Istanbul in 3 Days: The Perfect Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

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stanbul, where two continents wink at each other across the water, is an ancient city that carries the story of a different empire down every street. First-time visitors will be captivated by its charm, but they also have to reckon with its chaos and its never-ending crowds. Istanbul in 3 days gives you routes built around a handful of key spots where you can genuinely feel the history. Planning it well matters, though; you need to use your time wisely and put together a solid route, because getting it wrong can leave you stuck in a traffic queue for hours. Visit a museum or an archaeological site at the wrong time and you won’t enjoy it either. To stay clear of traps like these, you can see your holiday through under the assurance of Mokan Travel tours and transfer services.

Once you’ve seen Istanbul, the only things left in your mind should be the city’s enchanting atmosphere and the happiness it gave you. Good planning is what will have you telling everyone around you that it was the best trip of your life, and that you weren’t even that tired. Set aside all the secondhand advice you’ve collected and start learning how the city really works. You’ll find the answers to questions like what the street culture is like, where the local food stops are, and where you should be during the best hours for photos. The result will be an Istanbul travel plan that leaves you every bit as satisfied as the one you pictured in your dreams.

What to Know Before You Set Off

Before you start on your plan, you’ll need to think about how to manage your time, your energy and your budget in Istanbul. These belong on the very first page of your travel notebook.

Tips for Escaping the Traffic: First things first: 3 days in Istanbul is nowhere near enough to fit the whole city in. To live it properly, from the most historic corners to the nightlife, you really need a full week. Travelers who are short on time, though, split their days around the places that will make them happiest and that they most want to see. If your time is limited too, make a point of using rail and sea when you take public transport. Istanbul’s weekday rush hours, 07:30 - 10:00 in the morning and 16:00 - 21:00 in the evening, are extremely busy. In those hours, the metro lines, the tram and the Şehir Hatları city ferries will get you where you’re going in a short time. That way, the Istanbul route you’ve drawn up will actually work.

Using an Istanbulkart: If you’re planning to get around the city by public transport, buying an Istanbulkart is a must. Contactless credit cards are actually accepted on buses and across most of the network, but if your card isn’t enabled for international payments you’ll run into problems. So if you intend to use public transport at all heavily, be sure to get this card. Alongside single-ride versions, there are also cards loaded with 10 rides.

Museum Visits and Entrances: The historic sites you’ll be visiting in Istanbul are run by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and by the Directorate of National Palaces. So that foreign guests don’t have to wait in line at the entrances, it’s worth getting a Museum Pass Istanbul. Every cultural site charges a different entrance fee, and the pass you buy lets you enjoy unlimited entry instead.

Cut the Fatigue by Choosing the Right Shoes: Istanbul’s historic districts may look close together on the map, but the distances can turn out long and full of hills, and the wrong choice of shoes will tire you out on top of it all. Heels, or heavy thick-soled boots, will wear you down faster than they should; a light pair of sneakers, on the other hand, will rest your feet as you walk. When you book Mokan Travel Istanbul tours, private vehicles take you wherever you want to go and stay with you the whole way. That means you can wear heels in a stylish setting, then switch straight back into sneakers whenever you feel like building a walking route.

Istanbul Itinerary Day 1: Sultanahmet and the Historic Peninsula

When you have a route you want to complete among the places to visit in Istanbul in 3 days, the trip absolutely has to start in the Sultanahmet area. The Historic Peninsula has been the city’s center since Istanbul’s founding years, and it’s what makes this city so ancient: it was the seat of power for Rome, Byzantium and the Ottomans alike. With its history and the lasting monuments it holds, the area could fairly be described as an open-air museum.

Morning: The Splendor of Empires

1. Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

Start your day early with the symbol of Istanbul, before you get swallowed up by the crowds. If you’re at the door between 08:30 and 09:00, you’ll be free of the ticket-line hassle and won’t be stuck waiting in the kind of queues that only add to your fatigue. This 1,500-year-old piece of architecture, which will hold you spellbound from the first moment you see it, shows just how significant and how mesmerizing art made by human hands can be. The gallery section on the upper floor is open only to foreign tourists and requires a ticket. If you want a close look at the Byzantine-era mosaics, the money you pay will genuinely be worth it. The ground floor is used as a prayer area.

