Within the walled city, in the district of Fatih, stretches the immense and impressive Grand Bazaar, a shopper’s paradise, with over 91 million annual visitors and recently ranked as the No.1 most visited tourist attraction. This Ottoman structure once housed traders of textiles and grew to encompass many unique and popular goods of interest for today’s visitors. Explore the story of the Grand Bazaar before your trip.
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Still an active mosque to this day, the Sultan Ahmed (SultanAhmet) Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is a top attraction in Istanbul. The culmination of its breathtaking exteriors and the captivating interior spaces are simply irresistible to travelers from around the world. Those seeking a truly memorable experience while in traveling in Istanbul will not want to miss this gem of the old world.
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A beacon of religious worship in the historical old city of Istanbul is the Beyazit Mosque, or Beyazit Camii, a traditional Ottoman style imperial mosque, the second to be constructed in Istanbul. This landmark lies near the ancient ruins of the Forum of Theodosius, located close to the Grand Bazaar. Understand the historical importance of the Beyazit Mosque and considerations for a visit.
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In the old city of Istanbul lies one of the glories of the ancient world, the Hippodrome of Constantinople. This was a center of entertainment for the Byzantine Empire and now can be found at the Sultanahmet Meydani, or Sultan Ahmet Square. Visitors that seek enlightenment on the entertainment of another age must add the Hippodrome of Constantinople as one of their stops while in Istanbul.
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Across the Galata bridge and a short walk brings visitors to the great tower built by the Genoese in 1348 A.D., Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi). This dominating structure is one of the major landmarks of Istanbul, once Constantinople, the center of the civilized world. Enter the tower and walk to the top of this medieval stone structure in the Galata or Karakoy quarter of Istanbul. Get the inside scoop on all of the necessary details for accessing Galata Tower as part of your itinerary.
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Far below the city streets of Istanbul lies the largest of the ancient cisterns, Basilica Cistern, or Yerebatan Sarayi, the “Sunken Palace”. This immense cistern was built during the heyday of the Roman Empire and Constantinople. Visitors can easily arrange a visit below the old city to this surreal underground treasure.
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