Layover Plans: What to Do With 5 Hours in Istanbul

May 7, 2019

Making the most of a long layover is an art. There’s the desire to not waste 5 or 10 hours just sitting around an airport, but also the fear that something will go wrong and you’ll miss your flight. But a long layover in Istanbul is one place I completely recommend you just GO FOR IT!

You might also like: Istanbul For First-Timers: Planning Guide & 3-Day Itinerary

A long layover in Istanbul can be super rewarding, even if you only have half a day. Turkish Airlines has made this even easier by offering free tours for their passengers with long layovers in Istanbul, but seeing the city is also totally possible as a DIY. I’m here to show you how!

The great news is that the core parts of Istanbul are super walkable, plus the tram is really efficient and runs through the major areas. I’ve already written about how to see most of the major sights in Istanbul in just one day, and many of the same principles apply to an even shorter visit.

It helps that most of them are grouped very closely together. But depending on how long you have, you WILL have to prioritize and choose what’s most important to you.

Staying a bit longer? Here’s where to stay in Istanbul: Hotel DeCamondo review

Super important timing considerations

There’s no hard and fast rule for long long of a layover in Istanbul is feasible, but definitely err on the side of safety.

Allow for an hour to get through customs once you arrive, and 20-30 minutes for the taxi ride into the city (suggested if you have a short time to explore)…obviously, allow the same time coming back to the airport and know that heavy traffic is a possibility.

In my opinion you would need MINIMUM 5 hours from when you hit customs to when you’re heading back to the airport, and at least 6 is recommended. The Turkish Airlines long layover tours makes you have at least 6 hours, so that’s probably a good safe minimum.

You definitely need to read: Tips For Turkey Trip Planning: A First-Timer’s Guide

Getting a Turkish visa

If you’re from the United States, you’ll need a visa to leave the airport. While you can purchase it at the airport, this will add time, so I’d recommend purchasing ahead of time. You can do everything at the official site here, and just make sure to print it out and bring it with you. It should cost $20 on the official website (as of posting time).

You might also like: How to Choose the Right Flight Every Single Time

What’s most important to see in Istanbul?

Well, that’s obviously up to each person. For *me*, with just 3-5 hours actually in the city (not counting travel) and if it’s a nice day AND not a Friday:

I’d go to Sultanahmet
See Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque from the outside (see packing considerations)
See the inside of one or the other
Stuff myself full of baklava and anything else I can get my hands on
Take a ferry ride

Basically, a nice combination of the iconic historic sites and soaking in culture and food. That’s my travel style though, and so I’ve provided more of a “Chinese menu” version below so you can pick and choose depending on how much time you have. To help you choose what you care about, the post linked above has more info on all of the different options.

Planning a longer trip to Turkey?? Here are some posts to help you out!

How To Plan An Epic 7-Day (Or 10-Day) Turkey Itinerary

20+ Turkish Foods You Have to Try

What to Do in Istanbul if You Only Have 24 Hours

Why You Have to Take a Food Tour in Asian Istanbul

A First-Timer’s Guide to Cappadocia

Zelve, Cappadocia’s Best-Kept Secret

2 Days Sailing Turkey’s Amazing Turquoise Coast

Paragliding Over Oludeniz’s Famous Blue Lagoon

A Detailed Packing List for Turkey: What to Wear & Bring

Or explore all my Turkey posts!!

The last time I was there, our flight actually got into Istanbul at midnight, so my dad and I found a PrimeClass lounge where we paid 30 euros each to get in and rested for a while.

Then around 5:00am we downed some coffee and food, and headed to customs. It took a full hour to get through customs (which was longer than I’m used to there) and took a cab to Sultanahmet. Our flight out was at 2pm(ish), so we got back to the airport around noon.

What to do with a long layover in Istanbul

There are soooo many options, but here are some of the best ones with a short time. Depending on how much time you actually have, you may not be able to do every single one, so you’ll need to mix and match.

