48 Hours in Istanbul — The Perfect Weekend Guide

A complete weekend plan for first-time visitors to Istanbul, built around two full days on the ground and checked against official sources. Chapters cover what to sort out before you fly (entry rules, money, SIM cards, safety basics), both airports and the public transport network, how to choose a neighbourhood to stay in, a day-by-day plan across the historic peninsula and the Bosphorus, the dishes and types of places worth eating at, an approximate budget table in lira and euros, ideas for a third day, and practical extras including tipping, mosque etiquette, emergency numbers and useful phrases. A route map shows the main stops at a glance. Delivered as a PDF with a clickable contents page, written for a mid-range budget and updated as of September 2026, for personal use.