Istanbul Attractions
22 places · narrow by district and visit style
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Anadoluhisarı Fortress
The oldest surviving Turkish architectural structure in Istanbul, this medieval Ottoman fortress stands on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, giving its name to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Boukoleon Palace
A crumbling Byzantine palace facade right on the Marmara shore, south of the Hippodrome. You can walk right up to its seaward marble balcony and lion reliefs.
Camondo Stairs
A beautiful 19th-century staircase in Galata, built by the wealthy Camondo family. It's a quiet, elegant piece of history connecting two streets.
Column of Constantine
Erected in 328 AD to mark the founding of Constantinople, this is the oldest surviving monument from Constantine the Great's era.
Dolmabahçe Clock Tower
A late-Ottoman clock tower built by Sultan Abdülhamid II and designed by architect Sarkis Balyan. It stands as a free, elegant landmark on the palace waterfront.
Eyüp Cemetery
One of the oldest and largest Muslim cemeteries in Istanbul, stretching up the hillside from Eyüp Sultan Mosque toward Pierre Loti Hill. It's the final resting place of sultans, grand viziers, and poets.
German Fountain
A neo-Byzantine fountain gifted by Kaiser Wilhelm II, now a landmark on the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet.
Haydarpaşa Cemetery
A calm, well-kept war cemetery above Haydarpaşa station, holding British and Commonwealth graves from the Crimean War through WWII, with views across the Bosphorus.
Hippodrome of Constantinople
This long, open square was the heart of Byzantine Constantinople's public life. Today, you can see the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column, and Walled Obelisk marking its ancient spine.
Istanbul University
Founded by Mehmed II in 1453, just after the conquest, this public research university’s historic campus sits steps from the Grand Bazaar. Its gate and courtyard remain open to visitors.
Karacaahmet Cemetery
A 700-year-old cemetery in Üsküdar, the largest burial ground in Turkey, with cypress-lined paths and historic tombstones.
Moda İskelesi (Historic Ferry Terminal)
A historic wooden ferry terminal on Kadıköy's Moda coast. It's a simple, beautiful spot to watch the boats and the Marmara Sea.
Phanar Greek Orthodox College
The oldest surviving Greek Orthodox school in Istanbul, with a striking red-brick facade towering over the Golden Horn. Note: exterior views only—it's a working school.
Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage
Europe's largest wooden building, a former Greek orphanage on Büyükada, visible from the hilltop path.
Selimiye Barracks
An imposing 1800 barracks built by Selim III, now headquarters of the First Army and remembered for Florence Nightingale's Crimean War work. Only the exterior is visible.
Theodosian Walls
These are the massive stone walls that protected Constantinople for centuries. You can walk along sections of them, especially around the Edirnekapı and Topkapı areas, to get a sense of the city's ancient scale.
Valens Aqueduct
This Roman aqueduct from the 4th century supplied water to Constantinople for over a thousand years. It cuts right through the modern city, so you can walk right up to it.
Yoros Castle
Ruined Byzantine castle with Genoese additions, perched above the meeting point of the Bosphorus and the Black Sea near Anadolu Kavağı.
Çırağan Palace
Former Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus, now a Kempinski hotel. The waterfront exterior is freely accessible, offering great views between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy.
Rumeli Fortress
A medieval Ottoman fortress on the European shore of the Bosphorus, offering walks along the ramparts with wide views of the strait.
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