This enchanting city that bridges two continents offers more world-class attractions than it does minarets – and that’s saying something.
The Aya Sofya, officially known as Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, stands as one of the Byzantine Empire’s most remarkable architectural treasures. Nestled in the heart of İstanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district, this iconic structure remains a powerful symbol of the city’s complex past and spiritual significance.
Commissioned by Emperor Justinian and consecrated in 537 as the Church of Divine Wisdom, Aya Sofya’s purpose has shifted over centuries—converted into a mosque by Sultan Mehmet II in 1453, declared a museum by Atatürk in 1935, and reconverted into a functioning mosque in 2020. Its evolving status mirrors İstanbul’s own transformation, from Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, to a vibrant modern metropolis at the crossroads of East and West.
Byzantine Artistry and Sacred Doors
At the southwest vestibule, the “Beautiful Gate” welcomes visitors with its 2nd-century BCE bronze doors, believed to have been taken from a temple in Tarsus. Nearby, a stunning 10th-century mosaic depicts the Virgin Mary with the Christ child, flanked by Emperor Justinian offering the Hagia Sophia and Emperor Constantine presenting Constantinople. Inside, the grand oak-and-brass Imperial Door once reserved for the Byzantine emperor leads to the prayer hall, above which glimmers a 9th-century mosaic of Christ enthroned with Emperor Leo IV bowing in devotion.
A Majestic Prayer Hall: Fusion of Faith and Architecture
Whether attending prayer or admiring the vast space, visitors are awed by Justinian’s nave, now a prayer hall rich with Byzantine opulence and Ottoman grandeur. Massive chandeliers hang from the soaring ceiling, and eight gilded medallions inscribed with the names of God, the Prophet Muhammad, and the first caliphs encircle the marble-paneled walls. Intricate geometric patterns adorn the domes and arches overhead.
In the northwestern corner, the “Weeping Column,” said to be blessed by St Gregory the Miracle Worker, draws pilgrims who rub its worn copper surface seeking healing. The apse features a beautifully ornate mihrab indicating Mecca’s direction, with stained-glass windows rising to a semi-dome that hides a 9th-century mosaic of the Virgin and Child behind curtains.
A newly laid teal carpet covers the marble floor, except for the omphalion—a unique inlaid-stone area marking where Byzantine emperors were crowned, preserving a striking circle pattern of red and green porphyry, granite, and verd antique.
Architectural Wonder: The Dome
Aya Sofya’s dome, soaring 56 meters (184 feet) high and spanning 33 meters (108 feet) in diameter, was the first major dome built atop a square base. Supported by four pendentives, this engineering marvel pioneered the grand domes of Ottoman mosques that followed. Four seraphim angels decorate the pendentives—two original mosaics and two frescoes from an 1847 restoration—believed to protect İstanbul from disaster.
Upper Gallery Mosaics
Currently closed for restoration, the upper gallery houses priceless mosaics, including those of Emperor Constantine IX and Empress Zoe, as well as Emperor John Komnenos II and Empress Irene.
Visiting Aya Sofya
As a working mosque, entrance to the Aya Sofya is free. Visitors should dress modestly—covering arms and legs—and women must wear headscarves. Shoes are removed before entering the prayer hall.
Official tour guides are available at the entrance, charging by the hour. The best visiting hours are between 9am and 11:30am, though expect crowds and some queuing. Non-Muslims should avoid visiting during prayer times, as access to parts of the hall will be restricted.
Nearby Attractions
Aya Sofya sits amid İstanbul’s historic gems: the Basilica Cistern is a short 40-meter walk west; the Blue Mosque is just 300 meters south across Sultanahmet Park; and Gülhane Park, Topkapı Palace, and the İstanbul Archaeological Museum lie just north.
Few museums in the world can rival Topkapı Palace for colorful tales of intrigue, power, and luxury. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, this vast complex was home to the Ottoman Empire’s sultans, their courtiers, concubines, and eunuchs. A visit here — exploring the ornate pavilions, jewel-studded Treasury, and sprawling Harem — reveals fascinating insights into the lives behind the empire’s grandeur.
Origins and Layout
Built shortly after the 1453 conquest by Mehmet the Conqueror, Topkapı served as the imperial court until the 19th century, when sultans moved to lavish European-style palaces on the Bosphorus shores.
Before entering through the Imperial Gate (Bab-ı Hümayun), pause to admire the rococo-style Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III (1728), a tribute to the sultan famed for his love of tulips.
The palace is organized into a series of courts, each with unique functions and attractions.
Known as the Court of the Janissaries or Parade Court, this open space hosts the Hagia Eirene (Aya İrini), a serene Byzantine church.
