you can imagine and many other interesting things. It is a treat for adults and children. Closed on Sundays.
 
Hagia Sophia (St. Sophia)
Hagia Sophia of Istanbul was completed in 360 during the reign of the Emperor Constantinus, and became known as the church of Divine Wisdom - Hagia Sophia. The original church was burned during an uprising on 20th June, 404, was rebuilt during the reign of Theodosius II, and re-opened on 10th October, 415. The second church was destroyed by fire during the "Nika Uprising" in 532, and was completely restored with the support of the Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian. This church is what we visit today. One can visit this magnificent building over and over again and find new wonders each time.
Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm Closed on Mondays
Admission: about $6.00 USD
 
Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet)
The mosque was built by Ahmet I in 1609 and completed in 1616 over part of the ruins of the Byzantine Palace. Its architect was Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, a pupil of Sinan. The vast interior is a vision of color and light and the marvelous Iznik tiles for which the mosque is so rightly famous.
Hours: Open during daylight. Closed during the pray times.
Admission: Free to enter.
 
Hippodrome
The Hippodrome was built in the 2nd century by Emperor Septimus Severus and later extended and remodeled by Constantine the Great. It covered an area of 500 by 200 yards, and seated 100,000 spectators. During the reigns of Byzantine Emperors, it was the center of the civil activities of the city. Although other events were also held here, the most important was chariot racing.
Hours: Open Air Park
Admission: Free to enter
 
Egyptian Obelisk
The Obelisk which stands in the area of the ancient Hippodrome is an ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Tutmoses III that was the seventh pylon of the great temple of Karnak(1479-1425 BC. It was re-erected in the Hippodrome of Constantinople by Roman emperor Theodosius I in the 4th century AD.
Hours: Open Air Park
Admission: Free to enter
 
Cistern
This cistern is thought to have been built by Justinian after the Nika revolt in 532 AD. It was known as the Basilica Cistern during the Roman period, as there was a Stoa Basilica above the pre-existing one at the time. After the conquest of the city by the Ottoman Turks, it was forgotten of and nobody knew that it existed. Re-discovered in 1545, it was used to water the gardens of Topkapi Palace. Today it has a rather eerie and mystical ambiance. Clever spotlighting makes the water shimmer with colored dancing lights and the water ripples from an occasional fish swishing its tail in exuberance.
Hours: Open everyday 9:00am to 6:00pm.
Admission:  about 6 USD.
 
Suleymaniye Mosque
Suleymaniye Mosque is the second largest mosque in the city, built by the architect genius Sinan by order of Suleyman the Magnificent.
Open during daylight. Closed during the pray times.
Free to enter.
 
Kariye Church
The Church of the Holy Savior of Chora, called in Turkish, Kariye Camii, is after Hagia Sophia the most interesting Byzantine church in the city. Not so much for the building itself, but because of the superb series of colorful mosaics and frescoes which it preserves and which have been magnificently restored and cleaned by the Byzantine Institute of America.
Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm, Closed on Wednesdays
Admission: about $5.00 USD
 

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