In One Day

Stick to the Sultanahmet district; begin your tour chronologically at the Hippodrome, and work your way through the centuries with a visit to the Ayasofya, the Yerebatan Cistern, and the Blue Mosque. Spend the afternoon exploring the treasures of Topkapi Palace, and if there's any time left, take the tram to the Eminönü to see the Egyptian Spice Market. From there, walk up the hill to the Grand Bazaar (closed Sun), where you'll have but a few short hours to hone your bargaining prowess. (Tip: You can save some time by heading to the cistern first; this way you won't get stuck in the backlog of people waiting to get in to Topkapi Palace.)