Email this guide
Print the full guide-
Istanbul
- Overview
- Attractions
- Events
- Kids Attractions
- Restaurants
- Nightlife
- Shopping
- Transport
- Airports
- Climate
What to see in Istanbul
Istanbul Attractions
Istanbul's most prominent attractions are of the architectural
variety, a selection of formidable and historical structures that
make sightseeing in Istanbul educational as well as visually
rewarding.
Sightseeing in Istanbul offers attractions such as the Hagia
Sophia, a huge museum and former cathedral, that is adorned with
stunning mosaics. Another iconic Istanbul attraction is the Blue
Mosque, with its graceful minarets and tiered domes. The 1st
century Sunken Palace is supported by hundreds of underground
columns, an essential Istanbul landmark.
While sightseeing in Istanbul, Galata Tower offers visitors a
360º panoramic view of the old town. Nearby, the 5th century
Land Walls stand testament to the city's resistance of its 1453
conquest by the Ottoman Empire. The Covered Bazaar, or Kapali
Çarsi, is the oldest and biggest enclosed bazaar in the
world, a must-see while in Istanbul.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)
The Sultan Ahmet Camii, commonly known as the Blue Mosque, with its tiers of magnificent domes and six graceful minarets…
 NOV2015.jpg)
Covered Bazaar (Kapali Çarsi)
The oldest and biggest enclosed bazaar in the world, also known as the Grand Bazaar, is one of the most enticing and…
Dolmabahce Palace
The Dolmabahce Palace was home to six Sultans from 1856, when it was first inhabited, up until the abolition of the Caliphate…
Galata Tower
The Galata Tower, called Christea Turris (the Tower of Christ in Latin) by the Genoese, is a medieval stone tower in…
Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya)
Famous for its impressive size, remarkable architecture, and beautiful mosaics and frescoes, the massive, ochre, domed…
Hippodrome
The ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople was built between 200 and 300 as a stadium for horse racing, chariot racing,…
Sunken Palace
Also known as the Underground Cistern or Yerebatan Saray, this eerie cavern was built by Constantine the Great around…
Topkapi Palace Museum
The Topkapi Sarayi, built by Mehmet the Conqueror as a sultan's palace, consists of a collection of buildings arranged…
Turkish and Islamic Art Museum
The grand 16th century palace of the sultan's Grand Vizier, Ibrahim Pasa, today houses the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum,…
Become our Istanbul Travel Expert
We are looking for contributors for our Istanbul travel guide. If you are a local, a regular traveller to Istanbul or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.
