My Recommended Istanbul Itinerary

I've been pretty busy with studying for finals, or at least pretending to. But having been in Istanbul for a semester, I started thinking about how I would use my experience to condense Istanbul into a four-day, full time trip - the kind that you take as a tourist. This is my suggestion. The evening activities are largely (although completely) divorced from the daytime stuff. I wanted to include Istanbul modern, which is open late on Thursdays, so things should be shuffled around to accommodate that.

Day 1

Morning
Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia 9:00-11:00
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum 11:00-1:00
Afternoon
Lunch at Poisedon 1:00 - 2:30
Shopping at the Grand Bazaar 2:30 - 3:30
Beyazit Square/Istanbul University 3:30 - 3:45
Suleymaniye Mosque 3:45 - 4:30
Egyptian Spice Bazaar 4:30 - 5:15
Evening
Istanbul Modern (open late on Thurs.) 5:45 - 7:45
Dinner at Cezayir 8:15 - 9:45

Day 2
Morning
Topkapi Palace 9:00 - 1:00
Afternoon
Lunch 1:00 - 2:00
Archaeology Museum 2:00 - 4:30
Basilica Cistern 4:30 - 5:00
Evening
Galata Tower 5:30 - 6:00
Wander Down Istiklal 6:00 - 7:00
Drinks at Mikla 7:00 - 7:45
Dinner at Sofyali 9 or Haci Abdullah 8:15 - 9:45

Day 3
Morning
Bosphorus Cruise to Sariyer 9:00 - 12:00
Afteroon
Lunch at Muzedechanga 12: 30 - 1:30
Sadberk Hanim Museum 1:30 - 3:30
Rumelian Castle 4:00 - 4:30
Evening
Ferry to Kadikoy on the Asian Side 5:00 - 5:30
Stroll on Baghdad Avenue 6:00 - 7:00
Dinner on Baghdad Avenue 7:00 - 8:30

Day 4
Afternoon
Dolmabahce Palace 10:00 - 12:00
Depart in the afternoon