Istanbul's Absolute Essentials
Istanbul’s historic peninsula preserves layers of Byzantine and Ottoman history through its most significant landmarks. This selection features iconic architectural sites like the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, alongside the expansive Topkapı Palace complex. The list also highlights Roman engineering with the Column of Constantine and the Column of the Goths, as well as the city’s traditional bathing culture found in historic structures like the 16th-century Haseki Hürrem Hammam and the Baroque-style Cağaloğlu Hamam.
A Hagia Sophia
Historic architectural masterpiece that has served as a church, mosque, and museum, renowned for its Byzantine architecture and cultural significance.
B The Blue Mosque
Historic Ottoman mosque known for its six minarets and intricate blue tile interior decoration. It is an active place of worship and a significant example of Ottoman architecture.
C Topkapı Palace
Historic Ottoman palace and former royal residence featuring centuries-old architecture and extensive imperial collections, now functioning as a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
D Sultan Ahmet Square
Historic square featuring notable monuments and remnants of an ancient sports and social center. It reflects both Byzantine and Ottoman architectural influences.
E Cistern of Philoxenos
Byzantine underground cistern featuring 224 columns and notable Byzantine architecture. It serves as an archaeological site and museum showcasing ancient water storage engineering.
F New Mosque
Completed in the 17th century, this large mosque features 66 domes, a nice courtyard and two minarets.
G Column of Constantine
There used to be a statue of Constantine the Great atop of this Roman column.
H Camondo Stairs
This famous stairway was built around 1880 by a wealthy man named Abraham Salomon Camondo. It mixes Neo-Baroque and early Art Nouveau styles.
I Hagia Irene
This former Eastern Orthodox church is part of the Topkapi Palace complex. The name Hagia Irene means "Divine Peace".
J Column of the Goths
A 15-meter-high Roman triumphal column made of Proconnesian marble, located in Gülhane Park. Dating from the 3rd or 4th century, it commemorates a Roman victory over invading Goths and remains one of the oldest intact monuments from the Roman era in the city.
K Nuruosmaniye Mosque
The Nuruosmaniye Mosque is an 18th-century Ottoman mosque located in the Çemberlitaş neighbourhood of Fatih district in Istanbul, Turkey,…
L Golden Horn
This 7.5 kilometers long natural bay has served as a harbor for centuries.
M Sultan Ahmed III Fountain
The Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III is a fountain in the great square in front of the Imperial Gate of Topkapı Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
N Haseki Hürrem Hammam
The Hagia Sophia Hurrem Sultan Bathhouse is a sixteenth-century Turkish bath in Istanbul, Turkey.
O Cağaloğlu Hamam
The Cağaloğlu Hamam is a historic hamam in Sultanahmet, in the heart of the historic centre of Istanbul, Turkey.
P Çemberlitaş Hammam
When going to or from the Grand Bazaar, stop by at this amazing hammam. They offer various treatments such as scrubbing or Sultan's bath.
Q Tiled Kiosk
The Tiled Kiosk is a pavilion set within the outer walls of Topkapı Palace and dates from 1472 as shown on the tile inscript above the main…
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