My 5 days itinerary in Istanbul

Merhaba! I am planning a 5 day trip to Istanbul in July. I am staying near Galata. Here is my itinerary. Do you have some tips or comments on that?
(This includes a lot of walking, but we are active people)

Day 0 (arriving)

Chill

• Leaving the hotel around 6PM
• Fast dinner
• Karaköy (explore east side)
• Sunset: Galata bridge and west side of Karaköy

Day 1

A ‘can I really do it?’ day

• T1 tram to:
• Basilica Cistern (on opening)
• The Blue Mosque (inside)
• Hagia Sophia (only outside because of the renovation and high costs)
• Soğuk Çeşme Sk. (Lunch)
• Gülhane Park - long break in the shade, for at least 2 hours to rest before hitting the bazaars
• Grand bazaar (max 1 hour)
• Egyptian bazaar and surrounding streets
• Dinner somewhere around
• Night cruise at 8PM

Day 2

Go nuts

• Ferry to Kadıköy
• Kadıköy Çarşı - explore, go nuts
• Lunch
• Moda - explore
• Bar crawl: 
  • Karga Bar
  • Incir Pub
  • Zincir Bar
  • Wizard Pub
  • Whatever that looks trashy but cool

Day 3

Chill… first part of the day at least

• Ferry to Heybeliada (Princess Islands)
• HA-2 bus to Alman plajı stop (for a mini hike)
• Circle back by the north waterfront of the island
• Lunch
• Explore the area around the port
• Evening: Beyoğlu, İstiklal Cd.

Day 4

Local magic

• 30D bus to: Ortaköy (quick stop)
  • Büyük Mecidiye Mosque
  • Explore a little bit
• Back to Besiktas Square
  • Explore a little bit
• A ferry to Kuzguncuk
  • Kuzguncuk Evleri
  • Ahşap Evler
  • Explore
  • Lunch: somewhere nice
• A ferry to Üsküdar
  • Üsküdar Çarşı 
  • Explore
  • Go back to the hotel and lay dead

Day 5

Local colors

• Balat (Bus to Yavuz Selim)
• Ismail Aga Mosque
• Wander down the streets to:
  • Colorful houses
  • Farangati 
  • Renkli Merdivenler
  • Merdivenli Yokuş Evleri
• Lunch
• Explore or go back to Karaköy

 

Day 6

• Leave :(

Merhaba! I am planning a 5 day trip to Istanbul in July. I am staying near Galata. Here is my itinerary. Do you have some tips or comments on that? Maybe some suggestions where to eat around these places?
(This includes a lot of walking, but we are really active)

Day 0 (arriving)

Chill

• Leaving the hotel around 6PM
• Fast dinner: Yöremiz Pide Lahmacun
• Karaköy (explore east side)
• Sunset: Galata bridge and west side of Karaköy

Day 1

A ‘can I really do it?’ day

• T1 tram to:
• Basilica Cistern (on opening)
• The Blue Mosque (inside)
• Hagia Sophia (only outside because of the renovation and high costs)
• Soğuk Çeşme Sk. (lunch: Chimney Bistro Pub & Restaurant)
• Gülhane Park - long break in the shade, for at least 2 hours to rest before hitting the bazaars
• Grand bazaar (max 1 hour)
• (Optional) Sulemaniye Mosque
• Egyptian bazaar and surrounding streets
• Dinner somewhere around
• Night cruise at 8PM

Day 2

Go nuts

• Ferry to Kadıköy
• Kadıköy Çarşı - explore, go nuts
• Lunch: Sinop Mantı
• Moda - explore
• Bar crawl: 
  • Karga Bar
  • Incir Pub
  • Zincir Bar
  • Wizard Pub
  • Whatever that looks trashy but cool

Day 3

Chill… first part of the day at least

• Ferry to Heybeliada (Princess Islands)
• HA-2 bus to Alman plajı stop (for a mini hike)
• Circle back by the north waterfront of the island
• Lunch: Mira’da Kokoreç Restaurant Sokak Lezzetleri
• Explore the area around the port
• Evening: Beyoğlu, İstiklal Cd.

