Istanbul in 1 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

In Istanbul, two worlds converge and you will find places that will win you over at first sight. With its beautiful and imposing monuments, ancient mosques and grand bazaars, Istanbul is a must-see destination.

This place is a must-see on your visit to Istanbul, which is why I consider it the first stop of the day: it is the Topkapi Palace, the centre of the ancient Ottoman Empire and, together with the Topkapi Harem, a place where you can explore stories full of magic.

Be aware that given its beauty and cultural richness, it tends to be very crowded, so I recommend you book a guided tour of the Topkapi Palace to tour it comfortably and listen to all the information that the guide will provide you with:

• In the Topkapi Palace Museum you can appreciate great collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, Ottoman miniatures, manuscripts and much more.
• In the Palace Treasury, you can admire a collection of jewellery, including the famous and legendary Topkapi Dagger.

Just outside the Topkapi Palace you can find the oldest park in Istanbul just a few metres away.

Gülhane Park was part of the outer garden of the palace and in 1912 the City Council decided to convert part of this area into the park you can enjoy today. Here, depending on the season, you can stroll around and enjoy the beautiful greenery and peaceful atmosphere compared to the hustle and bustle of other areas of Istanbul.

A highly recommended place if you are travelling with children to Istanbul or if you are travelling between May and November, when the weather will be ideal for you to enjoy it.

Continue your tour by visiting a symbol of Istanbul and a masterpiece of universal architecture: the Great Mosque of Hagia Sophia, transformed three times throughout its history and considered the oldest cathedral in the world.

Impressive domes, marble columns and beautiful mosaics, this place will dazzle you and will certainly leave you with a travel memory that will be hard to erase. A magical place that stands on the first hill of Istanbul, surrounded by the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara.

Book a guided tour of Hagia Sophia to make sure you don't miss a single detail. It is well worth it because it also includes a visit to the Blue Mosque, one of the most important mosques in Istanbul.

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar could easily take half a day. If you like shopping and bargaining with convincing vendors, this is the place for you. From the Blue Mosque you only have to walk 15 minutes to reach this covered market, considered one of the largest and oldest in the world.

In this magical place you will find a multitude of exotic items such as:

• World famousTurkish carpets.
• Beautifullamps.
• Decorative objects to take home as souvenirs.
• Local handicrafts that you will not find in any other country.
• Souvenirs to take home or to give as gifts.

Do you enjoy cooking? If the answer is yes, then a visit to the Spice Bazaar is a must for you. Also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, here you will find a universe of smells, flavours, as well as other delicacies such as Turkish sweets and dried fruits.

This place is located in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, just behind the Yeni Mosque and next to the Flower Market.

This tour is sure to whet your appetite and you'll find plenty of traditional Turkish e ateries here to recharge your batteries, but if you're really interested in Turkish cuisine, my recommendation is to book a food tour of Istanbul, a delicious and convenient way to sample the best local dishes.

After this shopping tour, which can easily take up the afternoon, it's time to enjoy the sunset and get ready to enjoy the evening in Istanbul.

Next stop is the Galata Bridge, which is about 500 metres long and from where you can see the fishermen, and find numerous cafes and restaurants below.

I recommend walking across the bridge and taking the Tünel funicular that will take you to the Galata Tower, the city's iconic viewpoint.

Night falls in Istanbul and it's time to say goodbye. Close as you should, sailing the waters of the Bosphorus, on a sunset cruise to appreciate the sunset and contemplate, from a different perspective, some of the city's beautiful monuments:

• The Bosphorus Bridge
• Rumeli Fortress
• Beylerbeyi Palace
• Yildiz Palace
• The Jewish Quarter

In addition, you can choose from many options, such as taking a Bosphorus cruise or booking a dinner cruise with live music to round off your stay in Istanbul.

I have just given you my recommended route to explore Istanbul in one day. However, it will always be important to listen to your intuition and above all to suit your travelling personality. While many people enjoy going on their own and getting lost in the destinations they visit, others prefer to be more practical and take tours that allow them to get to know the city without stress and with time to rest.

Here are some other alternatives to modify your route and organise your day in Istanbul.

Book a sightseeing bus tour

Booking a seat on the Istanbul sightseeing bus is the ideal option for those who are looking for something more practical or need a timed agenda to explore the city.

The most attractive thing about this type of tour is that you can make as many stops as you like on the one of your choice and admire or even stop at places like Topkapi Palace, Taksim Square, Bosphorus Bridge or the Golden Horn, among others.

Take a guided walking tour of the city

Another alternative for the practical traveller is to book a guided tour of Istanbul, which can take around 3 hours. With so much to explore in Istanbul, this is an excellent option to get a comprehensive, if quick, look at the city and leave you wanting to plan a second visit.

In addition, the local guides on these types of tours will take you around the city, giving you interesting facts, in a timely manner so you won't waste any time if you're short on time.

For the foodies a gastronomic tour

If you are a lover of good food, I recommend you to include a gastronomic tour of Istanbul in your day, which will take you on a journey of flavours and tradition.

I highly recommend a street food tour of Istanbul, which can last up to 7 hours and in which you can visit local shops and bazaars to taste the more traditional side of Turkish cuisine. This tour usually includes a visit to the colourful Kadikoy Market, among other activities.

Visit Istanbul's Turkish baths

If you want to enjoy your day in Istanbul at leisure, a visit to a Turkish bath in I stanbul is an option. An age-old tradition that has crossed borders. Turkish baths are social gathering spaces and in the more traditional ones you'll find separate rooms for men and women.

Don't expect a luxurious atmosphere or five-star spa care; Turkish baths are traditional spaces, so it's a great opportunity to connect with local tradition while you relax.

Explore the Basilica Cistern

A place you can also include to modify the route I suggest and which is within walking distance of the Topkapi Palace.

It is a water tank with 336 columns and a height of nine metres. It is also known as the Sunken Palace and was built during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

Book a guided tour of the Basilica Cistern so you won't miss any of the details of this amazing piece of engineering.

With only one day in a city as vast and with as many places of interest as Istanbul, here are some tips to make your stay as practical as possible and to make the most of this whirlwind tour of the city.

• Choose your accommodation strategically and keep in mind the distance to the city's airports.
• Do some research on how public transport in Istanbul works so that you can use it during your day in the city. This will make it easier for you to get around, depending on the places you want to see.
• Even if you're only in Istanbul for a day, carry some cash for shopping, for example, in the Grand Bazaar, as many stalls don't have electronic means of payment, and you'll find it easier to haggle.

Finally, I recommend you consider buying the Istanbul Tourist Pass, a card that gives you access to 85 Istanbul attractions and includes free transfer to Istanbul Airport and discounts at Sabiha Gökçen Airport.