Istanbul is a layered city where Byzantine domes neighbour Ottoman palaces and modern art spaces. With an Explorer Pass you can streamline entry at powerhouse attractions, unlock lesser-known museums, and skip the ticket line that slows many first-timers. This 72-hour plan groups sights by neighbourhood, follows tram and ferry routes instead of exhausting walks, and sprinkles in cafe and viewpoint pauses so the pace feels relaxed rather than rushed. Each day finishes near dinner hubs, letting you roam evening streets without back-tracking.
Day 1 – Sultanahmet Core
The historic peninsula is Istanbul’s postcard heart. Most landmarks sit within a kilometre radius, yet queues balloon after mid-morning. Aim for the first entry wave and let the Explorer Pass unlock turnstiles while others buy single tickets.
08:30 • Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
• Arrive via Tram T1 (Sultanahmet stop) five minutes before doors open.
• Use the dedicated pass-holder gate to skip the ticket line.
• Spend 45 minutes tracing mosaics on the south gallery and the mihrab under the main dome.
• Carry a light scarf for shoulder covering; shoe bags are provided at the entrance.
09:30 • Basilica Cistern
• Walk two minutes down Yerebatan Street.
• New lighting highlights column capitals restored in 2024.
• Budget 30 minutes; find the Medusa heads in the far northwest corner.
• On exit, grab a simit from a street vendor.
10:30 • Topkapi Palace Museum
• Enter through the Imperial Gate; scan your Explorer Pass again for the Harem (small surcharge covered).
• Courtyard flow:
– First Courtyard: Hagia Irene exterior photos.
– Second Courtyard: Imperial Council Hall and Palace Kitchens.
– Third Courtyard: Sacred Relics and Audience Chamber.
– Harem: tiled Privy Chambers of Murad III.
• Pause on the Marble Terrace for sweeping Bosphorus views.
13:30 • Lunch in Sultanahmet
• Skip pricey Divan Yolu spots; leafy Kabasakal Street offers testi kebab or lentil soup.
• Allow 45 minutes, then stroll toward the Hippodrome.
15:00 • Hippodrome and Surroundings
• Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column and Walled Obelisk line up for easy photos.
• Refill a bottle at the German Fountain.
• Quiet coffee: courtyard cafe behind Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Mosque.
16:30 • Grand Bazaar Exploration
• Take Tram T1 to Beyazit-Kapalicarsi, enter via Gate 7 to dodge tour groups.
• One-hour browse targets:
– Losers’ Street for vintage carpets.
– Jewellery Lane for filigree silver.
– Spice alleys for saffron test tubes.
• Haggle lightly; cards accepted.
Hmo ntuj • Sunset on a Hippodrome Rooftop
• Many nearby hotels open terraces to non-guests.
• Order a pomegranate mocktail and watch minarets silhouette the sky.
• Dinner tip: lamb stew at a family-run lokanta on Peykhane Street.
Day 2 – Bosphorus Focus
European-side palaces meet water panoramas, ending beneath Galata Tower lights.
09:00 • Dolmabahce Palace Morning Slot
• Tram T1 to Kabatas, then a five-minute walk.
• Explorer Pass skips the ticket line at the Imperial Gate.
• Follow the one-way route: Crystal Staircase, Ceremonial Hall, Ataturk’s Bedroom.
• Exit by the seaside gate for bridge photos.
11:30 • Findikli–Besiktas Coastal Walk
• Stroll 20 minutes north along the waterfront.
• Watch rowers on the calm current.
• Snack on roasted chestnuts near the Naval Museum.
13:00 • Lunch at Besiktas Fish Market
• Try a grilled mackerel wrap or midye tava.
• Stand and eat alongside locals; prices stay fair.
14:00 • Bosphorus Afternoon Cruise
• Dentur Avrasya boats depart opposite the market.
• Show your pass barcode, board directly and bypass the payment queue.
• Two-hour loop reaches Rumeli Fortress; open decks perfectly frame Ortakoy Mosque.
16:30 • Tunnel Funicular to Istiklal Avenue
• Disembark at Kabatas, ride F1 funicular to Taksim, wander down Istiklal.
• Street musicians play along the tram rail; sample pistachio lokum as you go.
18:00 • Galata Tower Sunset
• Explorer Pass skips the ticket line; take the lift to the deck.
• Golden hour turns Bosphorus traffic copper.
• Descend into Karakoy for third-wave coffee.
Hmo ntuj • Karakoy Dining
• Seafood meze bars cluster on Kemankes Karamustafa Pasa Street.
• Order octopus salad and smoky eggplant puree while ferries glide past.
Day 3 – Asian Side Discovery
Crossing the strait reveals a laid-back rhythm, ideal for relaxed wandering.
09:00 • Ferry to Uskudar
• Board a Sehir Hatlari ferry from Eminonu or Karakoy; pay with Istanbulkart.
• Twenty-minute ride passes Maiden’s Tower at arm’s length.
09:30 • Uskudar Shoreline Walk
• Start at Salacak Promenade facing Topkapi Palace across the water.
• Slow down, sip tea from tulip glasses.
11:00 • Camlica Hill Panorama
• Bus 15 C from Uskudar pier climbs the hill in 25 minutes.
• South terrace shows the full Old City; north deck faces the Black Sea suburbs.
• Snack on gozleme from hilltop kiosks.
13:00 • Lunch in Uskudar
• Ciya Kofteci beside Mihrimah Sultan Mosque serves bulgur kofta bowls.
• Grab a pistachio cookie for the ferry ride.
14:00 • Ferry to Kadikoy
• Ten-minute crossing; upper deck avoids rush-hour crowds.
14:15 • Kadikoy Street Art Loop
• Follow murals in Rasimpasa backstreets:
– Fox Girl by Leo Lunatic on Uzuncaova Street.
– Rainbow staircases linking Guneslibahce Park.
• Hidden cafe stops: flat whites at Gida Hall, cold brew at Montag Roasters.
16:00 • Moda Promenade Gelato Break
• Walk south to the headland; locals sunbathe on seaside rocks.
• Pistachio-pear gelato at Ali Usta is a cult classic.
17:30 • Bonus Museums if Energy Remains
• Baris Manco House – Turkish rock memorabilia, covered by Explorer Pass.
• Istanbul Toy Museum – whimsical five-storey mansion (bus 10B).
• Both spots let you skip the ticket line via pass lanes.
Hmo ntuj • Kadikoy Market Dinner
• Fishmongers grill your pick over charcoal after dark.
• Finish with pomegranate juice at an open-air bar behind produce stalls.
Rainy-Day Switches
• Basilica Cistern → Istanbul Archaeology Museums (indoor).
• Dolmabahce gardens → adjacent Painting and Sculpture Museum (covered).
• Camlica Hill → Panorama 1453 Museum near the city walls (indoor dome).
• Moda shoreline → Kadikoy Antiques Passage for vinyl and postcards.
• Covered ferry decks mean rain rarely halts Bosphorus lines.