Self-Launched 4 Days in Istanbul: Sultanahmet, Bosphorus & Bazaars
4 days · Istanbul
City of Sultans charges £270
No-markup version: ~£195 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of City of Sultans' 4-day Istanbul package. You'll stay in a Sultanahmet hostel or guesthouse within walking distance of the big sights, use the Istanbulkart on trams and ferries, and book a small-group or skip-the-line guided tour for the historic peninsula day. All the highlights of the original — Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar — plus a self-arranged Bosphorus cruise for a fraction of the operator's optional price. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates (Istanbul: mid-range European pricing but cheap food and transport).
Day-by-day
Arrival in Istanbul — settle into Sultanahmet
Istanbul
Land at Istanbul Airport (IST) and skip the operator's private transfer: take the Havaist airport bus to Sultanahmet (roughly £5-6, ~60-90 mins) or the M11 metro to Gayrettepe then Marmaray to Sirkeci (~£2-3). Check into a Sultanahmet hostel or small guesthouse — the original used a 4* boutique hotel in this exact neighbourhood, so aim for a well-rated private room in a pension here to keep the same location. Afternoon is free: stroll the Hippodrome square, grab a çay and simit, and watch the sunset over the Marmara from Kennedy Caddesi. Pick up an Istanbulkart from a kiosk or machine (card deposit ~£2 plus top-up) for cheap trams and ferries all trip.
🚌Havaist airport bus or M11 metro + Marmaray, ~£3-6
🛏Sultanahmet hostel/pension (private room), £18-25 per night
- →Hippodrome Square
- →Sultanahmet orientation walk
- →Istanbulkart purchase
Historic peninsula highlights: Topkapi, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar
Istanbul
Do the big day independently or with a GetYourGuide small-group walking tour of the historic peninsula (typically £35-55 including skip-the-line entry coordination, roughly matching what the operator included as a guided day). Plan: 09:00 Topkapi Palace (entry ~£25-30; buy online in advance, closed Tuesdays) and the Harem; 12:00 Hagia Sophia (~£22); lunch at a lokanta near Divanyolu (~£6); 14:00 Blue Mosque (free, modest dress, avoid prayer times); then walk to the Grand Bazaar (closed Sundays) and finish at the Spice Bazaar in Eminönü. A licensed guide costs £15-25 if you'd rather join a group on the day — book through GetYourGuide or your hostel. Total entry fees are the one thing the original package charged separately too.
🚌Walk or T1 tram between sights, ~£1-2
🛏Sultanahmet hostel/pension (private room)
- →Topkapi Palace & Harem (self-booked ticket)
- →Hagia Sophia
- →Blue Mosque
- →Hippodrome
- →Grand Bazaar
- →Optional GetYourGuide small-group walking tour
Bosphorus cruise, Spice Market & free afternoon
Istanbul
Skip the operator's US$60 Bosphorus cruise add-on and use the public Şehir Hatları ferry from Eminönü — the full Bosphorus line to Anadolu Kavağı takes about 90 minutes each way for roughly £2-3 return, or take the shorter tour-boat loop (£3-5). You'll pass under the bridges with the same views of Ottoman waterside palaces. Back in Eminönü, wander the Spice Market and head up to the Süleymaniye Mosque for city views. Afternoon free: Galata Tower and Karaköy cafés, the Balat backstreets, or a cheap hammam (Kılıç Ali Paşa, ~£20-30). Dinner: balık ekmek by the water (£3) or meze in Kadıköy via ferry (£10).
🚌Public ferry Eminönü-Anadolu Kavağı return, ~£2-4; tram/ferry hops ~£2
🛏Sultanahmet hostel/pension (private room)
- →Şehir Hatları Bosphorus ferry
- →Spice Bazaar
- →Süleymaniye Mosque
- →Galata/Karaköy walk (optional)
- →Optional hammam
Departure from Istanbul
Istanbul
Breakfast at the guesthouse, then use your Istanbulkart for the Havaist bus or metro back to the airport (allow 3 hours for international departures). If your flight is later, squeeze in a final breakfast at a Beyoğlu café, the Chora Church mosaics or the Istanbul Archaeological Museums before heading out. No need to arrange a private transfer — the airport bus is frequent and reliable from Sultanahmet and Taksim.
🚌Havaist airport bus or metro to IST, ~£3-6
🛏—
- →Free morning sightseeing if time allows
Self-launched vs. City of Sultans
| This itinerary (self-launched) | City of Sultans | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£195 | £270 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £75 per person (28%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more City of Sultans-style trips? Check them out here.~£195
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched 4 Days in Istanbul: Sultanahmet, Bosphorus & Bazaars cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £195 per person for 4 days in Istanbul. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with City of Sultans?+
Yes — City of Sultans charges around £270 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £195 — a saving of roughly £75 (28%) per person.
How long is the Istanbul trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Istanbul.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, foodie trip through Istanbul, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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