• Getting there / Metro: T1 Kabataş - Bağcılar tram line (you’ll get off at Sultanahmet station). From there it’s a 3 - 4 minute walk.
• Estimated time you’ll need for the visit: 1.5 hours
• Cost: The Hagia Sophia entrance ticket, available only to foreign visitors, is €25 for the upper floor

1. Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)

Rising behind a lush green park directly opposite Hagia Sophia, this masterpiece has six minarets in total and more than 20,000 İznik tiles decorating its interior, which is why it’s known as the Blue Mosque. When the first light of day slips in through the high windows, the peaceful, pleasant atmosphere inside calms you right down. Since it’s an active place of worship, Fridays can get very crowded; visiting in the morning also helps you wander comfortably before the midday prayer. You do need to mind the dress code. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and you’ll need to cover your hair with the scarves available at the entrance. All of these are provided free of charge at the Blue Mosque entrance.

• Getting there / Metro line: If you made Hagia Sophia your first stop, it’s a 2-minute walk away.
• Time to set aside for the visit: 45 minutes to 1 hour is enough.
• Cost of the visit: Free

Midday: Palace Life, a Mysterious Cistern and Traditional Lokantas

If you got through the morning route we described quite quickly, you may not feel the need to eat yet. Still running on the energy of breakfast, you might prefer to wander a little longer, enjoying the thin crowds and the cool of the morning while they last. For anyone trying to squeeze in an Istanbul in 3 days trip, timing and routing matter enormously, so we’ll get to lunch after a bit more sightseeing.

1. Topkapı Palace and the Harem

Ottoman sultans lived in this palace for 400 years. As a complex it isn’t merely a palace; it’s a city in itself, with huge Bosphorus-view courtyards that hold thousands of stories. We’d strongly recommend putting the Chamber of the Sacred Relics, the imperial thrones and the Harem, famous for its intrigues, on your list. For anyone keen on photos, we suggest the palace’s fourth courtyard in particular: enjoy the Bosphorus view from the terrace of the Mecidiye Pavilion and take some beautiful shots to keep as a memory.

• Getting there: Walk around behind Hagia Sophia and you’ll arrive in 6 - 8 minutes.
• Estimated visiting time: If you’re planning a thorough visit and will be buying a Harem ticket as well, you’ll need to spend at least 2.5 hours.
• Cost of the visit: If you’d like a combined ticket covering the Harem and Hagia Irene, you’ll pay €50.

1. Lunch Break

After three different stops in total, it’s finally time to eat and get your energy back. The area’s historic köfte houses and its Istanbul grill flavors stand out here in particular. The options run wide, from the famous old Sultanahmet köfte restaurants all the way to places for vegetarians and anyone who’d rather eat fast food.

• Estimated cost: Between €10 and €40, depending on the dishes you choose.

1. Yerebatan Sarnıcı: The Basilica Cistern

For the Basilica Cistern, one of the most mystical and mysterious stops of the day, you’ll be heading underground. It was built in the Byzantine era to supply water to both the city and the palace. A truly enormous underground cistern, the structure has been turned into something even more bewitching, closer to a contemporary art gallery, thanks to a modern restoration and lighting scheme completed over five years. The hundreds of columns rising out of the water and the cool air inside will give you a genuinely peaceful stretch of time. Above all, don’t leave without seeing the iconic upside-down Medusa head set in stone at the base of one of the columns.

• Getting there: From the Topkapı Palace exit, you can walk toward Sultanahmet Square and reach it in 5 minutes.
• Estimated visiting time: 1 hour
• Cost: You’ll pay a Basilica Cistern ticket price of €35 between 09:00 - 18:30 and €50 between 19:30 - 22:00.

Evening: Historic Bazaar Labyrinths and a Wonderful Dinner

1. The Grand Bazaar

This is one of the biggest and oldest trading centers not only in Istanbul but in the world. However many large shopping malls have opened across the city, it remains the focus of attention for local and foreign visitors alike. With more than 60 streets and thousands of shops, it’s a colossal labyrinth. The moment you step inside you’re facing a different world, and you’ll want to get lost down every one of its lanes. You’ll lose yourself among the hand-woven carpets, the gleaming precious jewelry and the souvenir shops. One of the moments that leaves the deepest mark here is the haggling you’ll do with the shopkeepers. Never pay the first price you’re quoted for something you like. Bargaining culture matters here, so be sure to negotiate a little on the price before you buy.

