Self-Launched Discover Istanbul
5 days · Istanbul, Turkey
Exodus charges £1,220
No-markup version: ~£280 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Istanbul is one of the world's great cities — straddling two continents, dripping in Ottoman grandeur, and alive with street food, bazaars and the Bosphorus. This self-launched version of Exodus's popular Discover Istanbul tour gives you the exact same highlights — Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, Dolmabahçe Palace, a Bosphorus cruise and the Spice Market — at a fraction of the guided-tour price. Istanbul is incredibly easy to navigate independently using its excellent tram, metro and funicular network, and almost every major sight can be pre-booked online via GetYourGuide or direct entry. Budget accommodation in Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu puts you within walking distance of almost everything. All costs below are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Istanbul
Istanbul
Fly into Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). From IST, take the Havaist airport bus to Taksim Square (~£5, ~1hr) or the metro to the city centre. From SAW, take the Havabüs to Kadıköy or Taksim (~£5). Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu district — both put you in the heart of the action. Spend the afternoon recovering from your journey with a wander around the neighbourhood, grab a classic Turkish çay (tea) at a local tea house, and enjoy a budget dinner of döner kebab or pide. Pick up an Istanbulkart travel card (~£2) for cheap rides on trams, metro, ferries and the funicular throughout your stay.
🚌Havaist airport bus from IST to Taksim: ~£5. Tram T1 line from Kabataş to Sultanahmet: ~£0.50 per journey with Istanbulkart.
🛏Agora Guesthouse (Sultanahmet) or World Hoster Hostel (Beyoğlu) — budget dorm or private room ~£18-28/night
- →Arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST) — take Havaist bus to Taksim (~£5)
- →Pick up an Istanbulkart travel card at any metro station (~£2 card + top-up)
- →Settle into your hostel in Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu
- →Evening stroll around the neighbourhood and local tea house visit
- →Dinner: döner kebab or pide from a local lokantas (~£4-6)
Time Travel Through the Old City
Istanbul — Sultanahmet (Old City)
Dive into the Old City today, covering the same iconic landmarks as the Exodus tour. Start early at Topkapı Palace to beat the crowds — book tickets in advance online (~£18). Walk five minutes to the Basilica Cistern, a hauntingly beautiful underground chamber of 336 marble columns and Medusa heads (~£10, book via GetYourGuide or direct). Next, visit Hagia Sophia — entry is free as it is now a mosque, but dress modestly and bring a headscarf. Cross the square to the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque), also free. Round off the afternoon at the Ancient Hippodrome, right outside the Blue Mosque — free to wander. In the evening, treat yourself to a proper Turkish feast: look for a set-menu restaurant around Sultanahmet offering meze, grilled meats and baklava (~£12-18 per person).
🚌All Old City sights are walkable from Sultanahmet — no transport needed. Tram T1 back to accommodation if needed (~£0.50).
🛏Same as Day 1
- →Topkapı Palace — book online in advance (~£18, topkapipalace.gov.tr)
- →Basilica Cistern — book via GetYourGuide or direct (~£10)
- →Hagia Sophia — free entry (mosque; dress modestly)
- →Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque) — free entry
- →Ancient Hippodrome — free to explore
- →Turkish feast dinner at a Sultanahmet restaurant (~£12-18)
Ottoman Wonders, the Grand Bazaar & Bosphorus Cruise
Istanbul — Beyazıt, Eminönü & the Bosphorus
Start the morning at the magnificent Süleymaniye Mosque, a 16th-century masterpiece by Mimar Sinan with sweeping views of the Golden Horn — free entry. From there, walk downhill to the Grand Bazaar, the world's largest covered market with over 4,000 shops. Spend an hour or two exploring its labyrinthine lanes; you don't need to buy anything to enjoy the spectacle. After lunch (try a simit and ayran from a street vendor, ~£2), head to Eminönü and join a public Bosphorus ferry. The best-value option is the standard Şehir Hatları public ferry (short Bosphorus crossing ~£1-2 with Istanbulkart) or a longer sightseeing cruise bookable via GetYourGuide (~£12-20). Sail between Europe and Asia, spotting Ottoman castles, yalı waterfront mansions and the iconic suspension bridges. Return by ferry and relax with a rooftop sunset drink in Beyoğlu.
