Hotel Marius · Sirkeci
Three days in Istanbul on foot from Sirkeci
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A route built around walking distance rather than a checklist. Everything on the first two days starts at our door; the third crosses the water.
Day one — the monuments, early
Leave by eight and walk about eight minutes to Hagia Sophia before the queues form. Topkapı Palace is next door; give it three hours, and do not skip the Harem. Come back down through Gülhane Park to Sirkeci for lunch, then see the Basilica Cistern in the afternoon, when the light outside is harsh anyway. Total walking: under an hour, spread across the day.
Day two — bazaars and the water
Start at the Spice Bazaar, six minutes away, while it is still a food market rather than a photograph. Walk up to the Grand Bazaar — about ten minutes uphill through the streets where traders actually work, which are more interesting than the bazaar itself. In the afternoon take a ferry from Eminönü up the Bosphorus and come back at dusk; the return into the old city at sunset is the view people remember.
Stay at Hotel Marius
Stay with us in Sirkeci. Hotel Marius is a boutique hotel in Sirkeci, in the heart of Istanbul's old city: 50 m from the Marmaray and the tram, rooms cleaned every day, a quiet lobby and a front desk staffed around the clock — a comfortable, safe base to come back to. Breakfast is included, and booking direct costs no extra fee.
- Booked directly — no middleman, no booking fee
- Free cancellation up to 5 days before check-in (flexible rate)
- Breakfast included in every room
- 24-hour front desk, we answer in person
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Superior Double / Twin20 m² · Double or twin beds
from about €114 per night
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Deluxe Double23 m² · Double or twin beds
from about €126 per night
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Deluxe Triple25 m² · Double bed & sofa bed
from about €133 per night
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Day three — the other side
Take the Marmaray one stop under the Bosphorus to Üsküdar on the Asian side, or the ferry from Eminönü to Kadıköy: markets, cafés and far fewer tour groups. Or cross the Galata Bridge on foot to Karaköy and walk up to Galata Tower and Beyoğlu. Getting back is easy whenever you decide to stop — four minutes by Marmaray from Üsküdar, around twenty by ferry from Kadıköy.
What this route assumes
That you would rather see three or four things properly than eight badly. Istanbul's old city is small enough for that; the mistake most first-time visitors make is booking a district that forces a commute into it every morning.
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Landmarks on foot from Hotel Marius
See our rooms Where to stay in Istanbul Getting here from the airport