Istanbul in 3 Days: everything you need to know

From its spring days with tulip gardens, the beaches and ferry rides in the summer, the polychrome of autumn and the mythical winter nights, Istanbul can be the perfect city for a short break.

Three days can be enough to see some of Istanbul's most iconic sights. Here are some alternatives to get a taste of the soul of ancient Constantinople, the cradle of the cultural bridge that unites East and West.

The best place in my opinion to start a tour of Istanbul. This is the area where several of Istanbul's great treasures and monuments are located and not to be missed during your visit to this magical city.

Visit Topkapi Palace

Start your day with a visit to this architectural gem. In addition to the breathtaking views from this part of the Bosphorus strait, the Topkapi Palace has four courtyards and multiple buildings inside, including the Archaeological Museum, which houses the famous sarcophagus of Alexander the Great. An ideal alternative to include on your first day in Istanbul. You can take guided toursinside for a visit that can last from one to two hours.

The place has many objects of traditional Islamic art, relics of the great prophet Mohammed and inside you can get a close look at what life was like for the great Sultans who reigned in ancient Constantinople.

One of the most famous rooms is The Treasury which brings together two great attractions such as the Kasikci Diamond, with its 86 carats, considered one of the most exotic jewels of the East and the Topkapi dagger, which is encrusted with three huge emeralds and is the symbol of the palace.

Useful information:

• Price: Palace + Harem + Hagia Irene for approximately €17.50 (285 Turkish Lira), Palace + Hagia Irene for approximately €12.30 (200 Turkish Lira). Free admission for children under 6 years old.
• Opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 18:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
• Address: Cankurtaran Mh., 34122 Fatih / Istanbul.

Explore the Blue Mosque

If only the exterior of this place amazes with its enormous gardens, there is nothing to say about its huge courtyard and the thousands of tiles that decorate its vault and to which it owes its name.

This structure rests on what was once the Great Palace of Constantinople and was built opposite the Hagia Sophia Mosque, in a sign of the greatness of the Ottoman Empire. Nearby, you can admire other city classics such as the Hippodrome and the Egyptian Obelisk, perfect for a morning spent discovering the city's treasures. Here is a list of the top 10 must-see mosques in Istanbul.

Useful information:

• Price: free entry
• Opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 19:00.
• Address: Sultanahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul.

Tour the Grand Bazaar

After this tour of some of the gems and monuments in Istanbul, it's time to enjoy a tour of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, which for over 600 years, has been the economic and commercial centre of the city, with over four thousand shops clustered inside, selling all kinds of decorative objects, traditional carpets, lamps, typical Turkish gold and silverware, jewellery, spices and much more.

Nowadays this huge market, with more than 60 streets to walk through, is open every day except Sunday and you can find some mosques, hammams (Turkish baths) and food stalls nearby, famous for their coffee and typical desserts. I suggest you research beforehand which areas of the bazaar are most interesting for you, as, if you like shopping, this can easily be an adventure for a whole day.

Useful information:

• Price: free admission
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Address: Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul.

I recommend the tour in this order: visit the Topkapi Palace in the morning, as it is usually very crowded, and then have the rest of the day to see other important points of the city. In addition to these three places, you can also include in your first day:

• Basilica Cistern
• Hippodrome of Constantinople
• Church of St. Sergius and St. Bacchus

Dine in the Fatih District

With a wide range of gastronomic offerings, this area of the city allows you to immerse yourself in the culinary culture of the country, from the famous kebabs to the structured and delicious "meze". This area offers ample opportunity to indulge in the country's culinary curiosities.

In this district there are also plenty of bars and terraces to enjoy a beer or a raki, considered **Turkey'**s traditional drink, as well as to experience the city's Sufi heritage in depth and admire the perfection of the Dervish Girovagos dance at the Hodjapasha Cultural Centre.

I suggest you also book agastronomic tour of Istanbul that allows you to enjoy all these delights with the help of an expert local guide.

A city like Istanbul, with its array of seas and coasts, must necessarily offer the maritime experience to enjoy beautiful sights and good fresh fish in the best Turkish style.

Galata Bridge

Legendary and beautiful, this bridge is the pure connection between the two continents. From the classic fishermen whose rods dangle over the Marmara, to the imposing Galata Tower and its surroundings, this tour will take you to discover the most European part of the city.

An area where you'll also find plenty of cafes, museums and galleries in one of the city's most iconic neighbourhoods: the Beyoğlu district, renowned for its antique shops and bohemian life, where you can also find the best nightclubs in Istanbul. I recommend you look for the Kamondo staircase, a fantastic place where you can take great pictures with its art nouveau architecture.