Passing through the Middle Gate (Ortakapı or Bab-üs Selâm) leads to the empire’s administrative heart. The sultan and his mother alone could ride horses through here — others had to dismount.
Unlike European palaces with single main buildings, Topkapı is a collection of pavilions, kitchens, barracks, and chambers arranged around a central enclosure.
Palace Kitchens include a confectionery kitchen (Helvahane) and showcase Topkapı’s prized collection of Chinese celadon porcelain — treasured for beauty and its rumored ability to detect poison.
To the west lies the Imperial Council Chamber (Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn) where state affairs were conducted. The sultan sometimes secretly listened through a gold grille.
The Outer Treasury exhibits a dazzling array of Ottoman and European arms and armour.
Entrance lies beneath the Tower of Justice and requires a separate ticket. Far from mere debauchery, the Harem was a strictly regulated family space governed by ceremony and tradition. Housing up to 300 concubines, it was a world of education, meritocracy, and political influence.
The Valide Sultan (sultan’s mother) wielded immense power, commanding eunuchs and influencing empire affairs.
The Harem features 300 rooms over six floors, with only one open to visitors. Highlights include richly tiled Dormitory of the Palace Guards, the Hall with the Fountain, the Mosque of the Black Eunuchs, and the Apartments of the Valide Sultan with 19th-century murals and a double hamam.
The Courtyard of the Favourites overlooks the infamous kafes (cage) where princes were imprisoned.
The route through the Harem ends at the Golden Road, exiting into the Third Court.
The sultan’s private domain, accessed through the Gate of Felicity and guarded by white eunuchs.
The Audience Chamber, rebuilt in the 18th century, hosted foreign dignitaries presenting gifts.
The Library of Ahmet III (1719) lies nearby.
The Sacred Safekeeping Rooms contain precious relics of the Prophet Muhammad, opened only once a year during Ramadan.
The Dormitory of the Privy Chamber features portraits of 36 sultans, including a vivid painting of Sultan Selim III’s enthronement.
Located in the Third Court, the Treasury displays priceless objects crafted from gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and jade. Closed for restoration at last visit, it houses treasures like:
The jewel-encrusted Sword of Süleyman the Magnificent
The exquisite Throne of Ahmed I, decorated with mother-of-pearl and designed by the architect of the Blue Mosque
The famous Topkapı Dagger, adorned with emeralds and a hidden watch (featured in the film Topkapı)
The Kasıkçı (Spoonmaker’s) Diamond, an 86-carat teardrop-shaped gem once worn by Mehmet IV
Home to pleasure pavilions and gardens:
The Mecidiye Kiosk, built by Abdül Mecit, features a terrace with Bosphorus views and the nearby Konyalı restaurant (noted for views but mixed reviews on food).
The Head Physician’s Pavilion — the sultan’s doctor was traditionally Jewish — stands here, along with the Kiosk of Mustafa Pasha and the famous Tulip Garden.
Other gems include the Marble Terrace with decorative pools and the charming İftariye Kameriyesi pavilion, a place to break the Ramadan fast.
The Revan Kiosk (1636) and Baghdad Kiosk (1639) commemorate Ottoman military victories, boasting exquisite İznik tiles and inlays.
The Circumcision Room (Sünnet Odası), adorned with tile panels, was used for boys’ coming-of-age ceremonies.
Visiting Topkapı Palace is a journey into Ottoman history, lavish lifestyles, and political intrigue — an unforgettable highlight of any İstanbul trip.
İstanbul is rich with Byzantine monuments, but few rival the exquisite mosaics and frescoes of the Chora Church, also known as Kariye Mosque. Tucked near the ancient Theodosius II land walls, it attracts far fewer visitors than the famous Aya Sofya, yet offers an equally compelling glimpse into Byzantine art and history. Note that the mosque has been undergoing phased restorations for several years—check current opening status before you visit.
Getting There
The best route is to take the Haliç (Golden Horn) ferry from Karaköy to Ayvansaray, then follow a scenic walk up the hill through narrow streets past remnants of the Theodosius II walls and the Palace of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, arriving finally at the mosque on Kariye Sokak.
History and Architecture
Originally built outside the ancient city walls—hence its name, Chora (“country”)—the building started as the Church of the Holy Saviour Outside the Walls. It has been rebuilt multiple times, notably in the 11th, 12th, and 14th centuries. The dazzling interior mosaics and frescoes, mainly dating from around 1320, were commissioned by the Byzantine statesman and poet Theodore Metochites under Emperor Andronikos II.
The complex consists of five main parts: the nave, a two-storey northern annex, the inner and outer narthexes, and a chapel for tombs (parecclesion) to the south. Restoration work has progressed in stages, with parts of the building still undergoing renovation.
