HOME > Featured City > Istanbul-Tourist information

Turkey is proud to have nine World Heritage sites, of which Istanbul’s historic site in the old urban area is particularly famous. It has many landmark buildings, including the Topkapi Palace and the Ayasophia Cathedral. Clear evidence of the rich 1,500-year history of the Christian Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Ottoman Turkish Empire still remains and these places are located within an easy walking distance of each other. The Topkapi Palace, constructed in 1467 by Mehmet II (who conquered Constantinople), has been resided in by successors and other kings since and remains the political hub of the city. One is reminded of refined court living after viewing the dazzling interiors of the audience chamber with its gold-decorated throne and the Halem, where court women once lived (guided tours only). The treasure chamber with emerald-embedded daggers and other world-famous treasures collected by the successive kings is another remarkable spectacle. Hours 9:00 - 19:30 (Winter 9:00 - 17:00) Closed Tuesdays Admission 10 Turkish liras (additional 10 Turkish liras for the Halem) This museum was constructed at the end of the 19th century when the stone coffin of Alexander the Great was excavated. The collection includes some 100,000 relics and ancient articles from 15 B.C. to modern times. The museum, located adjacent to the first garden of the Topkapi Palace, also has the Ancient Orient Museum and the Tile Museum within the precinct. Hours 9:00 - 17:00 Closed Mondays Admission 5 Turkish liras The Ayasophia Cathedral was constructed by Constantinus I of the Roman Empire on the hilltop of Sultanahmet in 360, and reconstructed twice after being destroyed by fire both times. This place was used as a Christian chapel during the Byzantine Empire and converted into a mosque in the Ottoman Turkish period. The huge dome (31 m in diameter and 56 m in height) built with luxurious stone, a corridor with brilliant gold mosaics and other beautiful items never fail to impress visitors. Hours 9:00 - 17:00 (Second floor: 9:00 - 16:30) Closed Mondays Admission 10 Turkish liras Built in front of Ayasophia by Ahmet I in 1616, this grand mosque has a galleried courtyard and a domed chapel. Its formal name is Sultanahmet Camii although it is often called the Blue Mosque due to the 21,000 or so beautiful blue Iznik tiles used inside. The six minarets - unique to Istanbul - and the silhouetted line of domes are also impressive sights. Hours 8:30 - 17:00 (Closed to visitors during the five daily religious services) Admission free This underground reservoir was constructed in the 6th century to solve water shortage problems. The vast inner space (70 m long, 140 m deep and 8 m high) is supported by 28 poles collected from Roman buildings and arranged into 12 lines. The Medusa head foundation stone used for the two innermost poles and the cylindrical “teary-eyed column” should not be missed. Hours 9:00 - 18:30 (Winter: 9:00 - 18:00) Admission 10 Turkish liras This mosque was completed in 1557 under the order of Suleiman I - a leading figure at the peak of the Ottoman Empire - by the architectural genius Sinan. The inside of the chamber, lined with a series of perfectly arranged domes, is beautifully decorated with Islamic decorations of Iznic tiles and stained glass. The marble columns surrounding the courtyard are also very impressive. Hours 8:00 - 18:00 (Closed to visitors during the daily religious services) Admission free (donations accepted)