6 Days From Istanbul on a Budget (Daily Costs)
A 6 Day Plan: Istanbul Base Plus a Second City Day
Six days keeps the 5 day base of a city day, Princes’ Islands, a DIY Bosphorus crossing, Edirne, and Bursa, then spends the sixth day back in Istanbul rather than rushing Gallipoli and Troy. That trip needs a genuine overnight in Canakkale, which only fits once you move up to the 7 day plan ; trying to squeeze it into a single extra day here just turns into a bad version of both.
Book these before you go:
- Round-trip Princes’ Islands ferry ticket
- A budget room in Sultanahmet
- A sunset Bosphorus cruise , an optional splurge
- An organized Bursa day tour
| Day | Focus | Travel time from Istanbul | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Istanbul base (Sultanahmet) | none | daily budget roughly 1,500-2,500 TRY ($30-50) |
| 2 | Princes’ Islands (Buyukada) | 75-100 min ferry each way | roughly 135-140 TRY one-way |
| 3 | DIY Bosphorus ferry to Kadikoy | 15-20 min ferry each way | roughly 35-49 TRY one-way |
| 4 | Edirne | roughly 2h15 direct bus each way | roughly 650-1,100 TRY ($14-24) one-way |
| 5 | Bursa | 1h40 ferry plus 30 min transfer, or 3-5h direct bus | ferry plus local transfer fares |
| 6 | Second Istanbul day (Grand Bazaar, Suleymaniye, a hammam) | none | daily budget roughly 1,500-3,000 TRY ($30-65) with a hammam session |
Day 1: Get Your Bearings in Sultanahmet
An Istanbulkart, a base near Sultanahmet, and a light first day, since the week ahead is front-loaded with early departures.
Day 2: Princes’ Islands, No Tour Required
The Sehir Hatlari public ferry from Kabatas to Buyukada runs 75-100 minutes each way for roughly 135-140 TRY. Rent a bike once you land; the island has been car-free since 2020.
Day 3: Cross the Bosphorus for the Price of a Bus Fare
A commuter ferry to Kadikoy or Uskudar takes 15-20 minutes for roughly 35-49 TRY, a fraction of what the dedicated Bosphorus tour boats charge for a similar view.
Day 4: Edirne, the Cheapest Real Day Trip
A direct bus, roughly 2h15 each way, gets you to Sinan’s Selimiye Mosque, free to enter, for a one-way fare of roughly 650-1,100 TRY.
Day 5: Bursa, the Long Day That’s Still Worth It
Ferry to Mudanya (1h40-1h45) plus a short transfer, or a 3-5 hour direct bus, gets you to the first Ottoman capital. Count on 10-14.5 hours round trip; give the day room and don’t stack anything else onto it.
Day 6: Back in Istanbul, on Purpose
With five escapes already banked, spend your last full day back in the city instead of forcing a rushed Gallipoli and Troy trip that would only shortchange both sites. Work through the Grand Bazaar (closed Sundays, so check the date), the Suleymaniye Mosque, and a traditional hammam session to close out the trip on a slower note.
Why isn’t Gallipoli included in a 6 day plan?
Because the numbers don’t work. Gallipoli and Troy sit roughly 300-320km away, 4.5-5.5 hours each way by road, which makes a same-day round trip a 12-14 hour ordeal for an hour or two on site. It needs a proper overnight in Canakkale, which this itinerary doesn’t have room for until you add a seventh day.
What’s the best use of a sixth day in Istanbul?
Whatever you skipped on day one. The Grand Bazaar, the Suleymaniye Mosque, and a hammam session all reward unhurried time, and none of them demand the early starts your five escape days already asked of you.
If Gallipoli and Troy matter to your trip, add a day; the 7 day itinerary is built around exactly that extra room.