48 Hours in Istanbul, Properly
Two days in Istanbul arranged so that nothing is queued for. Hour by hour across both sides of the Bosphorus, with the traffic accounted for.
Two days in Istanbul, arranged so that nothing is queued for and nothing is rushed.
Day one
Early. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque before the coaches arrive. This is the single scheduling decision that changes the day.
Mid morning. Topkapi, and specifically the Harem, which most groups skip.
Lunch. Somewhere in Sultanahmet with a roof, or across the Golden Horn if you would rather leave the old city behind.
Afternoon. The Basilica Cistern, then the Grand Bazaar with someone who knows which of the four thousand shops are worth entering.
Evening. The Bosphorus at dusk, from the water rather than a terrace.
Day two
Morning. The Asian side. Kadikoy market, which is where the city actually shops, and where almost no visitor goes.
Midday. Ferry back. Twenty minutes, and the best view in the city for the price of a token.
Afternoon. Beyoglu on foot. Galata, the passages off Istiklal, a hammam if the pace allows.
Evening. Dinner in Karakoy, then home along the water.
Istanbul punishes improvisation more than most cities, mainly because of traffic and opening hours. Two days done well require someone watching both.
Two days shaped this tightly are not booked from a menu. They are built, which is the work described under private travel design.
