Today I want to share my itinerary for 48 hours in Istanbul with you. This city in Turkey sits on the border of Europe and Asia, and it has a lot to offer on and around the Bosphorus. I’m here as a guest of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and I’m excited to share this advertising feature with you. I’ve included a map of my itinerary, too.
48 Hours in Istanbul
I’ve been invited to Istanbul to spend time at two Four Seasons hotels. One is right on the Bosphorus, and the other is in the historic heart of the city. I’m looking forward to staying at both on the same trip.
I’m here to experience some of the authentic ‘Do It Like A Local’ experiences Four Seasons has to offer. They’ve created a range of curated activities to provide guests with a genuine taste of the city.
From traditional Turkish baths to guided walking tours, they’ve covered a range of things visitors can do and see. I can’t wait to discover the highlights.
Day 1
I’m traveling with a friend, and we arrive in Istanbul at 5pm after a direct flight from London. As soon as we step off the plane, we notice a man holding a sign with my name and the Four Seasons logo.
He greets us and whisks us off on a buggy to fast-track us through passport control. It’s an impressive start to the trip.
Outside baggage claim, he hands us off to our driver, who ferries us into Istanbul in a saloon car with comfortable seats, a WiFi hotspot, and plenty of water bottles to keep us hydrated.
Four Seasons Hotel Bosphorus
We arrive at the Four Seasons Hotel Bosphorus just after nightfall. The hotel has graciously put us up in a suite with views over the water. With a grand bedroom, a living room, and two bathrooms, there’s enough space for us to spread out and settle in.
After unpacking our bags, we head downstairs to dinner. We’re dining at Yali Lounge, a waterfront restaurant with glass walls and stunning views of the boats outside.
For dinner we tuck into an international feast. We start with sushi, then work our way through everything from grilled rock sea bass to slow-cooked lamb tandir. It’s all delicious, and it sets the tone for a good trip.
Day 2
The next morning we continue our 48 hours in Istanbul with a spectacular sunrise and a leisurely breakfast at the hotel’s big buffet.
The Spa
Next we head to The Spa. With high ceilings and marble columns surrounding the pool, it’s one of the most beautiful spas I’ve been to in a long time. Add to that a hot tub and a steam room, and it’s hard to beat.
We’ve been offered a hammam treatment, one of the ‘Do It Like A Local’ experiences. After taking a dip we head into a marble room to get a scrub by the hotel’s expert therapists. Our skin feels great afterwards, and we feel ready to see more of Istanbul.
Land Shuttle
We check out of our suite and board the Four Seasons land shuttle. This complimentary van service transports passengers from the Four Seasons Hotel Bosphorus to the Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet several times a day.
Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet
Once in Sultanahmet, we check into our room at the Four Seasons there. The hotel is uniquely housed in a former prison, but our suite feels like anything but a cell. It has beautiful decor, views of the interior courtyard, and lots of space to relax.
After getting settled in, we head to lunch at Lingo Lingo. This casual restaurant offers a selection of global dishes in a chic atmosphere. We order a range of small plates to share, then choose decadent pastries from the hotel’s in-house sweet shop for dessert.
Tour of Istanbul
After lunch we head off on a private tour of Istanbul the hotel has offered us. Along with our guide, we’re excited to wander through the labyrinthine streets of the historic city and uncover hidden gems, ancient secrets, and timeless tales.
Our first stop is the Hagia Sophia. This gorgeous Byzantine church-turned-mosque is amazing to see. As our guide takes us around and points out the important artistic and historical elements, I keep thinking about how many centuries they’ve endured.
This place is fascinating with its blend of Byzantine Christian and Ottoman Muslim religious imagery and decor.
From the Hagia Sophia, we stroll over to the Blue Mosque. It’s known for its stunning domed ceiling, which has us looking up the whole time we’re inside. The intricate designs and patterns are mesmerizing, and we want to stare at them all evening.
But we have more to see. Our guide leads us down several streets to get to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. The minute we walk inside, we embark on a journey of the senses.
There are gold necklaces, silver platters, gem-studded boxes, and spices all around.
We turn a corner and see scarves in every color, stacks of shiny bowls, tall cones of spices, turkish delight, and other things that dazzle our eyes.
Forging deeper into the Grand Bazaar, we find ourselves in a labyrinth of antiques dealers. It opens into a wide stretch of stalls selling keychains, necklaces, coasters, and trinkets with the giant blue, white, and black eye that never stops watching us as we make our way through the market.
We walk back out into the night and emerge from the Grand Bazaar on sensory overload. Our guide takes us around to several other points of interest, including Sultanahmet Square and a book market.
At the end she shows us into a shop that sells everything from herbal teas to Turkish Delight. We buy some, only to realize later we’ve paid over 8 times the price we would have paid in the markets (30 pounds for a small bag of tea is expensive even by London standards). It’s the only disappointment of the trip.
Dinner
After the tour we head back to the Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet for dinner. We settle in at AVLU, the hotel’s main restaurant. Set in a glassed-in room in the interior courtyard, it serves modern Anatolian cuisine with a contemporary flair.
We enjoy everything from pan roasted Black Sea turbot to slow-cooked duck tirit and a dessert that’s so pretty we feel guilty eating it. It’s a great end to our day in Istanbul.
Day 3
The next morning we enjoy breakfast at AVLU before heading out for a free day of exploring the old town.
Old Town
We start at the Topkapi Palace. I toured it on my last trip to Istanbul, but we only have time to stroll through the gardens on this visit.
The palace is nothing less than sprawling Ottoman opulence at its finest, and even the gardens are impressive.
After walking along the paths, we make our way over to the Basilica Cistern. We buy tickets at the counter, head underground, and travel back in time to 6th-century Byzantium.
The space itself is otherworldly. Its high arches are supported by Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns, and the low light and sculptures add a surreal effect.
As we walk along the platform, we come to the two mysterious Medusa heads in the cistern. One is upside down, and the other on its side.
After touring the Basilica Cistern, we continue our 48 hours in Istanbul by walking to the spice market.
Like the Grand Bazaar, it’s home to a big central hall lined with vendors selling every spice imaginable. In addition, we find teas, sweets, and other mouth-watering delights.
After browsing the market, we start making our way to the Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet. We stop at a local restaurant for a quick lunch, then head back to our room to pack up.
48 Hours in Istanbul
A driver takes us to the airport, where we board our flight to London with heavy hearts. It’s been a great trip to Istanbul, and amazing to experience the city with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
Istanbul Map
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all the spots we visited on our trip to Istanbul. You can see it here. I hope it helps you follow in our footsteps and have a good time in Istanbul.
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