If you walk past the bridge, you can find good places to taste fresh fish in multiple presentations at any time and watch one of the best sunsets in the city on board the ferry.

Visit Taksim Square

Also known as Independence Square, this is the most modern part of Istanbul. Nearby you'll find the Atatürk Cultural Centre, where you can enjoy exhibitions, music and dance performances throughout the year.

This is where one of the city's most popular thoroughfares begins, the important İstiklal Caddesi, which you can discover on board a tram that seems lost in time. It is a shopping area frequented by locals and has a wide gastronomic offer.

Climbing the tower of the Istanbul Sapphire, a modern shopping mall that was once the tallest building in Istanbul, can offer a beautiful panoramic view of the city and, if you like adrenaline, you can live a virtual reality experience by simulating a tour of the city aboard a helicopter.

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace was one of the first European-style palaces to be built in Istanbul.

Situated on a striking waterfront promenade, this place can take you on a journey back in time to the era of the sultans and give you a glimpse of how they lived in these huge palaces, surrounded by comfortable facilities and the glamour of this exotic corner of Asia.

A good experience inspired by the Thousand and One Nights, with chandeliers and salons worthy of princes and princesses, with more than 280 rooms and a Crystal Bridge that make this a good visit. If you're lucky you can watch the changing of the palace guard in one of the largest buildings in Turkey.

Visit a Turkish bath

They are plentiful in Istanbul and will be the perfect place to relax while getting a good massage with healing herbs or a bubble bath.

Turkish baths in Istanbul are one of the things not to miss if you are short on time in the city. Normally located in traditional areas of Istanbul, they offer you a place to relax through a thousand-year-old tradition, perfect for regaining strength and energy after a day of discovering the city.

Bear in mind that many of these places have rooms for men or women only, so if you want an experience with your family, your partner or friends, I recommend you check out the mixed hammams.

In these places you can also enjoy aromatic infusions and a good spa; a plan that will leave you ready to enjoy your last day in Istanbul.

One of the most legendary areas of the city and where you can admire the enormous intercultural richness of the city.

Spice Bazaar

One of the oldest markets in Europe and the perfect place to enjoy all the colours, smells and flavours of Asia in one place.

A space more than four centuries old, specialising in fruits, cereals, vegetables, spices and foods typical of Turkish and Asian cuisine in general, it is also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, and is the perfect place to try a dondurma, Istanbul's most popular ice cream.

With a gelatinous texture, these ice creams are most famous for the spectacle that the vendors put on to attract customers. Also classic is the market of traditional herbs and home remedies, evil eye charms and pomegranate fruit to attract prosperity.

Tour the Eyüp neighbourhood

This is probably one of the most Islamic quarters of the city and is located just outside the ancient walls of Constantinople. It is also the third most popular pilgrimage site in Islam after Mecca and Jerusalem, as the Eyüp Camii Mosque is the site of Abbu Ayyub al-Ansari, one of Muhammad's closest disciples. If you want to explore the best mosques in Istanbul, I suggest you include this place in your tour.

Another of the beautiful viewpoints of Istanbul and its famous Golden Horn is located at Pierre Loti's café, perfect for having a coffee and enjoying this unique view of the city and the local cemetery, where the remains of poets of Islam and sultans of the Ottoman Empire are laid to rest.

A highly recommended walk if you are doing this tour is to take the cable car in the area and admire these wonders from the heights.

Bosphorus cruise

The best way to say goodbye to the city, a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait is a good option to get a deeper insight into the soul of Istanbul.

From a ferry or a cruise ship, a boat trip along the strait can leave you with the best images of Istanbul in your head and in your photo album. A tour in which you can appreciate the great structures that fill the city with magic, while you have a drink and admire a traditional show such as belly dancing or live Turkish music shows.

I recommend you to book a tour, as it is a good option to admire the city from the water and enjoy a traditional gastronomic experience in Istanbul.

• The city is served by two airports: Atatürk International Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Check your transfer options to and from Istanbul airport to make your schedule more convenient.
• If you're visiting Istanbul's mosques and other religious sites, you probably won't be allowed in sleeveless shirts or shorts.
• Many places, especially bazaars, markets and street food stalls, do not have electronic payment facilities. If you're going to visit one of these, I recommend carrying Turkish lira in cash.
• To get around the city and use all available means of transport, I recommend you buy an Istanbulkart card, which you can recharge to use during the days of your trip.