• Getting there / Metro line: From the Basilica Cistern, if you follow the tram tracks along Divanyolu Street, you’ll arrive in 15 minutes. Or you can board the T1 tram and get off two stops later at Beyazıt - Kapalıçarşı station.
• Estimated visiting time: 1.5 hours
• Cost of the visit: Wandering is completely free; the price changes with the shopping you do here.

1. The Spice Bazaar: A Flavor All Its Own Amid the Scent of Spices

Right next to the Grand Bazaar sits another big market, the Spice Bazaar. Here you can find spices of every kind, dried fruits and nuts, and Turkish delight. You can sample all of it, each thing tastier than the last, and shop to suit your own palate. Flavors unique to Istanbul are easy to come by here, so you can buy them not just to eat on the spot but in gift packages to carry back to your country and the people you love.

• Getting there: A two-minute walk after you leave the Grand Bazaar.
• Estimated visiting time: Set aside 1 hour and you can browse at your leisure.
• Cost of the visit: Entry and browsing are free. If you’d like to shop here, though, prices take shape according to what you buy.

1. Dinner Break: Upscale Dining and Historic Street Flavors

By the time you’ve seen the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, evening will be closing in and your energy will start to run a little lower, which is exactly when you may want to try some good food. Back at your hotel, you’d be served a standard dinner. But in a city like Istanbul, where gastronomy stands as tall as culture, you owe the street flavors a chance. Along your Istanbul route, dinner is especially well spent at the historic köfte or pide houses. The old Black Sea pide bakeries in this area in particular turn out crisp, crackling pides that will leave a wonderful taste in your mouth. You can also eat Cağ Kebab, meat at its very best and ranked high on the Taste Atlas food list. The menus are casual, delicious and prepared at hygienic counters, and dishes generally reach the table 10 - 15 minutes after you order.

• Getting there / Metro: Walking down from the Grand Bazaar takes 12 minutes. Take the T1 tram line to Sirkeci station instead and you’ll be there in 5.
• Estimated time to set aside for dinner: Between 1 and 1.5 hours, depending on what you want to eat and how many different flavors you set out to try.
• Cost: On average, it will come to €15 - €50 per person.

Istanbul Itinerary Day 2: The Bosphorus Breeze and the Cosmopolitan Spirit of Beyoğlu

When we reach Day 2 of our places to visit in Istanbul in 3 days route, we leave the deep past behind. The route now turns toward Galata, Istanbul’s modern face and the colorful heart of its nightlife. And it isn’t only Galata and Beyoğlu here; there’s also İstiklal Street, which gives you a long, satisfying stretch to explore.

Morning: A Delightful Ride in the Sea Air and the Dance of the Seagulls

There’s no putting a price on tea and simit aboard a morning ferry, with that lovely breeze on your face. On the uncrowded early boats you can watch the Bosphorus from end to end and witness the whole marvelous view. Whatever you do, don’t overlook the ferry ride when you’re putting together your Istanbul route.

1. The Eminönü - Karaköy Ferry and Morning Tea

Begin the day at the historic Eminönü pier and cross over to Karaköy. Şehir Hatları ferries depart every 20 minutes, so even if you miss one, the next will be along right away. The crossing itself is short anyway and takes just 15 minutes, but the impression it leaves on you will be immense. If the weather is nice and not so cool as to bother you, we’d recommend sitting outside. With a glass of tea from the café on board and a simit alongside it, you have an instant breakfast. If you like, buy one simit extra and watch the visual feast as you toss pieces to the seagulls. Once the ferry reaches Karaköy, don’t skip a cup of coffee at the cafés under the old buildings around the French Passage.

• Getting there / Metro line: You can take the T1 tram or board the ferry departing from the Eminönü pier.
• Estimated time for travel and the visit: The ferry crossing takes 15 - 20 minutes, while a pleasant walk and a coffee break take about 1 hour.
• Cost: The ferry crossing is €1.20, and coffee and snacks run €4 - €10.

1. Galataport Istanbul

This enormous development was built along the Karaköy waterfront, and a whole different, upscale mega-scene has grown up here. Once entirely closed to the public, this stretch of shoreline now offers an unbroken walk with views of the Bosphorus and out toward the Historic Peninsula. You can breathe in that one-of-a-kind Bosphorus air and visit the Istanbul Modern art museum while you’re at it. Among Istanbul photo spots, make a point of choosing this route.

