City: Sultanahmet
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What to do and see in Sultanahmet, Turkey: The Best Architectural Buildings
The mosques, bazaars, and Turkish baths of Istanbul could keep you happily occupied for your entire trip: an eyeful of breathtaking architecture here, a good-natured haggle over a carpet there. Kick your trip off at the awe-inspiring Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), which is visible from many points of the city. Stroll the Galata Bridge and stop by the Miniaturk Park to see its tiny artifacts. The Grand Bazaar has thousands of shops to browse, while the Egyptian Bazaar is a fragrant trove of spices and fruits.
Restaurants in Istanbul
1. Ayasofya Camii
2. Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamami
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,994 reviews
The Historical and Luxurious Art of BathingHistorical and Architectural Features“I hope that until the end of days, good hearted friends who take a look at what I have made, when they will perceive the seriousness and the spirit of my effort, can have a fair view and can invoke my name to pray for me.” Mimar Sinan, ArchitectThe Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam in Istanbul was designed and built by Mimar Sinan, the chief Ottoman architect. It was built at the request of Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana), the wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. It was built where the ancient public baths of Zeuxippus used to stand, between the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. The area is also particularly significant as the site where the Temple of Zeus once stood.
Reviewed By rashamirak - Perth, Australia
Amazing experience, worth every penny, amazing massage, if you have any concerns or worries about having a first hammam experience you are in the best hands here. Highly recommend! Will be back for sure next time I am in Istanbul
3. Historic District Tours by Omer Cakirca
4. Serefiye Sarnici
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 272 reviews
Reviewed By luke265
Super nice and well maintained, Most importantly its free and way fewer visitors compared to the famous Basilica Cistern,
5. Hagia Sophia Cultural Info Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Hagia Sophia Cultural Info Center is managed by a group of volunteers who try to provide visitors with necessary knowledge on the Hagia Sophia and Islam. They serve you free tea & coffee along with some free literature on the mosque and Islam. If you are lucky, you can even have a free meal with them. There are daily talks on the mosque and Islam that are free to join.
Reviewed By tourguideenes - Istanbul, Turkey
It was a lovely experience in a historical atmosphere with volunteers explaining you about Hagia Sophia and Islam. Very informative and engaging. You can stop by any time and listen their free presentation. Should not be mistaken with commercial places it's an Ngo and they provide these services for free. As if it was not enough with their informative presentation they also served turkish coffe for free ????
6. Hagia Sophia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43,620 reviews
This architectural marvel displays 30 million gold tiles throughout its interior, and a wide, flat dome which was a bold engineering feat at the time it was constructed in the 6th century.
Reviewed By AnLily
The Hagia Sophia Church-turned Mosque deserves a second look. Often, you need to look up & behind (at the exit and corner of upstairs former chapel) to spot the beauty that Islamic conquerors forgot or ignored in stripping its decor. Sadly, they plastered over the pure gold & silver Byzantine mosaics, which are only palely visible now. (The glowing ceiling and radiant upper walls of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem shows what the Hagia Sophia once would have looked like by brilliant candlelight inside.) The Byzantine influence of the Hagia Sophia is great; its architecture was copied by Ottomans and can be seen at the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) in Istanbul and in Cairo (“Blue Mosque” as well) at the Fortress governed by Mohamed Ali. Aside from the similarities, including windows and dome at the succeeding blue mosques, differences to the mosque-cathedrals revised by North African Caliphates in Cordoba also astound visitors. Whereas the archways and simplicity of Spanish architecture on the conquered Iberian peninsula resemble ancient Egyptian Coptic churches, the Hagia Sophia has an intricacy that dimly appears after centuries of contest. You miss the most impressive views by not taking the ancient Roman uneven ramp to the upper gallery (with jewellery stand!); it closes early and is only accessible until approximately 6 p.m. Beyond the Empress Lodge upstairs is the 6th century marble door, behind which is a handrail with 9th c. Viking graffiti. On the arches above are mosaic stars of David flanking emblems of crosses. If you proceed to the far wall and look back there’s an impressive Byzantine image of Jesus retained in gold. However, the marble was largely damaged by Ottomans and the statuary looted by Crusaders and Venetians. A portion of the mosaics (6-13 c) are being uncovered from behind imposing scaffolding. This Hagia Sophia beside Sultanahmet in Iznik (Nicaea) was built during the reign of Emperor Theodosius and burned in the fire of Nika Revolt (532 AD) before being rebuilt. It was the site of the 7th ecumenical Church council in 787 CE (the first was also held there in 325 CE). It became strictly used as a mosque from 1331 under order of Orhan Gazi and modified with medallions or script of Koran inspiration by the architect Mimar Sinan. The remains of a 1,600-year old Byzantine basilica, St. Neophytos, is nearby--preserved as a museum under Iznik Lake as an inspiration of the original Hagia Sophia cathedral. In 1453 Mahmud II made severe changes to Hagia Sophia, the ancient base of the Orthodox Church, when he forced out the local Ecumenical faithful and hung the Greek patriarch George V—as well as executing the leading Orthodox bishops. Subsequent Muslim renovations continued 1847-49 during Abdulmecit’s reign. The Hagia Sophia was reconstituted as Museum under secularized state control after Ataturk ascended to power in postwar Turkey. General admission to the museum costs 60 TL/person. The ticket office accepts visa, as does the gift- and coffee shop. You can purchase a 5-day pass for 185 TL to save 169 TL on other attractions as well. Headsets are limited and available only for large groups. The last daily entry time is 6 p.m, and snack counters sell expensive refreshments outside the public washrooms (wood huts) on the museum grounds. If you have time and cash-only, the Basilica cistern is kitty corner to the Hagia Sophia entrance across the street /tram tracks. Combining these venues and/or the Blue Mosque nearby can be simply enjoyed with or without a guide. Tourist pamphlets in multiple languages are oddly placed beside the exit gates, not at the front of the former church and basilica.
