Istanbul Attractions
21 places · narrow by district and visit style
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Basilica Cistern
A vast, atmospheric 6th-century underground cistern built by Emperor Justinian. Walk on raised platforms above shallow water, surrounded by a forest of columns.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a monumental building that has served as a church, mosque, and museum. Its massive dome and layered history make it a central landmark in Istanbul.
Akaretler Row Houses
A restored 19th-century row of workers' houses built for Dolmabahçe Palace staff. Today, it's a quiet, upscale pedestrian street with high-end shops and cafes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kariye Mosque (The Chora)
A Byzantine church converted to a mosque, famous for its intricate Late Byzantine mosaics and frescos. It's in the Edirnekapı neighborhood.
Khedive Palace
A former residence of Egypt's Khedive Abbas II, this Art Nouveau palace sits on a wooded hilltop above the Bosporus. Today it's a public grove with a café-restaurant inside.
Pammakaristos Church (Fethiye Mosque)
A former Byzantine church turned mosque, with a small museum chapel holding some of Istanbul's finest surviving mosaics after Hagia Sophia and Chora.
Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage
Europe's largest wooden building, a former Greek orphanage on Büyükada, visible from the hilltop path.
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.
Rumeli Fortress
A medieval Ottoman fortress on the European shore of the Bosphorus, offering walks along the ramparts with wide views of the strait.
Şerefiye Cistern
A 5th-century Byzantine cistern with 32 marble columns, now featuring 360° projection shows. A quieter break from the Basilica Cistern crowds.
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