• Getting there / Metro line: Continue from the Karaköy ferry pier along the shore toward Tophane; you can reach it with a 10-minute walk.
• Estimated visiting time: 1 - 1.5 hours
• Cost: Exploring Galataport is free, though Istanbul Modern art museum tickets are €15 - €20.

Midday: A Historic and Cultural Tunnel from Galata to İstiklal

Come midday, we head toward Galata Tower, a structure so striking in its architecture that it catches the eye even from out on the Bosphorus. As you shape your Istanbul travel plan, this makes a terrific leg both for seeing this enchanting building and for taking beautiful photos.

1. Galata Tower and Its Surroundings

After leaving Galataport, we slip into Karaköy’s famous narrow streets. The murals and graffiti art you’ll see on the walls are captivating, and the Kamondo Stairs, one of the iconic photo backdrops in the city, are here too. A very steep climb waits on the way up, so sneakers really are the only sensible choice. For the story of Galata Tower, we’d strongly recommend exploring this area with a guide. Mokan Travel puts together exactly the experience you’re after, covering both your transfers and a rewarding cultural tour. The tower is a legacy of the Genoese, and it also serves up Istanbul’s grandest and most spellbinding 360-degree panoramic view.

• Getting there / Metro line: If you walk from the Karaköy waterfront, you can get there in 15 minutes up steep slopes. Anyone who’d rather not tackle that tiring climb can use the F2 historic Tünel funicular, the second-oldest metro in the world. It brings you up to Tünel Square, and from there a 5-minute walk downhill lands you at Galata Tower.
• Estimated visiting time: If you want to go up the tower, you’ll need two hours once you factor in the ticket line and the wait for the elevator.
• Cost of the visit: Galata Tower ticket prices for 2026 have been set at €30 for foreign visitors. The area around Galata is also full of cafés where you can have San Sebastian cheesecake. When you drop into one of them, try the wonderful desserts.

1. Lunch: İstiklal Street and Traditional Lokantas

From Galata Tower we walk uphill to Tünel Square, where the famous İstiklal Street is now waiting for us. For lunch, our firm advice is to walk right past the fast-food chains on the avenue, because you can eat those just as easily back home. Say hello to Turkish flavors instead at the historic lokantas hidden away in İstiklal’s side streets. Over 3 days in Istanbul, the city manages to make the food every bit as memorable as the history and the views. And so you don’t have to agonize over which lokanta to pick, just ask our expert representatives.

• Getting there: 6 - 10 minutes from Galata Tower to the head of the avenue.
• Estimated time: 1 - 1.5 hours
• Cost: €15 - €35, depending on the kind of food you choose.

1. İstiklal Street and a Walk Along the Nostalgic Tram Line

Starting at Tünel Square and ending at Taksim Square, this iconic avenue runs about 1.4 km. Crowded and lively at every hour of the day, it hosts millions of visitors. The historic tram rolling down its middle isn’t just a means of transport; it turns into a prop for your loveliest photographs. İstiklal Street holds so many historic buildings that you may want to visit, or at least photograph, every single one. St. Antoine Catholic Church in particular stands out with its imposing doorway, and the Gothic architecture inside will leave you in awe. You can light a candle there yourself, too. The avenue is also home to the historic Çiçek Pasajı, the Flower Passage, with the fish market just behind it, where visitors who enjoy a lively night out can get a close taste of the rakı-and-fish atmosphere.

• Getting there / Metro: This one is best covered on foot; it’s important for studying the historic atmosphere and texture up close.
• Estimated visiting time: 1.5 hours
• Cost of the visit: The churches and historic buildings along the avenue are free to visit. Depending on the shopping you do, though, a modest cost may still emerge.

Evening: Bosphorus Pleasures, the Istanbul Skyline and Delicious Fish

Istanbul’s evening scenery casts a spell with the marvelous colors of the Bosphorus and the city. In the hours when the sky turns crimson or shades into purple, you won’t want to put your camera back in your bag. Eating dinner against that magnificent Bosphorus view, sipping your rakı, you’ll give yourself over to the city’s singular atmosphere.

