Sultanahmet
Istanbul's Old City on the historic peninsula — Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı, the Cistern and the Hippodrome within ten minutes' walk of each other, plus the Grand Bazaar a tram stop away.
Sultanahmet is the core of Byzantine Constantinople and Ottoman Istanbul: a UNESCO World Heritage area on the peninsula between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara, where the monuments you came for stand around one long square. It is compact, flat enough, and worth two full days — one for the big four, one for the bazaar, the Süleymaniye and the back streets.
The Hippodrome
The long park between the Blue Mosque and the tram was the Roman chariot-racing stadium, 450 metres of it, where 100,000 spectators watched the Blues and Greens. Three monuments still mark the central spine: the Egyptian Obelisk of Thutmose III (1490 BC, brought in 390 AD), the bronze Serpent Column from Delphi, and the rough-stone Walled Obelisk. The German Fountain at the north end was Kaiser Wilhelm's gift of 1901.
Staying and eating
- Staying: boutique hotels with rooftop views are the draw; the trade-off is a neighbourhood that empties after 22:00 and restaurants priced for one-time visitors.
- Eating: walk 10 minutes toward Sirkeci, Çemberlitaş or the Kadırga side streets for lokantas at local prices; the touts on Divanyolu are the warning sign.
- Getting around: the T1 tram along Divanyolu links Sultanahmet with the Grand Bazaar (Beyazıt), Eminönü ferries, Karaköy and Kabataş in 5–15 minutes; Marmaray at Sirkeci crosses to Asia.
Frequently asked questions
For a first visit of two or three nights, yes: everything is walkable and the rooftop views are unmatched. For nightlife, cafés and a local feel, Karaköy, Cihangir or Kadıköy suit better.
