One Day in Istanbul, Turkey: Top Things To Do in a Single Day

When I had less than two days to spend in Istanbul, I felt completely overwhelmed trying to figure out what to put on my schedule. Because there is such a wide variety of things to see and do in the city, one of my goals was to experience all of them.

I was able to tour all of Istanbul’s most famous attractions in a single day by making detailed itineraries and putting in a lot of miles on foot. To be very specific, it is about 20 kilometers.

The Blue Mosque

The name “Blue Mosque” is the most popular one used to refer to one of the most well-known and well-recognized tourist locations in all of Istanbul, near Hagia Sophia.

Many people consider Blue Mosque, same as the Hagia Sophia, but they are two different nearby tourist spots in Istanbul. It was constructed in the year 1616, and it features approximately 20,000 handcrafted ceramic tiles!

Here you can read about some famous Mosques in Turkey.

The Historic and Renowned Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar was undoubtedly one of my most memorable places to visit. It was constructed in 1461, has a length of 61 streets, and has more than 3,000 businesses, making it one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world.

Get Your Turkey Visa

Before anything else, you need to know how to get your tourist visa for Turkey. If you have your visa, not only you can visit these best places in Istanbul, but you can travel to Turkey’s most historical places.

As an Algerian citizen, you can get your Turkey visa from Algeria by submitting a visa application online.
As a Cambodian citizen, you can get your Turkey visa from Cambodia by submitting a visa application online.

The View of Istanbul from the Rooftops

The most spectacular views of Istanbul can be had from atop one of the city’s many skyscrapers, and the city’s architecture provides a wealth of options for this.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to have a whole rooftop to myself. Whereas most of them are occupied by locals who are responsible for their safety.

Hagia Sophia

More than one thousand four hundred years have passed since the Hagia Sophia was first constructed. The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, who was responsible for the conquest of Istanbul, had the building turned into a mosque in 1453.

Prior to that year, it had operated as an Orthodox Cathedral. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosques are among the best historical places to visit in Turkey.

During the process of conversion, the Sultan chose to conceal the religious symbols rather than remove them. As a result, visitors can now experience a really unique monument that bridges the gap between time and religion.

Stop for Turkish Coffee (Turkish Coffee Stop)

A stop for a cup of Turkish coffee is an obligatory part of every vacation to Istanbul and should not be skipped. Coffee from Turkey is one of the most potent forms of caffeine-containing beverages.

It has a cardamom taste that is really noticeable. This Turkish coffee also has a consistency that is in between espresso and a touch thicker.