Istanbul

Sultanahmet

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya-i Kebir Camii)

Justinian's 6th-century church under one of the great domes of the world, a mosque again since 2020. Byzantine mosaics, Ottoman roundels and the light through forty windows; go early and plan around prayer times.

Morning · ~60 min

Sultanahmet

Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)

Sultan Ahmed I's six-minaret mosque facing Hagia Sophia across the square, its interior lined with thousands of blue İznik tiles. Visit between prayers, dressed with shoulders and knees covered, and leave your shoes at the door.

Morning · ~45 min

Beyazıt

Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)

One of the oldest covered markets in the world: vaulted streets of jewellers, carpet dealers, lamp and leather shops, with hans (old caravan courtyards) behind them. Go in by one gate and out by another, and drink a tea in a han.

Morning · ~120 min

Galata

Galata Tower

The 14th-century Genoese tower above Karaköy, now a museum with a narrow balcony all the way round: the Golden Horn, the old city skyline and the Bosphorus in one turn. Queues build up by midday.

Morning · ~60 min

Eminönü

Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)

The 17th-century L-shaped market at Eminönü, piled with spices, dried fruit, lokum and tea. The streets around it, full of cheese, olive and coffee sellers, are where locals actually shop.

Morning · ~60 min

Süleymaniye

Süleymaniye Mosque

Sinan's masterpiece for Süleyman the Magnificent, crowning the third hill above the Golden Horn, with Süleyman's and Sinan's tombs in its grounds. The terrace behind the mosque has one of the finest free views in the city.

Late afternoon light over the Golden Horn · from The garden terrace on the north side of the mosque

Afternoon · ~60 min

Balat

Balat

An old Jewish and Greek quarter on the Golden Horn: steep lanes of colourful houses, synagogues and churches, antique shops and small cafés. Walk up from the waterfront towards Fener and the Phanar Greek school.

Morning, before the lanes fill · from The steep cobbled lanes uphill from the waterfront, looking down at the coloured houses

Morning · ~120 min

Ortaköy

Ortaköy Mosque (Büyük Mecidiye)

A small neo-baroque mosque of 1856 on the water's edge in Ortaköy, framed by the first Bosphorus Bridge. Come at dusk, then eat a stuffed baked potato (kumpir) from the stalls on the square.

Blue hour, when the bridge lights come on · from The pier at the end of the square, mosque in front and the bridge behind

Evening · ~45 min

Salacak, Üsküdar

Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi)

The little tower on a rock 200 metres off Üsküdar, restored and reopened by the Ministry as a museum; boats cross from the Salacak pier. The view back to the old city's skyline is the reward.

Sunset, with the sun going down behind the old city · from The Salacak shore promenade, tower in front and Sultanahmet behind

Afternoon · ~90 min

Eminönü

Bosphorus by public ferry from Eminönü

The city ferry company's Bosphorus tour leaves from Eminönü and sails up between Europe and Asia past palaces, wooden yalı mansions and fortresses. Take a seat on the open deck and buy tea on board.

Afternoon · ~120 min

Eminönü

Rüstem Pasha Mosque

A small Sinan mosque raised above the shops of the market streets near the Spice Bazaar, its walls covered inside and out with İznik tiles. Easy to miss: look for the stairs up from the street.

Morning · ~30 min