7. Basilica Cistern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31,242 reviews
The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns beneath the city that provided a water filtration system for the buildings nearby. This underground chamber measures approximately 138 meters (453 ft) by 64.6 meters (212 ft) and is capable of holding 80,000 cubic meters (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. The ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns.
Reviewed By IvanaM2363
Truly interesting place and if you're there during a hot summer, this is a great place to visit, because it's cool and you get break from the heat :) I loved the dark atmosphere. It was magical. The head of Medusa was also lovely. There are still fish swimming around and that makes it even more interesting. If you have great guides like I had my Turkish friends, who told me so much about the history, etc., you will love every little place in Turkey :) When in Basilica Cistern, please be careful, it is slippery, but on the other hand, you're sightseeing so you most probably will not be running around :)
8. Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 151 reviews
This l6th-century mosque, built on the slope of a hill near Sultanahmet, is one of the most beautiful examples of classical Turkish architecture in the city. Of special interest are the prayer niches and pulpit, which are covered in lovely Iznik tiles.
Reviewed By jayyen93 - Dublin, Ireland
Amazingly, despite being so close to perhaps Istanbul's most popular mosque - the Blue Mosque, this mosque is on the other hand oft-ignored. However, I would argue that Sokollu Mehmet Pasa Mosque is more significant architecturally and historically! The Blue Mosque was designed by the pupil of the master architect Mimar Sinan, who was the designer of this mosque. Although lacking the grandeur of the Blue Mosque, SMP Mosque is nonetheless a masterpiece that reveals Mimar Sinan's perfected skills and trumps even his own famous works like Suleimaniye Mosque! For instance, take a look at the courtyard. Ottoman mosques were designed as a complex to include buildings of various functions like school and hospital, and SMP was no exception. However, while almost every other mosques have these buildings separated and disjointed, all the buildings in SMP were seamlessly integrated by Sinan. The result is a fully functional and harmonious complex! Literally on top of this architectural harmony is the multi-cupola that is an iconic Ottoman mosque element, although on this mosque, the multiple cupolas were designed to complement one another in a harmonious splendor almost as a single multifaceted cupola without the excessive extravagance or redundancy in the works from Sinan's pupils. Long story short, SMP is truly a masterpiece that is worth the (very short) detour from the main tourist path and may be even more worthy to see than the more famous mosques in Istanbul! I highly recommend seeing this beautiful mosque, especially before this becomes an open secret like Rustem Pasa Mosque.
9. Sultanahmet Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,419 reviews
Reviewed By MrhBerkay - Istanbul, Turkey
I've been to there many times but the last one was probably the most interesting of all. The visit was in April 2020, during the early phase of the pandemic. As it was also a rainy day and most of the locals were at homes, there were literally no people around. It was a life time experience. Generally speaking, the area is worth to see at any time. It has many nice and historical buildings that date back to the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Most famous buildings are the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The Hippodrome of Constantinople is a must-visit. The Serpent Column (from Delphi in Greece), the Walled Obelisk and the Obelisk of Theodosius (from the Temple of Karnak in Egypt) are absolutely worth to see. If you are wondering where the snake heads of the Serpent Column are, one of the heads is on display at the Archaelogy Museum. Other notable structures nearby: German Fountain, Ibrahim Pasha Palace, Fountain of Ahmed III and Million Stone Just a little tip: If you want to see the real remains of the Hippodrome, just go to the Kasap Osman Sokak and enjoy the history.
10. Cinili Kosk (Tiled Kiosk)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By inflexible85 - Canakkale, Turkey
It is one of the three museums in the Istanbul Archaeology Museums complex. In this museum, which attracts attention with its colorful appearance, I had the opportunity to see beautiful tiles and ceramic samples. This Ottoman Period work, which carries the Seljuk traces with the tiles in its architecture, was built in 1472 by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. This two-storey building is the first building built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in Topkapı Palace. Iznik tiles here are remarkable. It was opened in 1875 under the name Müze-i Humayun (Imperial Museum) and was used until 1891. This mansion, which was named Fatih Museum in 1953, was registered to Istanbul Archeology Museums in 1981.
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