Touristic Places to Visit in Sultanahmet

Sultanahmet is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul. Millions of tourists visit this area every year and explore the historical peninsula of Istanbul.

Sultanahmet is an area where history, architecture, culture, and art come together. It is a tourist center that combines an important sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping area for tourists to visit the old city of Istanbul.

In short, it is the historic district and center of Istanbul. It was once the center of the Ottoman Empire and was named after the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I. Istanbul is also known as the city of seven hills and Sultanahmet is the first hill of Istanbul.

The Sultanahmet area has popular tourist attractions such as Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia Mosque, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Basilica Cistern. It is a natural magnet for the millions of tourists who visit Istanbul.

Places to Visit in Sultanahmet

Stroll around Sultanahmet Square, enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of Istanbul’s most popular landmarks, museums, mosques, churches, churches, fountains, and historical sites, and relax in the many restaurants and cafes in the area. If you are looking for a legendary terrace view in Sultanahmet, we are sure you will find some very good places for you.

Suggestions for a pleasant time in Sultanahmet >> Queb Rooftop Restaurant

Almost all of Istanbul’s most popular historical sites, such as the Hippodrome (Horse Square), Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Istanbul Archaeological Museum, and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, are located here and can be explored on foot.

Top activities and recommendations in Sultanahmet:

Sultanahmet Square

Surrounded by the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque, and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, Sultanahmet Square, also known as the Hippodrome, is a popular meeting place. You can take an impressive walking tour of the Sultanahmet district, with access to all the historical sites around Sultanahmet.

Sultanahmet Mosque-Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques and landmarks of Istanbul and the world. It was built in the 17th century (1609-1617) by Sultan Ahmed I. The architect of the Blue Mosque is Sedefkâr Mehmet Ağa, a student of the world-famous Mimar Sinan. The mosque is known as the most magnificent and the only mosque with 6 minarets of the Ottoman period with its domes rising above each other and tile decorations.

Called the Blue Mosque worldwide, the Blue Mosque takes this name from the “Iznik tiles” in its beautiful blue interior. It is an example of Turkish and Islamic architecture and is one of the most popular landmarks and mosques in Istanbul.

The Hagia Sophia Mosque

Hagia Sophia is a building that was rebuilt three times on its site. The building currently standing is known as the “Third Hagia Sophia”.

Hagia Sophia was first built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine I. It was built as a basilica with a wooden roof on the first of the seven hills of Istanbul. The building, which was ruined as a result of riots and fires on various dates, was later completely destroyed.

The second Hagia Sophia was built in the same place during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II. In 415, it was opened for worship. This building, which was built in the form of a basilica with a wooden roof like the previous one, was burned and destroyed by the rebels during the Nika Uprising against Emperor Justinian in 532.

Justinian decided to build a much larger and more magnificent Hagia Sophia than the first two instead of the one that was destroyed after the revolt. The third Hagia Sophia was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I between 532-537.

After the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II conquered Istanbul, Hagia Sophia ceased to be a church and became a mosque. Serving as a mosque for 481 years, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum in 1934. In 2020, it was reopened for worship as a mosque.

Hagia Sophia, also known as the eighth wonder of the world, is also one of the most visited landmarks of Istanbul.

Topkapi Palace Museum

One of the richest museums in the world is a magnificent oriental palace and one of the world’s greatest architectural monuments. It was the administrative and educational center of the empire as well as the residence of the Ottoman sultans.

The former imperial kitchen houses the world’s finest collection of china and porcelain. The sultans’ clothes are also on display here. The treasury has a stunning and impeccable collection of precious stones such as emeralds, rubies, and diamonds.

And finally, the famous Harem, the private part of the palace where the sultan’s wives and concubines lived.

Hagia Irene Museum

Formerly a church, now a museum, the 4th-century Hagia Irene also serves as a center for cultural events and exhibitions and is located in the first courtyard of the Topkapi Palace Museum.

It consists of three parts; naos, narthex, and atrium, and the surviving atrium is the only surviving example from the Byzantine period.

Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum

Located in the Ibrahim Pasha Palace, it is one of the most important buildings of 16th-century Ottoman civil architecture. The museum displays more than 40,000 unique exhibits in the fields of carpets, manuscripts, wood, glass, and ethnography.

Istanbul Archeology Museums

One of the richest archaeology museums in the world, Istanbul Archaeology Museum consists of three separate museums: the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of Ancient Oriental Art, and the Tile Museum.

The museum has a large collection of different civilizations that have deeply influenced histories, such as Assyrian, Hittite, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations.

Basilica Cistern

One of the most impressive and mysterious structures in Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern is a quiet and peaceful place. The columns, including the iconic Medusa head, are made up of ancient structures and sculpted from different types of marble.

Arasta Bazaar

Located behind the Blue Mosque, Arasta Bazaar is a bustling tourist attraction where you can find a variety of carpet, leather, handicraft, and souvenir shops.

Great Palace Mosaic Museum

Also known as the Istanbul Mosaic Museum, it is an impressive mosaic museum located in the Arasta Bazaar within the Blue Mosque complex.

Hurrem Sultan Bath

Between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque is the historic Hürrem Sultan Bath (1556-1557), built by Sinan the Architect on behalf of Hürrem Sultan, the famous wife of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Great.

Sultan III. Ahmet Fountain

Located in front of the Imperial Gate of Topkapi Palace, this fountain is a very special example of Baroque architecture. It was built in 1728 by the architect Ahmet Aga.

German Fountain

The German Fountain between Sultanahmet Square and Blue Mosque, also known as “Kaiser Wilhelm II Fountain”, is a very beautiful fountain with majestic columns and a beautiful domed structure. It is a gift of the German emperor to the Sultan and Istanbul.

It was installed in 1901 in its place in Istanbul. Architecturally, it is a fountain in the Neo-Byzantine style; it is decorated with gold mosaic from the inside.

Gulhane Park

Located between Sultanahmet and Eminönü, Gülhane Park (Rose Garden) is one of the best parks in Istanbul for both tourists and locals.

The park covers a large area. There are many beautiful gardens, trees, pools, and sidewalk cafes with stunning views of the Bosphorus. The park also has a museum of the history of Islamic science and technology, which is unique in the world and worth a visit.

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