Turkey has much to offer as a tourism destination; however, many of the sights are spread out all over the country, which can make it difficult to see everything of importance in one week. Fortunately, there is more than enough to do and see in and around the city of Istanbul.

Day 1: The Arrival

After arriving in Istanbul, it is a good idea to go ahead and check into your hotel before heading out to see the sights.

To begin, the best way to get acquainted with the old city of Sultanahmet is to find the Hippodrome. Use this as your orientation point to get to the Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque. On the way, stop at one of the authentic tea gardens for refreshment, but try to avoid the ones closest to the Hippodrome as they are less authentic than the ones near the Blue Mosque.

After touring the Blue Mosque, you will find that there are many other notable sights close by. You can take a walk through the imposing Ayasofya and explore the ancient underground Yerebatan Cistern. The incredible Byzantine Mosaics at St. Savior Chora should be seen if you have time.

Have dinner at one of the many rooftop restaraunts in the city. If you are visiting during the summer season, you can also watch the sound-and-lights show held in Sultanahmet Park, which can be found under the Blue Mosque each evening.