Mosaics to See
The interior is richly decorated with mosaics depicting scenes from the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Highlights include:
The “Khalke Jesus” mosaic in the inner narthex’s right dome, showing Christ and Mary flanked by donors Prince Isaac Comnenos and Melane, daughter of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.
The dome mosaic illustrating “The Genealogy of Christ.”
A beautiful mosaic on the left dome featuring Mary and Baby Jesus surrounded by ancestors.
In the nave: mosaics of Christ, Mary with the Baby Jesus, and the Dormition (Assumption) of the Virgin Mary—above the main entrance, the latter depicts Jesus holding Mary’s soul as an infant.
Frescoes in the Parecclesion
The parecclesion, a side chapel for tombs, is decorated with frescoes exploring death and resurrection themes. The dramatic Anastasis fresco shows Christ raising Adam and Eve from their sarcophagi, surrounded by saints and kings, with the gates of hell beneath His feet. The dome frescoes depict Mary accompanied by 12 angels, while the ceiling between dome and apse features a vivid Last Judgement scene from the Book of Revelation, illuminated with white and gilt accents.
Nestled just below Topkapı Palace, the İstanbul Archaeology Museums are a must-visit for history and archaeology enthusiasts. The complex, made up of three distinct buildings, houses one of the world’s finest collections of artifacts spanning ancient Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Mediterranean.
Currently, the main building is undergoing extensive renovations, but visitors can still explore the Tiled Pavilion, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Ancient Age Sculpture section — home to the museum’s spectacular sarcophagi from the Royal Necropolis of Sidon.
This 1883 building, immediately to the left upon entering the complex, showcases remarkable pre-Islamic treasures from across the Ottoman Empire. Highlights include an 8th-century BC Hittite rock relief depicting the storm god Tarhunza, and vibrant blue-and-yellow glazed bricks from the ancient city of Babylon’s Ishtar Gate, featuring mythical creatures such as lions, dragons, and bulls.
Opposite the Museum of the Ancient Orient, this grand neoclassical building houses an impressive array of classical statuary, mosaics, and artifacts chronicling İstanbul’s rich history through ancient, Byzantine, and Ottoman times.
Its standout treasures are the extraordinary sarcophagi excavated by Osman Hamdi Bey, including the famous Alexander Sarcophagus and Mourning Women Sarcophagus from Sidon. The northern wing displays an extensive collection of ancient grave-cult sarcophagi from Syria, Lebanon, Thessalonica, and Ephesus — including remarkable anthropoid designs. Don’t miss the intricate Sidamara Sarcophagus from Konya, with its playful cherubs and horses’ legs, alongside exquisite Roman floor mosaics and Anatolian architectural fragments.
Built in 1472 by Mehmet the Conqueror, this elegant pavilion displays a superb collection of Seljuk, Anatolian, and Ottoman tiles and ceramics, spanning from the late 12th century through the early 20th century. The star attraction is the stunning mihrab from the 1432 İbrahim Bey İmâret in Karaman, set in the central room. The pavilion’s 14 marble-columned portico was rebuilt during Sultan Abdül Hamit I’s reign after a fire in 1737.
The Archaeology Museums are easily reached by a gentle walk down from Topkapı Palace’s First Court or up from the main gate of Gülhane Park.
A joint ticket covering Topkapı Palace (excluding the Harem), Aya Sofya, and the Archaeology Museums costs ₺135.
Perched atop one of İstanbul’s seven hills and overlooking the Golden Horn, the Süleymaniye Mosque is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. While not the largest Ottoman mosque, it stands out for its grand elegance and harmonious design, with many of its original külliye (complex) buildings thoughtfully preserved and repurposed.
Commissioned by Sultan Süleyman I, known as ‘the Magnificent,’ the mosque was constructed between 1550 and 1557 under the direction of Mimar Sinan, the empire’s most celebrated architect. Its four soaring minarets, adorned with 10 şerefes (balconies), symbolize Süleyman’s status as the fourth sultan of İstanbul and the tenth ruler of the Ottoman Empire.
Inside, the mosque impresses with its vast yet airy interior, featuring a dome nearly as large as that of the Hagia Sophia. Sinan ingeniously integrated the buttresses into the walls, creating an open and luminous space. Highlights include a mihrab adorned with exquisite İznik tiles, delicate mother-of-pearl inlaid shutters, vibrant stained glass, painted muqarnas corbels, elegant calligraphy medallions, and a striking persimmon-colored carpet.