Day 4

Local magic

• 30D bus to: Ortaköy (quick stop)
  • Büyük Mecidiye Mosque
  • Explore a little bit
• Back to Besiktas Square
  • Explore a little bit
• A ferry to Kuzguncuk
  • Kuzguncuk Evleri
  • Ahşap Evler
  • Explore
  • Lunch: somewhere nice
• A ferry to Üsküdar
  • Üsküdar Çarşı 
  • Explore
  • Go back to the hotel and lay dead

Day 5

Local colors

• Balat (Bus to Yavuz Selim)
• Ismail Aga Mosque
• Wander down the streets to:
  • Colorful houses
  • Farangati 
  • Renkli Merdivenler
  • Merdivenli Yokuş Evleri
• Lunch: Makam-ı Balat
• Explore or go back to Karaköy

 

Day 6

• Leave :(

I visited Spain a year ago and I loved it! I've been to Malaga, Granada, Seville, Cordoba, Madrid and Barcelona.
I loved Granada the most, it is such a lovely place, especially when you don't go to the most touristy viewpoints overviewing Alhambra but actually go to the other side of the city, go up the hill and the viewpoints there are perfect with no tourist. We actually had one viewpoint entirely to ourselves.

So I would love to find out, what cities would you recommend for the similar experience?

After having some unpleasant or awkward conversations I sometimes keep replaying those discussions in my head for hours and oooh boy what comebacks I come up with. Why do people overthink previous discussions even when it is obviously too late?

Merhaba! I am planning a 5 day trip to Istanbul in July. I am staying near Galata Tower. I am sharing my itinerary with you. Do you have some tips or comments on that? (This includes a lot of walking)

Day 0 (arriving)

Chill

• Leaving the hotel around 6PM
• Fast dinner: Yöremiz Pide Lahmacun
• Karaköy (explore east side)
• Sunset: Galata bridge and west side of Karaköy

Day 1

A ‘can I really do it?’ day

• T1 tram to:
• Basilica Cistern (on opening)
• The Blue Mosque (inside)
• Hagia Sophia (only outside because of the renovation and high costs)
• Soğuk Çeşme Sk. (lunch: Chimney Bistro Pub & Restaurant)
• Gülhane Park - long break in the shade, for at least 2 hours to rest before hitting the bazaars
• Grand bazaar (max 1 hour)
• Egyptian bazaar and surrounding streets
• Dinner somewhere around
• Night cruise at 8PM

Day 2

Go nuts

• Ferry to Kadıköy
• Kadıköy Çarşı - explore, go nuts
• Lunch: Sinop Mantı
• Moda - explore, chill
• Bar crawl: 
  • Karga Bar
  • Incir Pub
  • Zincir Bar
  • Wizard Pub
  • Whatever that looks trashy but cool

Day 3

Chill… first part of the day at least

• Ferry to Heybeliada (Princess Islands)
• HA-2 bus to Alman plajı stop (for a mini hike)
• Circle back by the north waterfront of the island
• Lunch: Mira’da Kokoreç Restaurant Sokak Lezzetleri
• Explore the area around the port
• Evening: Beyoğlu, İstiklal Cd.

Day 4

Local magic

• 30D bus to: Ortaköy (quick stop)
  • Büyük Mecidiye Mosque
  • Explore a little bit
• Back to Besiktas Square
  • Explore a little bit
• A ferry to Kuzguncuk
  • Kuzguncuk Evleri
  • Ahşap Evler
  • Explore
  • Lunch: somewhere nice
• A ferry to Üsküdar
  • Üsküdar Çarşı - go nuts
  • Explore
  • Go back to the hotel and lay dead

Day 5

Local colors

• Balat (Bus to Yavuz Selim)
• Ismail Aga Mosque
• Wander down the streets to:
  • Colorful houses
  • Farangati 
  • Renkli Merdivenler
  • Merdivenli Yokuş Evleri
• Lunch: Makam-ı Balat
• Explore or go back to Karaköy

 

Day 6

• Leave :(