sultanahmet
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Former Byzantine cathedral and Ottoman imperial mosque, now a working mosque with layered history visible in every corner.
- Price range
- paid
Istanbul
Top places to visit
Istanbul's must-see sites combine imperial mosques, palaces, and markets with living neighborhood mosques that welcome visitors outside prayer times.
85 results
City overview
One of Istanbul’s holiest sites, the mosque and adjacent tomb draw pilgrims and visitors seeking quiet reflection amid Ottoman architecture and golden-horn views.
sultanahmet
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)
Ottoman imperial mosque famous for its blue Iznik tiles and six minarets, still an active place of worship.
- Price range
- free
sultanahmet
Topkapı Palace
Ottoman imperial residence and administrative center for nearly 400 years, now a museum complex with treasury and harem sections.
- Price range
- paid
eminonu-and-sirkeci
Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı)
One of the world's oldest and largest covered markets with over 4,000 shops selling carpets, spices, jewelry, and textiles.
- Price range
- free
sultanahmet
Basilica Cistern
Subterranean Byzantine reservoir with 336 marble columns and Medusa-head capitals, offering a cool, atmospheric contrast to Istanbul’s sunlit monuments.
fatih
Süleymaniye Mosque
Ottoman imperial mosque complex by Mimar Sinan, offering sweeping views over the Golden Horn and a quieter prayer experience than the Blue Mosque.
besiktas-and-ortakoy
Dolmabahçe Palace
19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus, last residence of the sultans, featuring crystal chandeliers and lavish European-style interiors.
eminonu-and-sirkeci
Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
L-shaped Ottoman market hall specializing in spices, dried fruits, nuts, Turkish delight, and souvenirs, located beside the New Mosque in Eminönü.
Ortaköy
Ortaköy Mosque
Striking waterfront mosque at the base of the Bosphorus Bridge, offering elegant Ottoman architecture and direct views of passing ferries and the Asian shore.
Sarıyer
Rumeli Fortress
Imposing 15th-century Ottoman fortress on the European shore of the Bosphorus, built to control the strait and offering sweeping river views and rampart walks.
Bosphorus
Maiden's Tower
Iconic lighthouse tower on a tiny Bosphorus islet, restored and reopened with a museum, café, and panoramic 360-degree views of both shores.
galata-and-cihangir
Galata Tower
Medieval Genoese tower offering panoramic 360-degree views over the historic peninsula, Bosphorus, and modern city.
- Price range
- paid
Üsküdar
Beylerbeyi Palace
19th-century Ottoman imperial summer palace on the Asian shore, featuring lavish interiors, formal gardens, and a quiet contrast to the busier European-side palaces.
Former Byzantine church turned mosque, renowned for its glittering 14th-century mosaics and frescoes depicting the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
sultanahmet
Istanbul Archaeological Museums
Three-museum complex housing 1.5 million artifacts spanning Ottoman, Byzantine, and ancient Near Eastern civilizations, steps from Topkapı Palace.
- Price range
- paid
fatih
Valens Aqueduct
Striking 4th-century Roman aqueduct slicing through the Fatih district, offering a tangible link to Byzantine water engineering amid everyday city life.
- Price range
- free
eminonu-and-sirkeci
Yeni Cami (New Mosque)
A 17th-century Ottoman mosque dominating Eminönü waterfront with intricate Iznik tiles and commanding views over the Golden Horn.
- Price range
- free
sultanahmet
Nuruosmaniye Mosque
An 18th-century Ottoman mosque marking the shift to Baroque influences, located at the edge of the Grand Bazaar with excellent prayer access and views over the old city.
- Price range
- free
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Hagia Irene
A 6th-century Byzantine church turned Ottoman armory and now a museum and concert venue inside Topkapı Palace grounds, offering rare surviving frescoes and a quiet counterpoint to busier neighbors.
- Price range
- moderate
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Sakıp Sabancı Museum
A riverside museum in Emirgan showcasing Ottoman calligraphy, painting, and rotating international exhibitions in a restored mansion with Bosphorus views.
- Price range
- paid
uskudar
Çamlıca Hill
Highest point on the Asian side with panoramic Bosphorus views, popular sunset spot and new mosque complex offering both scenery and prayer facilities.
- Price range
- free
sultanahmet
The Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square)
Ancient chariot-racing arena now an open square featuring the Obelisk of Theodosius and Serpent Column, steps from the Blue Mosque.
- Price range
- free
fatih
Laleli Mosque
An 18th-century Baroque-style mosque near the Aksaray transport hub, offering a quieter prayer space with strong Ottoman tilework and easy access from the European side metro and tram lines.
- Price range
- free