It will also depend on what day of the week you’re there…last time I was there on a Friday, which meant we couldn’t go into the mosques since they’re not open to tourists on Fridays.

You have a few options for getting around. As I mentioned above, a taxi is probably your best bet to and from the airport. And while you can use a taxi to get around the city too, I’d recommend mostly just walking and possibly using the little tram that runs through the main parts of the city.

You might also like: The Best Cross-Body Purse for Travel

See the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia

This is basically non-negotiable, two of the most iconic things to do in Istanbul. They’re crazy close to each other, so you can stand between them and look back and forth. Honestly, even just seeing them form the outside is amazing and impressive.

But if time allows, definitely try to go inside one or both. Assume 30 minutes inside for the Blue Mosque and about an hour minimum for Hagia Sofia (including getting in).

Most mosques aren’t open to visitors on Fridays (or have super limited hours). Hagia Sofia has always been closed on Mondays though that has changed as of April 2019…check the website before your visit to be sure.

You might also like: 20+ Tips to Survive & Thrive on a Long Flight

Hagia Sofia is one of the most famous buildings in the world, and has served as a religious center for three different religions over the centuries. It’s been a museum since the 1930s, and the amount of history you can feel while walking around is just amazing.

The entrance fee has recently increased to 60 lira (about $20, a 50% increase!), and you can either buy your tickets online or when you get there.

The Blue Mosque dates back to the 17th century and the minarets rival those in Mecca. It really is amazing, inside and out. You can learn more about both Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque (including tips for a smooth visit) here.

If you’re looking for a special dinner: Dinner at Istanbul’s Mikla: World’s Top 100 Restaurant

Walk through the Basilica Cistern

While it wouldn’t be at the very top of my list with a short time, the Basilica Cistern is right next to Hagia Sofia so makes a convenient addition to your itinerary. It is also quite cool, a massive underground cistern from the 6th century.

It’s the length of two football fields underground, an impressive feat for so long ago. It can be a quick visit (particularly if you’re there early and beat the crowds), so check the website to be sure about the hours.

You might also like: Exploring the Coffee Scene in Istanbul’s Beyoglu District

Spice Market

First off, the Grand Bazaar is overrated. You can go, but it’s not really that great. If you’re looking for an iconic market experience, instead try out the Spice Market. It’s still crazy but is much less bonkers than the Grand Bazaar, and has all the same stuff, just less expensive.

Pick up some cool spices to take home, indulge in some gorgeous colored pottery, or find your signature scent at the perfumer Arifoglu. I’ve outlined some of my favorite souvenirs to buy in Istanbul, if you’re in the market for something special!

You might also like: 11 Of My Best Travel Tips for ANY Trip

Get some baklava…and everything else in sight

Y’ALL. Turkish food is the absolute bomb, some of the best in the world!!! And as someone whose stated life mission is to “eat all the pastries in all the countries”, how could I not completely overindulge while in Turkey???

Load up on all the unique and delicious baklava and other pastries in sight, but don’t stop there—try kunefe, doner kebab, lahmacun, pide, and so much more. Basically, if you see it and it doesn’t look like a shop just for tourists, stop and buy some food. Like…there’s your life plan.

You might also like: 10 Places I’m Dying to Go in 2021

Take a ferry ride

Now that you’ve loaded up on baklava, let’s go for a ride. This is something a lot of tourists with a short trip completely miss out on, but it’s one of my absolute FAVORITE things to do! If the weather is nice, get out on a ferry and enjoy the glory of the Bosporus and Golden Horn!

If you’re short on time, the destination doesn’t matter as much…just hop on the boat leaving soonest and then turn right around and come back.

We went to Üsküdar last time, thought I do love Kadiköy. If you’re not quite as pressed for time, walk around for a bit and have a meal over on the Asian side, which is much more residential and less touristy.

So as you can see, whether you have 6 hours or a full day, you can do soooo much in this absolutely amazing city. From history to cuisine to the sea’s natural beauty, there’s something for everyone in Istanbul!

