Suggested schedule
- 09:00
Hagia Sophia
Arrive at opening to take in the vast dome before the queues build.
- 10:30
Blue Mosque & Hippodrome
Cross the square to the tiled mosque and the ancient chariot grounds.
- 12:30
Lunch in Sultanahmet
Grilled kebabs and a spread of meze in the old city.
- 14:00
Topkapi Palace
Tour the courtyards, the harem, and the imperial treasury.
- 16:30
Grand Bazaar
Sip tea and bargain for lamps, spices, and carpets in the covered lanes.
- 18:30
Bosphorus at sunset
Board a short cruise to see both continents glow from the water.