Discover Istanbul’s 200 best Elegant Eye spots for your trip

Sultanahmet

Step into Sultanahmet, where Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul meet. Walk between the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the ancient Hippodrome, then wander cobbled lanes to a tea garden for a break.

The Blue Mosque

★ 4.7 · 122,896 reviews

Enter the Blue Mosque, Istanbul's iconic six-minaret landmark in Sultanahmet. Walk through the vast prayer hall, take in its tile-covered interior and the sweep of domes above.

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

★ 4.8 · 135,257 reviews

Enter Hagia Sophia, the monumental domed landmark at the heart of Istanbul's old city. Spend an hour beneath its great dome, taking in marble, gold and the building's layered past.

Büyük Mecidiye Mosque

★ 4.8 · 45,368 reviews

Visit Büyük Mecidiye Mosque, the Ortaköy landmark framed by the Bosphorus Bridge. Step inside for about 20 minutes beneath its light-catching windows, then linger on the quay as the water changes colour at sunset.

Maiden's Tower

★ 4.7 · 28,207 reviews

Cross the Bosphorus by boat to Maiden's Tower, Istanbul's most legend-laden landmark. Climb up through the small museum, read the stories behind its origins, and enjoy views of the city as the light fades.

Suleymaniye Mosque

★ 4.9 · 67,538 reviews

Climb to Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul's great Sinan-built landmark above the Golden Horn. Explore the spacious interior and gardens, then take in the skyline from the terrace.

Dolmabahçe Palace

★ 4.7 · 96,448 reviews

Tour Dolmabahce Palace, the opulent Bosphorus residence of the late Ottoman sultans. Walk through the ceremonial halls and Harem, admiring the carpets, calligraphy and chandeliers over about two hours.

Basilica Cistern

★ 4.6 · 98,042 reviews

Descend into the Basilica Cistern, the Byzantine reservoir hidden beneath Istanbul's old city. Follow the lit walkways between 336 marble columns and spend about 45 minutes absorbing the echoing, water-level atmosphere.

Dolmabahce Palace and Harem Fast-Track & Audio

★ 4.6 · 2,555 reviews

Explore Dolmabahce Palace at your own rhythm with entry that skips the ticket desk. Wander the gardens, the ceremonial Selamlik halls and the Harem while an audio device narrates each room.

Balat

Lose yourself in Balat, the Golden Horn's colour-washed hillside quarter. Wander steep cobbled lanes past painted houses, browse vintage shops, and settle into a café tucked among the old synagogues and churches.

Topkapi Palace Museum

★ 4.6 · 121,375 reviews

Step into the former heart of the Ottoman Empire at Topkapi Palace. Wander its courtyards and pavilions, view the imperial treasures, and take in the Bosphorus views from Seraglio Point.

Emirgan Park

★ 4.6 · 56,225 reviews

Wander through Emirgan Park, Istanbul's celebrated garden of ponds, shady paths and seasonal colour. Circle the water, linger among the flower beds, and find a quiet bench for a slow, scenic hour or more.

Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque Tickets & Audios

★ 4.3 · 2,519 reviews

Cover Sultanahmet's big three in a single morning with one bundled booking. Hear audio commentary at Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern, moving between them at your own pace.

Blue Mosque Guided Tour

★ 4.4 · 2,123 reviews

Meet a licensed guide opposite the Blue Mosque and enter with context in hand. You will study the Iznik tilework and Ottoman design, then stay inside afterwards to take it in at your own pace.

Kariye Mosque

★ 4.5 · 12,352 reviews

Step inside Kariye Mosque to see some of Istanbul's finest surviving Byzantine artwork. Spend time under the mosaics and frescoes that cover the walls and ceilings, tracing scenes preserved for centuries.

Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Tickets

★ 4.8 · 3,720 reviews

Walk Sultanahmet with a licensed guide who connects Byzantine and Ottoman stories. Admire the Blue Mosque's tilework, cross the Hippodrome, then enter Hagia Sophia with reserved admission and headsets.

Tuğra Restaurant

★ 4.5 · 1,024 reviews

Dine at Tuğra Restaurant inside the Çırağan Palace Kempinski, where the Bosphorus sits right outside your table. Work through a degustation of history-inspired dishes in a formal, waterfront setting made for celebrations.

Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, & Basilica Cistern Tour

★ 4.7 · 2,358 reviews

Combine three Sultanahmet highlights in one guided morning. Tour the Blue Mosque and the underground Basilica Cistern with your guide, then enter Hagia Sophia on your own with tickets and audio.

Saint Stephen’s Bulgarian Orthodox Church

★ 4.8 · 3,367 reviews

Step inside Saint Stephen's, Istanbul's celebrated Iron Church on the Golden Horn. Admire the cast-iron structure and gilded dome, then continue on foot through the nearby Balat and Fener streets.

Nuruosmaniye Mosque

★ 4.8 · 11,363 reviews

Pause at Nuruosmaniye Mosque, the light-filled Ottoman landmark beside the Grand Bazaar. Look up at the vast dome and calligraphy, then compare the hush inside with the bustle just outside.

Hagia Sophia & Basilica Cistern Audio Guide

★ 4.5 · 3,962 reviews

Pair Byzantine mosaics with the hushed underground columns of the Basilica Cistern on one flexible ticket. Listen to the audio guide at both sites, spreading the visits over up to three days.

Galata Tower

★ 4.6 · 217,273 reviews

Ascend Galata Tower, one of Istanbul's most recognisable landmarks. Climb to the top for sweeping views over the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the city's rooftops.

Beylerbeyi Palace

★ 4.7 · 22,324 reviews

Cross to the Asian shore to visit Beylerbeyi Palace, a sultans' summer residence rising straight from the Bosphorus. Spend about an hour among its ornate rooms, Baccarat chandeliers and seaside gardens.

Istanbul Combo: Basilica Cistern, Topkapi & Hagia Sophia

★ 4.4 · 1,631 reviews

Tackle Sultanahmet's heavyweights on your own schedule. Over three days you'll visit Hagia Sophia's upper gallery, descend into the Basilica Cistern and explore Topkapi Palace's courtyards with online audio.

Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket & Blue Mosque Audio Guide

★ 4.0 · 2,763 reviews

Cover Sultanahmet's two great domes with one booking. You'll tour Hagia Sophia at your own pace, then cross the square to the Blue Mosque, with the Basilica Cistern available as an add-on.

Oligark İstanbul

★ 4.0 · 2,249 reviews

Discover Oligark İstanbul, a restaurant and lounge right on the Bosphorus. Watch the sun set over the water, linger over dinner, and stay on as the evening music picks up.

Hagia Sophia Entry Ticket with Audio Guide

★ 4.1 · 3,377 reviews

Enter Hagia Sophia and trace its Byzantine and Ottoman layers from the upper gallery. Follow audio on your phone or join a guide, depending on the package you choose.

Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on a Luxury Yacht

★ 4.8 · 1,514 reviews

Watch the sun go down from the deck of a 25-metre yacht on the Bosphorus. Enjoy snacks, baklava and tea while your guide points out the mosques, palaces and villas along both shores.

Yeni Mosque

★ 4.7 · 14,001 reviews

Step inside the Yeni Mosque just across the Galata Bridge. Admire its domes from the outside, then walk through the decorated interior before moving on to the lively Eminönü waterfront.

Yıldız Park

★ 4.7 · 36,395 reviews

Step into Yıldız Park, a leafy hillside retreat above the Bosphorus. Wander past ponds and flower beds, pause at a park cafe, and look up to the Ottoman palace museum on the hill.