Last year we spent a fall weekend getaway in Istanbul. Whether you’re new to traveling or have been before, a weekend in Istanbul can be amazing. In this post, we’ll explore the attractions, where to eat, and places to stay in Istanbul.

A little disclaimer here: Both my husband and I had visited Istanbul in the past. We’ve already visited the major attractions, so this time we took a more relaxed approach! Still you can change or build on our itinerary to make most of your time in the city.

Weekend in Istanbul Day 1: Exploring Fatih

Our first day started with a visit to Suleyimaniye mosque. As the name suggests, Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned it. The mosque’s inauguration date was 1557 and for 4 centuries it was Istanbul’s largest mosque. It is built on a hill, which means excellent views over Galata, the Golden Horn and Bosporus. Behind the mosque, there are the mausoleums of Suleiman and his wife Hurrem Sultan.

Making our way north towards Ballat we made a stop at Zeyrek mosque. Before Constantinople fell, the building was a Christian Orthodox church. It was the Pantokrator monastery, originally built in the 12th century AD. During the Latin occupation of Constantinopole, the Venetian clergy used the monastery. After the fall of the city, the Ottomans converted it to a mosque.

The colorful houses in Balat were our next destination. It’s one of Istanbul’s most Instagrammable places and you will find them on Kiremit Cadesi.

Nearby is the Fener Greek High School also known as The Great School of the Nation. It was founded in 1454. It is the oldest surviving and most prestigious Greek Orthodox school in Istanbul. The building dates from the late 19th century. Konstantinos Dimadis designed the building, following an eclectic architectural style. To me it resembles a castle. A rather ornate one.

Since we were nearby, we also visited the Patriarchal Cathedral Church of St. George.

For a late lunch we headed to the Spice Bazaar on foot from Fener. Although there is no specific seaside promenade, we arrived at our destination without getting hit by cars. You can definitely check Google maps for a safer route!

The Spice bazaar dates from the 17th century. It houses stores dedicated to spices, teas and of course Turkish delights. It is less chaotic than the Grand Bazaar, which resembles a labyrinth.

Weekend in Istanbul Day 2: Exploring Sultanahmet & Topkapi

Our second day had a late start which meant less time to explore the city. We walked towards Hagia Sophia mosque and the Blue Mosque. The former had long lines to get inside. We didn’t have that much time to spare. Since we had visited the site in the past, we skipped it. If you do have time to spare, it is definitely worth a visit.

Emperor Justinian commissioned Hagia Sophia in the 6th century AD. They created it as the grandest church ever and it was the epitome of Byzantine architecture. Other churches and later mosques were inspired by Hagia Sophia’s architecture.

Sultan Ahmed commissioned the Blue Mosque in the 17th century. Its interior is decorated with Iznik tiles in predominantly blue colors. Hence the name blue mosque. When we got there, the mosque had just closed for prayer. So we headed to Topkapi.

Topkapi is a palace complex overlooking the Golden Horn and Marmara Sea. It consists of four main courtyards and smaller buildings. We explored the palace’s kitchens which now exhibit a porcelain collection. The ornate Imperial Council Chamber on the second court is worth a visit.

 The Baghdad pavilion is very pretty and has a view over the Golden horn and Galata tower.

We spent a good 2,5 hours in the palace and then also visited Hagia Irene church. It is the oldest known orthodox church in Istanbul. Unlike the other ones, it was never converted to a mosque. Nowadays you can visit the church with a combined ticket for Topkapi palace.

We ended our visit in Istanbul by marveling the Yeni Mosque and passing the Galata Bridge once more.

Where to eat in Istanbul

Beatrice

Beautiful rooftop restaurant with gorgeous views over the Golden Horn and Fatih. It is located in Galata district on the top of Adahan DeCamondo hotel. It serves International cuisine and cocktails.

Karaköy Güllüoğlu on Kemankeş Cd.

For your baklava fix, Karaköy Güllüoğlu is a great destination. Their store at Kemankeş Cd has a modern vibe and is open until 1AM.

Pandeli inside spice Bazaar

On the first floor of the spice Bazaar you will find Pandeli restaurant. Michelin’s guide features the restaurant in its Bib Gourmand list. Everything we tasted was delicious. I particularly liked the Persian rice and the quince dessert. The resrtaurant is overlooking the Yeni Mosque and Galata Tower.

Zeyrekhane next to Zeyrek mosque

A great location for coffee and dessert is the Zeyrekhane next to the mosque of the same name. It has great views over the Golden Horn and Galata Tower.

Where to Stay:  Finding the Perfect Accommodation

We stayed at The Bank Hotel near Galata Bridge. The location is excellent! You can cross the bridge on foot and get to the Fatih neighborhood . Besides, the Karakoy neighborhood is full of bar and restaurants. The building, you guessed it, used to be a bank. The room was very comfortable and had a marble shower. Breakfast is served on the ground floor. It had many options to choose from and a lovely dining area.

This pretty much sums up our weekend in Istanbul! Get inspired by our itinerary and you’ll be ready to get the most out of your time in this city.