Five nights in Istanbul with return British Airways flights from London, a hotel two minutes from Istiklal Street, and breakfast every morning. From £446 per person.
Two Continents, One Short Flight
Istanbul is about four hours from London and sits on both sides of the Bosphorus, so you can have breakfast in Europe and lunch in Asia for the price of a ferry ticket. This five night break puts you in Beyoglu, the part of the city where people actually live and eat, rather than on a tourist strip. The old city is one tram ride away.
The price covers return flights with British Airways, five nights at the Pera Rose Hotel in a Superior Room, daily breakfast, your flight baggage allowance and full ATOL protection.
Quick Package Overview
- Price: From £446 per person, based on two adults sharing
- Duration: 5 nights, 6 days
- Flights: British Airways, London to Istanbul, return
- Hotel: Pera Rose Hotel, Beyoglu (4 star)
- Room: Superior Room
- Board: Daily breakfast
- Protection: ATOL protected, with 24/7 support from our London team
Where You Will Stay: Pera Rose Hotel, Beyoglu
The Pera Rose sits on Mesrutiyet Caddesi in Tepebasi, next door to the Pera Museum and a few doors down from the historic Pera Palace. It is a small 4 star hotel with a spa, a Turkish bath, a restaurant and a fitness room.
The location is the real selling point. Sishane Metro Station is about 30 metres from the front door, which puts the airport connection and the old city tram within easy reach.
- Istiklal Street and the nostalgic tram: 3 minute walk
- Galata Tower: 8 minute walk downhill
- Taksim Square: 15 minute walk
- Karakoy waterfront and the Bosphorus ferries: 15 minutes on foot
- Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque: around 25 minutes by metro and tram
Your Superior Room includes air conditioning, an en suite bathroom, a minibar, a safe, satellite TV and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is a Turkish buffet served in the hotel restaurant.
Istanbul in Early March: What to Expect
Early March is low season, which is exactly why this trip is priced the way it is. Daytime highs usually sit in the low teens Celsius, evenings are cold enough for a proper coat, and rain is likely on at least one or two days. Pack layers and shoes you do not mind getting wet.
In exchange, you get the city without the summer crush. Queues at Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern are a fraction of what they are in July, ferries are half empty, and you can walk into most restaurants without a booking.
One thing worth knowing: these dates fall in the last week of Ramadan, which is expected to run from around 8 February to 8 March. Istanbul is at its most atmospheric during this period. Mosques are lit with mahya, strings of lights that spell out messages between the minarets. Municipal iftar tents in Sultanahmet and Yenikapi are open to anyone who turns up. Restaurants across Beyoglu and the tourist districts serve normally through the day, so your own routine does not need to change at all.
What to Do With Five Days
The Historic Peninsula
- Hagia Sophia, now a working mosque, with visitor access to the upper gallery
- The Blue Mosque, free to enter outside the five daily prayer times
- Topkapi Palace and the Harem, which needs a good half day
- The Basilica Cistern, the sunken Byzantine reservoir under Sultanahmet
- Suleymaniye Mosque, quieter than the Blue Mosque and with better views
Beyoglu, Galata and the Water
- Climb Galata Tower early, before the queue builds
- Walk the length of Istiklal Street and duck into the side passages
- Take the public ferry from Eminonu to Kadikoy on the Asian side
- Eat your way through Kadikoy market, which locals rate over the Grand Bazaar
- Ride the Tunnel, one of the oldest underground railways in the world
Markets and Food
- The Grand Bazaar, with over 4,000 shops, closed on Sundays and public holidays
- The Spice Bazaar in Eminonu for Turkish delight, saffron and dried fruit
- Balik ekmek, grilled fish sandwiches, from the stalls at Eminonu
- A proper hammam, either at your hotel or at one of the historic baths
Your dates run Monday to Saturday, so the Grand Bazaar is open every full day of your stay.
Who This Trip Suits
- Couples: a walkable city, good food at every price point, and Bosphorus sunsets that cost the price of a ferry ticket
- Friends: Beyoglu has the bars, live music and late food, and you are staying in the middle of it
- Solo travellers: easy public transport, plenty to do on foot, and a central hotel you can walk back to
- First timers: five nights is enough to see the big sights without rushing them
Why Book With GenZ Travel
- ATOL protected, so your money and your holiday are covered
- Flexible payment plans, with a deposit now and the balance spread
- A named consultant in our London office, reachable 24/7
- Room upgrades, extra nights and private airport transfers on request
- Clear pricing with no hidden booking fees
Prefer somewhere warmer? Browse our full range of tour packages or see everything we offer in Turkey.
