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Türkiye
Grand Bazaar in 5 hours: 4,000 shops, Turkish coffee, zero jet lag after.
LayoverScore
LayoverScore 93Turkish bath and hammam airside
Downtown is 35 minutes from the airport by metro.
Nonstop from these US airports.
Wellness
Historic Turkish bath built by Mimar Sinan in 1584, near the Grand Bazaar. Scrub and foam-bath rituals available.
Culture
Guided walking food tour through the Karaköy district, sampling Turkish breakfast, mezze, and sweets. Several operators run it.
Night market
Street food along İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu, with kebabs, simit, and sweets. Pay per stall.
Spiritual
The 17th-century Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Sultanahmet, known for its blue İznik tiles. Free to enter outside prayer times, modest dress required.
Craft
One of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, in Fatih, with thousands of shops selling carpets, jewelry, and crafts.
Wellness
Sixteenth-century Haseki Hürrem Sultan bathhouse (Roxelana) between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, restored and reopened as a working hammam.
Music
Live music venue in the Bomontiada complex in Şişli, hosting Turkish and international acts across genres.
Culture
Guided visit to Hagia Sophia and the nearby Basilica Cistern in Sultanahmet. Both now charge separate entry fees.
Before you leave the airport