1. Sunset Bosphorus Cruise from Eminönü

Once you’ve toured İstiklal Street and reached Taksim Square, the midday route is complete. What’s left now is the evening: a matchless Istanbul Bosphorus cruise and an enjoyable dinner. From Taksim you can take the F1 funicular line down toward Kabataş, or if you prefer, ride the M2 metro and reach Eminönü across the Golden Horn. Depending on the season of your visit, you can join one of the short Bosphorus cruises timed to catch the sunset. As the light slowly fades and the sky turns red, you can watch the yalı mansions along the Asian and European shores, Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque and the Bosphorus bridges glide past. For a 3 days in Istanbul plan, this will be a glorious experience.

• Getting there / Metro line: Take the M2 Yenikapı - Hacıosman metro line from Taksim in the Vezneciler direction. Get off at the Haliç station on the metro bridge and you can walk down to the Eminönü pier.
• Estimated time: 1.5 - 2 hours
• Cost: €7 - €15 per person with private excursion boats or the cruises run by Turyol.

1. Dinner: Karaköy Fish Flavors or Cheerfully No-Frills Spots

After a wonderful boat tour, you can walk back over the bridge to the Karaköy side. When you come to Istanbul, be sure to make fresh seasonal fish part of your dinner. The stops along the Karaköy waterfront may look rough around the edges, but they’re seriously tasty; order a full plate if you like, or go the balık ekmek route, the classic fish sandwich, if that’s more your style. The lively venues under the bridge even put on a Turkish Night, complete with rakı and fish.

• Getting there: A 10-minute walk
• Estimated time: 1.5 - 2 hours
• Cost: A no-frills balık ekmek with a drink is €6 - €10. A more pleasant experience at an elegant restaurant ranges from €40 to €70.

Istanbul Itinerary Day 3: Colorful Neighborhood Culture and Calm

The last day of an Istanbul in 3 days trip is for routes where you can take a few more photos and finally find some calm. Today you step out of the classic tourist mode and wander like a true Istanbullu. You’ll spend the morning strolling the nostalgic, historic quarters of the Golden Horn, and the afternoon in the free-spirited, energetic streets of the Asian side.

Morning: The Golden Horn’s Colorful Labyrinths and Bohemian Streets

1. The Streets of Fener and Balat

Fener and Balat are Istanbul’s old Greek and Jewish quarters. Especially after the restorations of recent years, they’ve managed to become some of the most photogenic parts of the city. The day’s first stop is the imposing Red School, rising on the hilltop like a castle; its real name is the Fener Greek High School. Its architecture alone will enchant you, and you’ll find yourself striking pose after pose in front of this colossal building. As you keep walking downhill, Merdivenli Yokuş, the famous stepped street, appears in front of you. Its brightly painted, iconic houses make a photo corner all of their own. There are souvenir shops here to match your style, along with authentic little stores selling bohemian clothes. These areas carry Istanbul’s old neighborhood culture so completely that as you spend time in them, you start to feel like a local yourself.

• Getting there / Metro line: Take the T5 Cibali - Alibeyköy Cep Otogarı tram line and get off at Fener or Balat station.
• Estimated visiting time: 1.5 - 2 hours
• Cost of the visit: Every place we’ve mentioned is free. If you’d like to take a short break in these historic streets for tea or coffee, though, or buy a few souvenirs, it will cost up to €30 in total.

Midday: Crossing Over to Asia and Magnificent Gastronomic Flavors

1. Crossing from Eminönü to Kadıköy

After wandering Balat and Fener, we use the T5 tram once more and head back to Eminönü. Now the Istanbul route takes shape all over again: we’re crossing to Asia. We’ll board the ferry at the Eminönü - Kadıköy pier, and after a 25-minute ride we’ll arrive in Kadıköy. This splendid ferry journey will be anything but an ordinary crossing, though, because the Maiden’s Tower on our left and Haydarpaşa railway station with its marble columns on the right will put on an impressive show. To hear the Maiden’s Tower story or to visit with a Maiden’s Tower ticket, you can turn to Mokan Travel’s safe, professional tours.

