All itineraries
Istanbul, Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye

2 days in Istanbul

Where Europe meets Asia, bazaars, mosques and the Bosphorus. Here's how to spend 2 days in Istanbul: a realistic day-by-day plan you can copy and tweak. The best time for this 2 days Istanbul trip is June, July and August. Budget roughly $130/person/day before flights.

Built live from Wikipedia and maps · Wikipedia · OpenStreetMap · Open-Meteo
Length
2 days
Best time
June, July, August
~Cost/day
$130
Currency
USD
Make this trip yours
Change the days, budget and pace. Save it, map it, share it, free.
Customise this plan

Your 2 days Istanbul itinerary, day by day

1

Day 1

09:00
İskenderpaşa~$5
İskenderpaşa is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Fatih, Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its population is 12,024 (2022). It is in the European part of Istanbul. It is
12:30
Column of Marcian~$5
The Column of Marcian is a Roman honorific column erected in Constantinople by the praefectus urbi Tatianus and dedicated to the Emperor Marcian (450–57). It is located in the pres
16:00
Church of St. Polyeuctus
The Church of St. Polyeuctus was an ancient Byzantine church in Constantinople built by the noblewoman Anicia Juliana and dedicated to Saint Polyeuctus. Intended as an assertion of
2

Day 2

09:00
Central market & street-food lunch~$12
Grab lunch where locals do.
12:30
Aksaray station~$5
Aksaray is a rapid transit station on the M1 line of the Istanbul Metro. It is located in central Fatih under Adnan Menderes Boulevard near Aksaray square. Aksaray was opened on 3
16:00
Murat Pasha Mosque, Aksaray
The Murat Pasha Mosque is a 15th century Ottoman mosque squeezed in between two busy roads linking Aksaray and Yusufpaşa in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey.

A starting point, not a script. Reshuffle it in the planner →

What 2 days in Istanbul costs

What this trip costs

$712
Flights$45063%
Stay$598%
Activities$477%
Food$7811%
Local transport$314%
Shopping$213%
Buffer$264%
$356/day

Estimates for planning, so check live prices before you book.

Have more or less time in Istanbul?

3 days in Istanbul 4 days in Istanbul 5 days in Istanbul 1 week in Istanbul Full Istanbul guide

2 days in Istanbul: FAQ

Is 2 days enough for Istanbul?+

2 days is enough to cover the main highlights of Istanbul without rushing the essentials. The plan above balances the must-sees with time to wander.

What should I do on day 1 in Istanbul?+

Start with İskenderpaşa, Column of Marcian and Church of St. Polyeuctus. The full first day is mapped out above.

How much does 2 days in Istanbul cost?+

Budget around $130 per person per day for a mid-range trip (stay, food and activities), before flights, so roughly $260 per person for 2 days. The cost breakdown above splits it by category.

When is the best time to visit Istanbul?+

The best months to visit Istanbul are June, July, August and September, when the weather suits sightseeing best.

Itineraries for other cities

4 days in LisbonPortugal
4 days in BarcelonaSpain
4 days in ParisFrance
4 days in RomeItaly
3 days in AmsterdamNetherlands
3 days in PragueCzechia