Istanbul Trip Plan — 5-Day Itinerary
Türkiye🗓️ Best season: Late April to early June and September to October — mild and walkable
🛂 Visa from Pakistan: Visa required. An e-Visa is possible ONLY if you already hold a valid US, UK, Schengen or Ireland visa or residence permit (evisa.gov.tr). Everyone else applies in person for a sticker visa through Anatolia Travel Services. No visa on arrival.
🌍 From other countries: Many nationalities enter visa-free or with an e-Visa — check the official Turkish MFA list for your passport.
Two continents in one city — Sultanahmet's mosques and palaces, the Bosphorus, and the great bazaars.
🌡️ Live weather: loading…
Route: Turkish Airlines flies direct to Istanbul (IST) from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad (about 5.5–6.5 hours). Pegasus flies Karachi to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen.
- Day 1: Sultanahmet on foot: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace
- Day 2: Dolmabahçe Palace, then a Bosphorus cruise; Ortaköy at sunset
- Day 3: Grand Bazaar → Spice Bazaar → Galata Tower → İstiklal Avenue
- Day 4: Ferry to Büyükada (Princes' Islands) — car-free streets and cycling
- Day 5: The Asian side: Kadıköy markets and the Üsküdar waterfront — or a Bursa day trip
What to carry & what you need:
- Turkish lira in cash for bazaars, street food and some taxis — cards are widely accepted elsewhere
- An Istanbulkart for metro, tram and ferries
- Printed visa copy, passport copies and travel insurance papers
- Layers and a light rain jacket — Istanbul weather turns quickly
- A headscarf for mosque visits (women); visitor entry pauses around prayer times
- Comfortable walking shoes — Sultanahmet is best explored on foot
Official visa page: Türkiye e-Visa (official) ↗
Note: Applying for the sticker visa? Official advice: do not buy non-refundable tickets or hotels until the visa is issued.
Weather on this page is live at the moment it loads — always check it again on the day you travel, and follow official road and weather advisories. Photo: Hunanuk — via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).