Bosphorus cruise: cruise
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Istanbul
Istanbul spans two continents across the Bosphorus, pairing centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman history with lively bazaars, waterfront neighbourhoods and a food scene people keep coming back for.
Istanbul spans two continents across the Bosphorus, pairing centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman history with lively bazaars, waterfront neighbourhoods and a food scene people keep coming back for.
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How Troovz stays freeTemporarily closedFethiye Mosque · Great Palace Mosaic Museum
For a stopover, this short plan visits the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace, ending with the time to leave for the airport.
Layover · IST 06:00 → 21:00
Layover · 2 adults ·
1
2
3Leave for the airport by 16:30
Leaving the airport means passing passport control. Before you fly, check that you're allowed to enter Türkiye with your passport.
Flights, car rental and airport transfers for your trip: 1 day · 1 adult.
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How Troovz stays freeFly from anywhere, to anywhere.
Pick an area, then a place that fits your budget and style.
First time? We suggest for the sights.
The historic heart of the old city, with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace a short walk apart.
Tours and tickets matched to your plan and interests. Tap the heart to save one for Build your own.
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Open to visitors, with a few customs.
Mosques are usually open to visitors outside prayer times and close for longer around Friday midday prayers. Visitors usually take their shoes off before going in and cover their shoulders and legs; women usually cover their hair too. Rules can vary, so please follow any instructions and ask the staff on arrival.
What to sort before your 1-day trip, plus a few useful words.
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How Troovz stays freePlug type C, F
230 V, 50 Hz
Mobile data for your trip. Set it up before you fly.
per plan, one phone
See plans(opens in a new tab)Leave your bags for a few hours or a day.
per bag a day
Find storage(opens in a new tab)Tap to hear. English is usually spoken in hotels, at major sights and in many central restaurants; less so in local neighbourhoods and markets.
Places to eat near your plan and your stay. Tap the heart to save one.
Chosen from places featured in respected travel and food guides, or on a halal certifier's list, as of October 2026. We don't take payment to include a place.
Please confirm with the restaurant if you have any allergies.
11 min from Spice BazaarSea bass baked in paper · Sirkeci & Eminönü
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: MICHELIN Guide, checked Oct 2026
21 min from İstiklal AvenueHamsi tava (fried anchovies) · Galata & Beyoğlu
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: Yemeksepeti, checked Oct 2026
31 min from Basilica CisternKöfte · Sultanahmet
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: Yemeksepeti, checked Oct 2026
42 min from Kılıç Ali Paşa MosqueTypical Tantuni wrap
52 min from Rüstem Pasha MosquePistachio kebab · Sirkeci & Eminönü
Price level$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: menufiyatlar.com - Hamdi Restoran Menü Fiyatları, checked Oct 2026
62 min from Spice BazaarTurkish coffee · Sirkeci & Eminönü
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi online shop, checked Oct 2026
No places near your plan with this option
19Hünkar beğendi · Nişantaşı
Price level$$$
Vegan optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Vegan options: Source: Cornucopia, checked Oct 2026
Vegetarian options: Source: Cornucopia, checked Oct 2026
Price level: Source: Yemeksepeti, checked Oct 2026
20Turkish coffee · Balat & Fener
Vegan options
Sources
Vegan options: Source: European Coffee Trip, checked Oct 2026
21
22Home-style stew · Kadıköy
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: MICHELIN Guide, checked Oct 2026
23Typical Elbasan tavaElbasan tava · Üsküdar
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: Yemeksepeti, checked Oct 2026
24Ekşili kebap · Kadıköy
Price level$$
Vegetarian options
Sources
Vegetarian options: Source: istanbul.com, checked Oct 2026
Price level: Source: istanbul.com, checked Oct 2026
One card for most rides on public transport. Airport routes are in Flights.
Pays for rides on the metro, tram, funicular and cable-car lines run by Metro İstanbul. Tap the card at the gate each time you enter.
Per person, paid locally · as of October 2026
Licensed taxis run on a meter: the opening fee is TRY 71.94, then TRY 47.92 per km, with a minimum fare of TRY 230. A 5 km daytime ride usually comes to about TRY 311.54. These are set by the city's tariff, not by any taxi company or ride-hailing app. As of 16 Oct 2026.
Taxis: Uber usually works here for booking licensed taxis.Yellow TaxiBlack TaxiLarge Taxi
Typical costs, and how to pay.
Excluding your stay.
| Per person, per day | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | TRY 240 | TRY 720 | TRY 1,100 |
| Lunch | TRY 260 | TRY 360 | TRY 1,020 |
| Dinner | TRY 360 | TRY 1,020 | TRY 1,830 |
| Drinks | TRY 140 | TRY 530 | TRY 790 |
| Getting around | TRY 180 | TRY 180 | TRY 500 |
| Sights (entry tickets) | TRY 6,090 | TRY 6,090 | TRY 6,090 |
| Total a day | TRY 7,270 | TRY 8,900 | TRY 11,330 |
Sights are counted at the standard entry ticket. Guided tours cost more. Prices as of October 2026.
Typical prices, as of October 2026
Cards are usually accepted in hotels, larger shops and most city restaurants. Carry some lira for markets, street food, small cafés, dolmuş minibuses, hammams and tips.
as of September 2026
ATMs run by banks are usually cheaper than stand-alone machines, though many banks also charge foreign cards a fee. If asked, choose to be charged in Turkish Lira. Your own bank may also charge a foreign-use fee. Check with your bank before you go.
Tipping is optional but appreciated. In restaurants, around 5–10% is usual; check first whether a service charge is already on the bill. Tips are usually left in cash.
as of September 2026
Sultanahmet
Seasons, weather, and the events and holidays that change opening hours, crowds and prices.
Average highAverage lowRainy days
Typical, based on past years. Not a forecast.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | 5° | 14 days |
| February | 8° | 5° | 13 days |
| March | 11° | 6° | 11 days |
| April | 14° | 10° | 9 days |
| May | 19° | 14° | 7 days |
| June | 24° | 19° | 6 days |
| July | 27° | 21° | 4 days |
| August | 27° | 22° | 4 days |
| September | 24° | 19° | 7 days |
| October | 19° | 15° | 10 days |
| November | 14° | 11° | 11 days |
| December | 10° | 7° | 15 days |
Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar
Winter is the quietest time in Istanbul: shorter days, cool and often wet weather, and shorter queues at the big sights. Museums, mosques and covered bazaars make good rainy-day plans.
Apr · May · Oct · Nov
Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable seasons for walking the city, with mild days and long evenings. April brings tulips to the parks; sights are busier, so start early.
Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
Summer is hot and humid, with long days and the biggest crowds. Plan indoor sights for midday, walk and take ferries in the morning and evening, and carry water.
Coming up in the next 12 months. to see what falls during your trip.
Quick answers to common questions.
Whether you can leave the airport depends on your passport, your ticket and the time between your flights. Please check the entry rules for your passport before you plan to leave the airport.
The layover plan keeps to the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque across the square and Topkapı Palace, which stand a short walk apart in Sultanahmet. As of 16 Oct 2026.
If you are able to leave the airport, the layover plan keeps you in one area, Sultanahmet, where the most-listed sights stand close together, so no transport is needed between stops once you arrive. As of 16 Oct 2026.
Follow the one-day plan instead: it uses the same area and adds the Hippodrome, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. As of 16 Oct 2026.
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