One day in Istanbul, must-sees & escaping the midday heat?
I’ll be visiting Istanbul for a very short trip and,
I arrive Saturday around noon and leave Sunday afternoon, so I basically have Saturday afternoon/evening and Sunday afternoon.
Since it’ll be August and probably very hot, I’d especially love suggestions for what to do between roughly 12–4 PM without spending too much time walking outside, anything that’s good for escaping the heat would be perfect.
A few questions:
- If you only had this amount of time, what are the absolute must-sees?
- Any good indoor/air-conditioned activities for 12–4 PM?
- Any recommendations for good local restaurants around Aya Sofia
- Would you stay mostly around Sultanahmet/Eminönü/Galata, or is it worth fitting in a ferry to Kadıköy/Asian side?
I’m more interested in experiencing Istanbul, eating really well, seeing the highlights and enjoying the atmosphere than rushing through a huge checklist.
Also, if there’s something particularly nice to do after sunset when it cools down, I’d love recommendations.
Thanks!