5-Day Istanbul Itinerary for First-Time Visitors - Hagia Sophia, Markets & Classic Eats
See Istanbul’s icons in five days and eat like a local: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi by morning, then market-hunt at the Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar, Grand Bazaar and Karaköy market. Pro tips: book Hagia Sophia/Topkapi and the Bosphorus cruise in advance, arrive early to avoid lines, and shop markets in the morning for best produce. Restaurant picks: in Sultanahmet try Sultanahmet Köftecisi near the square; grab snacks at Arasta Bazaar’s lokantas on Mimar Mehmet Ağa Cd.; sample Pandeli inside the Spice Bazaar; eat fresh seafood at Karaköy (market stalls and Karaköy Lokantası); for lively meyhane dinner head to Nevizade off İstiklal Caddesi; in Moda choose seaside spots along Caferağa. Final payoff: clear route, timed visits, and concise food stops so you spend less time queuing and more time exploring.
istanbul