🚌Walk from Sultanahmet to Süleymaniye (~10 min). Tram T1 to Beyazıt for Grand Bazaar (~£0.50). Walk to Eminönü ferry terminal for Bosphorus cruise (~15 min). Ferry back to Eminönü (~£1-2).
🛏Same as Day 1
- →Süleymaniye Mosque — free entry (dress modestly)
- →Grand Bazaar — free to enter and browse (Kapalıçarşı)
- →Street lunch: simit, ayran, roasted chestnuts (~£2-3)
- →Bosphorus ferry cruise — public Şehir Hatları ferry (~£1-2) or guided cruise via GetYourGuide (~£12-20)
- →Sunset drinks at a Beyoğlu rooftop bar (~£5-8)
Dolmabahçe Palace, Taksim, Galata & the Spice Market
Istanbul — Beşiktaş, Beyoğlu, Galata & Eminönü
Take the tram to Kabataş and walk along the waterfront to Dolmabahçe Palace, the opulent 19th-century imperial residence blending baroque, neoclassical and rococo styles. Book timed-entry tickets in advance online (~£18, millisaraylar.gov.tr). Afterwards, take the funicular (Kabataş–Taksim, ~£0.50) up to Taksim Square and stroll down the famous Istiklal Avenue, popping into its ornate historic arcades (passages). Wander into the quieter streets of Pera and Cihangir for boutique coffee shops and street art. Pass by the Galata Tower — the exterior is photogenic and free to admire; entry inside costs ~£12 if you want the panoramic views (optional). Cross the iconic Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn, watching local fishermen cast their lines. End the afternoon at the Mısır Çarşısı (Spice Market / Egyptian Bazaar) in Eminönü — free to enter and full of vivid colours, scents and flavours. Stock up on Turkish delight, spices and dried fruit.
🚌Tram T1 to Kabataş (~£0.50). Walk to Dolmabahçe. Funicular to Taksim (~£0.50). Walk Istiklal Ave to Galata Bridge to Eminönü — all walkable.
🛏Same as Day 1
- →Dolmabahçe Palace — book tickets in advance online (~£18, millisaraylar.gov.tr)
- →Funicular Kabataş to Taksim (~£0.50 with Istanbulkart)
- →Stroll Istiklal Avenue and explore its historic passages
- →Wander the Pera and Cihangir neighbourhoods
- →Galata Tower exterior (free) or entry for panoramic views (~£12, optional)
- →Walk across Galata Bridge — free
- →Mısır Çarşısı (Spice Market) — free entry
Final Morning & Departure
Istanbul
Enjoy a final Turkish breakfast at your accommodation or at a local börek shop — pick up some freshly baked simit (sesame bread rings) and a glass of çay for the classic Istanbul morning experience (~£3-5). If your flight is late, use the morning to revisit a favourite spot, browse a neighbourhood market, or relax at a traditional Turkish hammam for a memorable send-off (~£25-40 for a classic scrub and foam massage, book via GetYourGuide). Head to the airport via the Havaist bus from Taksim (~£5) or metro. Check out of your accommodation by the standard 11am–12pm checkout time and store luggage at the hostel if needed.
🚌Tram or metro to Taksim, then Havaist bus to Istanbul Airport IST (~£5, ~1hr). Allow at least 2.5–3 hours before departure.
🛏Check out — luggage storage at hostel if needed (~£3-5)
- →Final Turkish breakfast: börek, simit and çay (~£3-5)
- →Optional: traditional Turkish hammam experience (~£25-40, book via GetYourGuide)
- →Last browse of a local neighbourhood or market
- →Havaist airport bus from Taksim to IST (~£5)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£280 | £1,220 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £940 per person (77%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£280
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 Discover Istanbul cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £280 per person for 5 days in Istanbul, Turkey. 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 Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £1,220 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £280 — a saving of roughly £940 (77%) per person.
How long is the Istanbul, Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Istanbul, Turkey.
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, Turkey, 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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