Two of us have 2 days planned for Istanbul with tours that will get me to Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Should arrive at Arts Hotel Taksim late morning after very long flight. Any suggestions for afternoon? Something to keep me going. I expect to be overwhelmed at this stage. I like history, art, and architecture, not shopping. I have thought about Dolmabache Palace since it is reasonably close. But am more interested in older stuff, not 19th century Ottomans in their European copy stage. Any other ideas? Not a super experienced traveler. Thank you! I promise trip report at end and welcome all suggestions.

Do you have a good guidebook? The Moon Guide is quite good, IME.

You have a wealth of options: The amazing Chora Church. The Archeology Museum. The Hippodrome (probably part of your tour ... and BTW, one can easily visit Istanbul without a tour). The Cisterns. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. The Eyup Sultan Mosque. Tea at the Pierre Loti Café. A boat ride on the Golden Horn. The Suleymaniye Mosque. The Rustem Pasa Mosque -- a tiny gem. The Spice Market. The New (Yeni) Mosque.

Istanbul is fascinating -- enjoy!

I second the Chora/Kariye church and the archeological museum. Also the Basilica Cistern. While the Dolmabache palace is beautiful, I would keep it for a subsequent visit, not your first.

We also did a Bosphorus cruise, but didn’t much appreciate it. The boat was full of families and young children, very loud and boisterous, we could barely hear the piped commentary. Perhaps our choice of cruise was wrong, but it was my least favorite activity in Turkey.

However, I highly recommend the Pierre Loti café, views from up there are fabulous.

Ditto

We have Rick Steves guidebook for Istanbul. Thanks for your advice. I wanted to see a Turkey guidebook before I bought it but the bookstores in my area don’t stock anything on Turkey. So many wonderful places I have read about. For first day, jet lagged, I am considering ease to reach from our hotel and something that wouldn’t be too overwhelming. When one is coming from a small town and travels out of country rarely, it takes a bit of time to adjust . . .

Even experienced travelers often want an easy first afternoon / evening as they recover from jet lag!

You must visit the Cisterns, so excellent, great story. It would be good to get an advance purchase ticket if possible the regular lines for admission are very long. Consider a personal guide for a couple hours or half day they get you in places fast and easier.

Since my literary tastes can get pretty obscure, I special order at my local indie bookshop or use the library or buy online. If kja recommends the Moon Guide, I'm sure it's good.

So you have three nights which gives you two full days? Lots of stuff to see and do. Michelin Green book is a good guide. Hiring a tour guide also good to make most efficient use of your very limited time.

Visit the little-known Hodja Pasha Cultural Center near the Blue Mosque. They do 45-minute whirling dervish ceremonies in a 15th-century Ottoman bathhouse. It’s serene and historical.

If you’re up for walking, the Suleymaniye Mosque complex is my favorite hidden gem. Older than the Blue Mosque, with sweeping city views and a peaceful courtyard where locals picnic. The attached tombs of Suleiman and Roxelana feel frozen in time.

Skip Dolmabahce if you prefer ancient over opulent. Save your energy for tomorrow’s tours—maybe a quick Turkish coffee at Pierre Loti Cafe (accessible by cable car) for golden-hour views of the Golden Horn.

Rest well, and stay hydrated!

Will I be considered crazy if I request that evening cafe coffee to be decaffeniated?😀

I don't know about the coffee ... all you can do is ask! FWIW, the Pierre Loti Cafe is famous for its tea.

If your next two days are filled with sites and stops on a tour, you might just want a more unstructured afternoon/evening of grabbing some baklava and fresh-squeezed juice and people watching in the park between the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque or wandering the streets of Beyoglu.

I am much more a tea than a coffee drinker so that is fine. Just read a charming description of the Pierre Loti Cafe and the walk up to it by Barrie Kerper (p.520-21 in Istanbul the Collected Traveller).

You might consider walking DOWN from the Pierre Loti Cafe -- the views of the Golden Horn are lovely, and they would be BEHIND you if you walk UP.