Mosques, palaces and a bazaar older than most European capitals. Most tickets can be bought on the day, so the plan can follow the weather.
1Hagia Sophia
Photo: Mert aslan / Pexels, Pexels License
A Byzantine church for nearly a thousand years, then a mosque, and a mosque again today. The dome seems to hover over the nave, and light enters through the ring of windows at its base.
Time
1 h, longer if you queue
Setting
Indoor
Best time
First thing in the morning
Getting there
T1 tram to Sultanahmet, then walk
Tip: It is a working mosque, so cover your shoulders and knees, and women cover their hair. Museum passes do not work here.
Entry for visitors costs €25 and is open every day, according to the official museum page. Prayer time closes parts of the building, so aim for the opening hours to avoid the rush.
The palace of the Ottoman sultans, begun for Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinople. Courtyards, pavilions, the Harem and the treasury hold the collection.
Time
2 h 30 min to 3 h 30 min with the Harem
Setting
Both
Best time
The ticket office opening
Getting there
T1 tram to Gülhane or Sultanahmet
Tip: Buy the ticket that includes the Harem and Hagia Irene rather than the cheaper one; the Harem rooms are the reason to come. Closed on Tuesdays.
The combined ticket for the palace, the Harem and Hagia Irene costs ₺2,750. The ticket office opens at 9 am.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616, is known for its six minarets and for the blue tiles inside. It faces the Hagia Sophia across a park.
Time
30 min, plus the queue
Setting
Both
Best time
Early, outside the prayer times
Getting there
T1 tram to Sultanahmet
Tip: Entry is free and the mosque closes to visitors during prayers. Ignore the friendly strangers at the gate who offer to guide you; they ask for money afterwards.
The nineteenth-century palace on the water, which replaced Topkapı as the sultans’ home. Chandeliers, marble and the Bosphorus views from the state rooms.
Time
1 h to 1 h 30 min on the guided route
Setting
Both
Best time
Morning, then a walk along the shore
Getting there
T1 tram to Kabataş, then a short walk, or a ferry to Beşiktaş
Tip: An audio guide comes with the ticket, so skip the offers of paid ones at the entrance.
Open from 9 am to 6 pm. The palace stands between Beşiktaş and Kabataş.
The Genoese built this 66-metre tower in 1348. From the viewing gallery you look across the Golden Horn to the old city, and the light at dusk is the best of the day.
Time
45 min at the top, longer in line
Setting
Outdoor
Best time
An hour before sunset
Getting there
Tünel funicular from Karaköy, or walk up from the Galata Bridge
Tip: The queue is the real cost. Arrive at opening or in the evening, and use the free viewpoints on the streets below the tower if the line wraps around the square.
The museum charges €30 for a visit and is open every day. Tickets are valid for one person and for one visit.
Photo: Muhammed Zahid Bulut / Pexels, Pexels License
A covered market that dates to the years after the Ottoman conquest, with 22 gates and a network of vaulted lanes selling ceramics, lamps, leather and jewellery.
Time
1 to 2 h for a walk with one purchase
Setting
Indoor
Best time
Mid-morning on a weekday
Getting there
T1 tram to Beyazıt
Tip: Prices open high. Decide what you would pay before you ask, and walk away politely if the number does not move; it often follows you.
Sinan’s great work for Süleyman the Magnificent, built from 1550 to 1557 on the highest hill of the old city. The courtyard and the garden behind the walls are quieter than the Sultanahmet mosques.
Time
45 min
Setting
Both
Best time
Early morning or just before sunset
Getting there
T1 tram to Beyazıt, then a ten-minute climb
Tip: Walk round the back to the terrace; the view of the Golden Horn and the Galata Tower from the garden wall is the best one in this part of town.