• Getting there: Şehir Hatları ferry (Eminönü - Kadıköy)
• Estimated time: A 25 - 30 minute sea journey
• Cost: €1.20 ticket price

1. Lunch: The Historic Kadıköy Market and Its Flavors

You’ll need a bit of energy when you set foot in Kadıköy, because the walkable routes here go on and on, and if you didn’t eat much at breakfast, you may feel it flag as you walk. Kadıköy is, quite simply, Istanbul’s gastronomic hub. If İstiklal and Taksim are where you can eat Istanbul kebab, and Eminönü is the first place that comes to mind at the words balık ekmek, then Kadıköy is where all of it meets. You can try the newly opened pastrami spots in particular, or the restaurants carrying a Gault & Millau recommendation. Several restaurants here hold Michelin stars, and some have even managed to become the subject of Netflix documentaries. Get in touch with us to book a table and try the very best of these flavors; the dishes you want will reach your table at the hour you want, with no waiting. After the meal, you can stroll Kadıköy’s historic market and look over what the local traders are selling.

• Getting there / Metro line: A 5-minute walk from the Kadıköy ferry pier.
• Estimated time: 1 hour will be enough.
• Cost: Anywhere from €20 to €80, depending on whether you go for regional dishes or a more luxurious table.

1. The Streets of Moda and the Secondhand Bookshops

One of Kadıköy’s most famous meeting points is the Bull Statue. This is also home turf for Fenerbahçe, the Turkish football club, and if you happen to be here on a match day, you’ll see just how colorful it gets. With flares burning and anthems ringing out, you’re welcome to join the fun yourself. Once you’ve seen the statue and taken your photos, follow the nostalgic tram tracks over to Bahariye Street. Keep along this road and you’ll reach Moda, one of Istanbul’s most bohemian, refined, calm and pleasant avenues. The tree-lined streets, the old secondhand bookshops, the antique dealers, record stores and design boutiques will pull you completely out of the chaos you saw on the European side. It may well turn out to be the part of your Istanbul travel plan you love most for its quiet and its calm.

• Getting there / Metro line: You can walk through the market district toward Moda, or use the T3 nostalgic Kadıköy - Moda tram line.
• Estimated time: 1 - 2 hours
• Cost: You can explore the neighborhood for free. Depending on the experiences you’re after and the shopping you do, though, you may end up spending anywhere from €5 to €100.

Evening: Sunset on the Grass and Kadıköy Culture

1. The Calm of the Moda Seaside Lawns and a Matchless Sunset

On the final day of an Istanbul in 3 days route, the right place to shake off the tiredness and ease the sweet ache of all that brisk walking is the Moda waterfront. Follow the slope running down to the sea from the center of Moda and you’ll land exactly where you need to be. Moda Seaside Park is one of the places Istanbullus, and young people especially, choose both for resting and for watching the view. The historic landmarks of the European continent sit right across the water, and you can sip your drink as you watch the sun go down.

• Getting there / Metro line: A 5-minute walk from the center of Moda.
• Estimated time: 1 hour
• Cost: Nature’s wonderful visual feast is free!

1. Dinner and a Wonderful Farewell: Kadife Street or Kadıköy’s Meyhanes

To savor Istanbul on your last evening, experience its nightlife, which lives free-spirited and full of motion. Depending on your idea of a night out and your own culture, you have two different options. If you want an energetic evening and a lively finish, be sure to stop by the bars street: on historic Kadife Street, you can listen to live music in pubs converted from old wooden mansions. If you’re after something a bit more traditional, and you’d like to drink your rakı over easy conversation, then we’d point you toward the meyhanes, Istanbul’s classic taverns. There are plenty to choose from, and you can ask us to learn which are the tastiest and best of them.

• Getting there / Metro line: To cross back from central Kadıköy, you can use the yellow dolmuş minibuses or the ferries. If you use Mokan Travel Istanbul transfer services, VIP vehicles will pick you up wherever you are and take you to your hotel or straight to the airport.
• Estimated time: 2 - 3 hours will be plenty for this send-off.
• Cost: If pubs are your pick, you’ll pay €25 - €50 depending on how much you drink. At the meyhanes, that figure will be €40 - €80.

When this historic journey comes to an end, it will stay with you as a stretch of time that refuses to fade, as much for what you saw as for what you tasted. The experiences you lived, the photos you posed for, the flavors that settled on your palate will all be a splendid reason to bring you back to Istanbul. And on your next visit, you’ll understand that a list of places to visit in Istanbul in 3 days barely scratches the surface, and you’ll want to stay much longer.