The wider külliye once included an imaret (soup kitchen), medrese (seminary), darüşşifa (hospital), hamam (bathhouse), and tabhane (inn for dervishes). Today, several buildings serve as the Süleymaniye Library and lively streetside restaurants, many located along Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi—formerly known as the ‘Market of the Addicts’ due to its historic teahouses.
Sinan’s türbe (tomb) lies just outside the mosque garden, adjacent to a now-disused medrese. The Süleymaniye Hamamı remains open on the mosque’s eastern side.
Nearby, the cemetery contains the beautifully tiled octagonal tombs of Süleyman and his wife Haseki Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana), featuring stunning ivory-inlaid panels.
The surrounding streets boast one of the richest clusters of Ottoman timber houses on the historic peninsula, many currently undergoing restoration as part of a vibrant urban renewal initiative.
Bursting with vibrant colours, enticing aromas, and an unbeatable local atmosphere, Kadıköy Pazarı is the ultimate destination for fresh produce lovers in İstanbul. It perfectly balances a neighbourhood market’s authentic charm with enough variety to satisfy the most curious food explorer.
Reaching Kadıköy involves a scenic ferry ride across the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia, offering stunning views of İstanbul’s skyline dotted with domes and minarets, and flocks of seagulls swooping above. Once docked, simply cross Rihtim Caddesi and wander up Muvakkithane or Yasa Caddesi to dive into the bustling market heart.
The best stalls cluster along Güneşlibahçe Sokak, where you’ll find glistening fresh fish on beds of crushed ice, colourful seasonal fruits and vegetables, jars of fragrant honey, tangy pickles, freshly roasted nuts, and much more.
Kadıköy also offers a feast for the senses beyond the market stalls: sample creamy yoghurt and honey at Etabal, savour regional Anatolian dishes at Çiya Sofrası, enjoy crispy lahmacun at Borsam Taş Fırın, indulge in fresh seafood at Kadı Nımet Balıkçılık, delight in sundaes at Baylan Pastanesi, and sip the city’s best Turkish coffee at Fazıl Bey.
For authentic edible souvenirs, consider lokum (Turkish delight) from Ali Muhıddın Hacı Bekir, specialty coffee from Fazıl Bey, or fragrant olive-oil soap from the herbalists along Güneşlibahçe Sokak.
To truly immerse yourself, join a guided culinary walk with experts like Culinary Backstreets, Turkish Flavours, or İstanbul on Food — all renowned for revealing the city’s best-kept gastronomic secrets.
Commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532, the Basilica Cistern is the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul. Its vast, dimly lit chamber is supported by 336 columns, many repurposed from ancient temples, each crowned with beautifully carved capitals. The sheer scale and symmetry create a hauntingly atmospheric underground space — a welcome cool retreat on hot summer days.
Originally known as the Basilica Cistern because it lay beneath the Stoa Basilica, this vast reservoir once stored up to 80,000 cubic metres of water. It was supplied by aqueducts stretching 20km from a reservoir near the Black Sea to service the Great Palace and surrounding structures. Abandoned and forgotten after the Byzantine emperors moved away, it was rediscovered in 1545 by scholar Petrus Gyllius, who was tipped off by locals drawing water from below their basements — some even fishing there.
Despite its grandeur, the Ottomans neglected the cistern for centuries, using it as a dumping ground. It was finally cleaned and restored in 1985 and opened to the public two years later. Today, visitors walk along raised wooden platforms above the still waters, spotting carp gliding below and listening to water dripping from the vaulted ceiling.
Note: Museum Pass İstanbul is not valid here.
One of İstanbul’s most photogenic landmarks, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque was the grand vision of Sultan Ahmet I (r. 1603–17), whose tomb lies on the north side of the complex facing Sultanahmet Park. Its graceful exterior features a cascade of domes and six slender minarets—a record number when it was built—while tens of thousands of exquisite blue İznik tiles adorn its vast interior, giving the mosque its beloved nickname, the Blue Mosque.
Designed by architect Sedefkâr Mehmet Ağa, the mosque’s voluptuous curves and harmonious proportions echo the grandeur of nearby Aya Sofya. Its courtyard, as large as the prayer hall itself, and 260 windows flood the space with light, enhancing the mosque’s majestic atmosphere.
For the best experience, enter via the Hippodrome side to appreciate the mosque’s perfect symmetry and scale. Access for visitors is carefully managed to maintain the sacred ambiance: worshippers enter through the main door, while tourists must use the south entrance. The mosque closes briefly during the five daily prayer times and for cleaning on Friday mornings. Note that Friday prayers include a longer sermon and last longer than usual.
Visitors, especially women without headscarves or modest clothing, will be provided with scarves and robes upon entry to respect local customs.
