09:00 – After breakfast go to Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı) (opens at 9 am, closed on Tuesdays). www.topkapisarayi.gov.tr/eng/indexalt.html, Bab-i Hümayün Caddesi (by tram: Gülhane/Sultanahmet), +90 212 512 0480. M,W-Su 9AM-5PM. The imperial enclave of the Ottoman emperors for four centuries. Lavishly decorated, with four courts of increasing grandeur. In the second court of the entrance to the Harem (admission extra, only by joining a guided tour) and the State Treasury, housing a weaponry display. The third court has the Imperial Treasury. Both Islamic and Christian relics, rugs, china. The views from the Fourth Court over the Bosphorus are spectacular. You can also see Prophet Mohammed’s belongings. 20 YTL (no concessions, no cards accepted. only Turkish currency is accepted. Harem 15 YTL extra).
Hagia Irene (Aya İrini), (on the grounds of Topkapı Palace). Hagia Irene, which you will notice to your left after entering the outer yard of Topkapı Palace, is one of few Byzantine-era cathedrals which was never converted to a mosque (though not used for religious purposes either during the Ottoman period), although access to the interior is not allowed unless you have a ticket to the classical music concerts sometimes taking place inside the building.
You need to buy an extra ticket after entering the Palace to visit its most interesting section – the Harem. As there are long queues at the Harem entrance, especially during high season, we recommend that you go there first and continue with the rest of the Palace afterwards. You can spend the whole morning in the Palace.
13:00 – were going to have have lunch at Konyali Restaurant, located in the fourth courtyard of the Palace but the prices were ridiculous. Instead we found a cafe in the park which was more reasonable.
14:00 Grand Bazzar
19:00 Pasazade Restaurant Ottoman Cuisine
Another busy day. The palace was fantastic and the Grand Bazzar so huge! Our evening meal I have to say was the best meal I have eaten in a very long while. See link If you are ever in Istanbul this is a must!
We then went back to the hotel ready for our early morning wake up call.