If you have more like a day or two, make sure you check out this post on how to see the main sites with just a day! And if you’re planning a proper trip to Turkey (like 7-10 days), here’s how you can build your itinerary.

Other whirlwind city adventures to try:

Pin this for later!

Comments (6)

Tammie

June 13, 2021 at 3:59 pm

Hi! Great and informative post. I came accross it because I was looking at doing one of the free airport tours, but they are currently suspended. Sadly, my hours are limited..arriving in Istanbul Airport at 12 midday and leaving at 8pm (these timings are a little conservative). Everything I have read so far indicates that this is too short and risky, but your writing gives me hope. I would like to do maybe 1 or 2 things in detail…like Topkapi Palace. Do you think it is doable? What about transport links and restrictions due to the pandemic? Any advice? Thanks!

1. Jessica
  
  June 14, 2021 at 7:58 am
  
  Hi Tammie! Woof, yeah that’s a tough one…on the one hand, the hours you’ll be there are perfect for trying to do a self-guided tour. That timing is risky but not impossible, and definitely deserves some further digging. Have you gone on the TripAdvisor forums to see/ask for recent experiences in the Istanbul airport? I’d be interested to know what the current security processes are, customs waits, etc…COVID has really thrown “normal” off, and now that travel is ramping up a lot of airports aren’t staffed for the demand and so wait times are insane. That would be my biggest worry. Other than that, you’d probably want to go with a taxi both ways, to better control timings (and because I don’t know the state of public transport with COVID there). I haven’t visited Topkapi myself so can’t speak to that. You may have to play it somewhat by ear, in case you’re delayed arriving, or if the customs line is insanely long. If you do decide to do it, just make sure you leave PLENTY of time to get back, through security, etc. so there are no surprises. Research everything possible about current normal security wait times and such, drive times, etc. In a perfect world that’s enough time to get into town and at least walk around, maybe visit one or two things, but the uncertainty of COVID travel issues does make it a little more uncertain. I hope it works out for you!
  
silvana

September 19, 2020 at 5:47 pm

I have 8 hours in Istanbul. I arrive at 5:30pm on a Wednesday. What do you recommend I do? Most of the tours have their final schedules start at 6pm so that won’t work for me.

1. Jessica
  
  September 20, 2020 at 10:03 am
  
  Hi Silvana! It’s definitely a tough one, and to be honest you may be cutting it a tiny bit close. But if you get in on time at 5:30p, and assume an hour for customs on either side to be safe, plus an hour total for cab rides round trip, you hopefully can still make the most of a few hours if you really want to. With it being nighttime obviously you’ll miss exploring the tourist sights like Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Spice Market, etc. What I’d recommend is more soaking up the ambiance and culture…maybe head toward Eminonou and Galata Bridge and walk around, have dinner, walk around Sultanahmet? You could walk up toward Galata Tower as well, or take the ferry across and back just for the experience and views. The big question is whether the hassle (because it WILL be a hassle) is worth it for what you can see and do in the dark and with most things closed. Just make sure you account for rush hour traffic on the way into town and make sure you leave PLENTY of time to get back and get through security!
  
Pam

September 24, 2019 at 6:21 pm

Great blog! Great ideas. Will have a 20 hour layover arriving at 5 pm on a Monday. How far is Sultanahmet from IST anyway and is it near the other iconic attractions?

1. Jessica
  
  September 27, 2019 at 9:52 pm
  
  Sultanahmet is definitely in the heart of old Istanbul, and there’s a lot to see and do there. The famous Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Basilica Cistern, and more are all right there. Many other great sights are within a 15-30 minute walk or easy tram ride as well, like the Spice Market, Galata Bridge, Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificant, and more. With 20 hours (even knowing you’ll need to sleep some of that), you should definitely be able to see the city! I just had about 23 hours in Istanbul yesterday and did SO much!