We can say that the Sultanahmet district is the historical capital of Istanbul. There are so many places to visit in Sultanahmet that it is almost impossible to visit all of them in 1-2 days. However, if your Istanbul trip is limited in time, of course, we do not want you to spend your entire holiday in Sultanahmet. There are wonderful spots you would like to see all over Istanbul.
We have compiled a list of some museums, monuments, and mosques that we think you should visit and explore in Sultanahmet. If you are going to tour the Historic Peninsula, this content is for you!
Transportation to Sultanahmet Area
The most ideal way to reach this area is to use the tram. Or you can choose to walk. Traffic congestion in Istanbul is especially intense in this region and on the routes from the surrounding districts to here. Istanbulites are unlikely to go to this part of the city without a special reason. You will see that there are mostly foreign tourists in and around Sultanahmet.
Places to Visit in Sultanahmet
Hagia Sophia Mosque And Topkapi Palace
To reach the Spice Bazaar, you can start the day by crossing the Galata Bridge, the oldest bridge in Istanbul. Here, your nose will be filled with a thousand and one flavors with the smell of many different spices! If you want to buy spices, you can also visit the inside of the bazaar and the small shops in the side streets around it.
Continue walking in the direction of Hagia Sophia Mosque (formerly Hagia Sophia Museum). Hagia Sophia was originally a Christian basilica in Constantinople from the 6th century. In the 15th century, the Ottoman sultan Sultan II. It became a mosque after Mehmed conquered Istanbul. In 1934, this place of worship was turned into a museum. Recently, in July 2020, Hagia Sophia started to serve as a mosque again. Entry to Hagia Sophia is free.
Just across the Hagia Sophia Mosque is the Blue Mosque. This place is famous as the Blue Mosque because of the blue mosaics that adorn the interior walls of this legendary building. It was built during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I between 1609 and 1616, and one of its greatest features is that it has 6 minarets.
Afterward, we recommend you go to Topkapi Palace. The name of this palace literally means "ball gate palace". It was the imperial residence of the Sultans during the Ottoman Empire. Covering an area of 70 hectares, Topkapi Palace is surrounded by 5 km of walls.
It was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1985 and defined as "a series of unique structures built over four centuries, unique in their organization that reflects the Ottoman courtyard as well as their architectural quality".
Topkapı Palace, Hagia Eirene, and Harem entrance fees are 110 TL for domestic tourists and 285 TL for foreign visitors. Allow half a day to visit the monument. Topkapi Palace is open to visitors between 09:00 and 18:00. It is closed to visitors on Tuesdays.
If you want to stay in this area at the end of the day, Byzantium Hotel on Akbıyık Street will be a very good option for you.
Grand Bazaar And Istanbul Archeology Museum
You can start/continue the day by going to the Grand Bazaar. It is one of the largest bazaars in the world, with an area of more than 20 km2. There are 18 different gates to enter the bazaar. There are 4000 shops along 58 inner streets in the bazaar.
You will find gold, diamonds, carpets, bags, souvenirs, and more in the Grand Bazaar. If you're going to shop, don't hesitate to bargain! All vendors speak some foreign language, at least enough to sell you something.
The small streets around the Grand Bazaar are also very interesting. They are full of shops selling almost everything at more competitive prices than the Grand Bazaar.
You can see the Cistern-Basilica (Basilica Cistern) in the direction of the Istanbul Archeology Museum. It is a huge underground water cistern with a fascinating history. The Basilica Cistern is currently closed to visitors for restoration.
You can go to the Istanbul Archeology Museum. The museum, located around Topkapı Palace, actually consists of three separate museums: the Main Archeology Museum, the Ancient Orient Museum, and the Enamel Kiosk Museum, also known as the Ceramics Museum. It is home to more than a million objects representing almost every period and civilization in the history of the world.
It can be a great advantage to visit the Sultanahmet region alone, as well as a visit with a guide. Most of the people in these neighborhoods speak English and the monuments are not far from each other and everything is nicely marked with signage.