Explore Istanbul

01

Hagia SophiaAyasofya

Dating from the sixth century, it was originally a basilica built for the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I. A masterwork of Roman engineering, its 30 m dome covered what was for over 1,000 years the largest enclosed space in the world. The church was looted during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 and became a mosque in the 15th century when the Ottomans conquered the city. It was converted into a museum in 1935 and reopened as a mosque in 2020. Don’t miss the remarkable mosaics in the upper gallery.

500 m from the hotelSultanahmet Square (tram: Sultanahmet)+90 212 522 17 50

02

Topkapı PalaceTopkapı Sarayı

The imperial enclave of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries, lavishly decorated, with four courtyards of increasing grandeur. The second court leads to the Harem (separate ticket) and the State Treasury with its weaponry display. The third court houses the Imperial Treasury, Islamic and Christian relics, rugs and porcelain, as well as belongings of the Prophet Muhammad. The views over the Bosphorus from the Fourth Court are spectacular.

700 m from the hotelBab-ı Hümayun Cad. (tram: Gülhane / Sultanahmet)+90 212 512 04 80Closed on Tuesdays

03

Hagia IreneAya İrini · Topkapı Palace grounds

On your left as you enter the outer courtyard of Topkapı Palace, Hagia Irene is one of the few Byzantine churches in the city that was never converted into a mosque. Its bare, atmospheric interior is open to visitors, and it is included in the Museum Pass.

600 m from the hotelFirst courtyard of Topkapı Palace

04

Blue MosqueSultanahmet Camii

With its six minarets and sweeping domes, the Sultanahmet — or “Blue” — Mosque impresses from every angle. It is still a working mosque: visitors enter through the courtyard, shoulders and knees should be covered (shawls are provided) and shoes are removed at the door. Entrance is free; the mosque closes to visitors during prayer times.

700 m from the hotelSultanahmet (tram: Sultanahmet)+90 212 518 13 19Daily, outside prayer times

05

Basilica CisternYerebatan Sarnıcı

A vast underground cistern built by Justinian in 532 to supply the city with water in times of siege. Walkways wind between the 336 columns, and soft lighting creates an eerie atmosphere. Look out for the fish swimming below your feet and the two famous Medusa-head column bases.

400 m from the hotelYerebatan Cad., SultanahmetOpen daily

06

HippodromeSultanahmet Meydanı

Once the centre of Roman and Byzantine Constantinople, and still a great place to begin a tour. The stadium no longer stands, but the obelisks and monuments collected here since the 4th century remain. Don’t miss the German Fountain, a neo-Byzantine gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Ottoman Sultan.

600 m from the hotelNext to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia

07

Archaeology MuseumsArkeoloji Müzeleri

Turkey’s first museum: three buildings in one courtyard — the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Tiled Kiosk. Over a million objects, including the Alexander Sarcophagus, the Treaty of Kadesh (the oldest known peace treaty), Sumerian tablets and the Gezer Calendar.

200 m from the hotelOsman Hamdi Bey Yokuşu, Gülhane (tram: Gülhane)Closed on Mondays

08

Great Palace Mosaics MuseumBüyük Saray Mozaikleri Müzesi

Tucked into the Arasta Bazaar, this museum preserves the floor mosaics of the Byzantine Great Palace of Constantinople, which once stretched from Sultanahmet Square past the Hippodrome down to the Sea of Marmara.

800 m from the hotelArasta Bazaar, just south of the Blue Mosque

09

Museum of Turkish and Islamic ArtsTürk ve İslam Eserleri Müzesi

Housed in the Ibrahim Pasha Palace on the Hippodrome: carpets, rugs, calligraphy and ceramics. The ethnographic section downstairs shows how the Turks and their ancestors lived.

800 m from the hotelSultanahmet Square

10

MilionMilyon Taşı

This modest marble pillar from the 4th century was the starting point for measuring every distance in the Byzantine Empire — so you can stand at the spot where all roads began.

300 m from the hotelOn the tram line, near the Basilica Cistern entrance

11

Gülhane ParkGülhane Parkı

Once the palace’s royal gardens, now a shady public park with huge plane trees and spectacular tulips every April. At its far end, outdoor cafés look out over the Bosphorus — order tea by the pot and enjoy the view.

200 m from the hotelNext to the Archaeology Museums

12

Soğukçeşme StreetSoğukçeşme Sokağı

A car-free cobbled lane behind Hagia Sophia, lined with restored wooden Ottoman houses leaning against the walls of Topkapı Palace. Nearby, don’t miss the rococo Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III (1728) in front of the palace gate.

200 m from the hotelBetween Hagia Sophia and Gülhane Park

13

Grand BazaarKapalıçarşı

One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, with over 3,000 shops, 61 streets and 22 gates spread across some 31,000 m². It can feel like a labyrinth at first, but the streets follow an almost grid-like plan and shops are grouped by trade.

1.2 km from the hotelBeyazıt (tram: Beyazıt – Kapalıçarşı)Closed on Sundays