Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey

Sultanahmet Square, also known as the Hippodrome, lies at the heart of Sultanahmet’s historical sights, making it arguably Istanbul's most popular tourist destination. Beyond its central location, the Sultanahmet Square is a significant historical site in its own right. The reason it is also known as the Hippodrome comes from the fact that beneath the ground where you will be walking is the buried Hippodrome of the Byzantine Empire, the very center of the empire’s social life, where chariot races once captivated 100,000+ spectators at a time!

What’s more is that you can still see the remains of the Hippodrome's glorious past right in Sultanahmet Square, most notably the Serpent Column, the Obelisk of Thutmose III, and the Walled Obelisk in the center. If you walk a bit further south of the square, you can find the Sphendone Remains. These are the only remaining ruins of the magnificent Hippodrome’s wall, and seeing them truly makes you imagine what lies buried beneath your feet!

To the west of the square, you'll find, Cistern of Theodosius, the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, and the Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum. Meanwhile, to the east stands one of the world’s most beautiful mosques, the Blue Mosque.

If you walk northeast from the square, you'll find the German Fountain, the Sultan Ahmet Tomb (the resting place of the Ottoman Sultan after whom the square is named), and, without a doubt, one of Istanbul's most popular hammams, the Hurrem Sultan Hammam.

Keep walking a bit further, and you'll reach the Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, the Stone of Million, Istanbul Archaeological Museums, Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III, Hagia Irene, and finally, the Topkapi Palace, where real Ottoman Sultans lived for centuries.

With so much to do and see, Sultanahmet Square and the nearby sights could easily fill 3-4 days of your trip if you want to experience everything it has to offer!

• For a rundown on things to see, go to Istanbul Sights
• Here's a good, inexpensive guided walking tour

 

 

The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), an imperial mosque from the Ottoman era, was built between 1609 and 1617, commissioned by Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I. It's truly one of the world's most beautiful mosques, taking its name from the thousands of blue Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs in its interior.

You'll find the Blue Mosque next to Sultanahmet Square, opposite the Hagia Sophia, perhaps even as a rival in grandeur and magnificence. If you plan to visit, keep in mind it closes for 90 minutes during each prayer time. The best time to visit is after dawn, not only when there are fewer crowds, but this is also the time when most private guided tours typically take place.

 

 

The Hagia Sophia, built between 532 and 537 and commissioned by Byzantine emperor Justinian I, was the crowning achievement of Byzantine architecture. The dome of the Hagia Sophia was the largest enclosed space in the world for over 1000 years! Moreover, Hagia Sophia was the cathedral of Constantinople until its conquest in 1453, when Mehmed the Conqueror converted it into a mosque, and it remained Istanbul's principal mosque (congregational mosque) until the construction of the equally magnificent Blue Mosque.

Today, the Hagia Sophia's ground floor is used as a mosque, while its upper floor has been repurposed as a museum. Inside, you will find magnificent Christian mosaics.

 

 

The Topkapı Palace, commissioned by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, began construction just six years after the conquest of Constantinople in 1459 and was completed by 1465. The Topkapı Palace served as the Ottoman emperors' home for 400 years.

Within the palace walls, you can explore how Ottoman Sultans lived. The palace also features separate chambers exhibiting kitchenware, weapons, treasures, armor, and jewelry from the Ottoman era. Don't miss the Chamber of the Sacred Relics, housing possessions of the Prophet Mohammed. Overlooking the Bosphorus, the Fourth Court offers the most spectacular views of the city.

 

 

The Basilica Cistern, named for the Stoa Basilica that once stood above it, is the largest of Istanbul's hundreds of ancient underground cisterns. It was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. Ancient texts suggest the cistern once featured gardens surrounded by a colonnade, facing the Hagia Sophia.

Basilica Cistern was used to supply water to the Great Palace of Constantinople, and continued to do so to the Topkapı Palace even after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and into modern times.

Today, the water levels are kept low, and you can visit this amazing structure that has lasted for hundreds of years!

 

 

 

While much smaller than the Basilica Cistern, the Cistern of Theodosius is an excellent alternative if you're short on time but still want to experience visiting a real ancient cistern and avoid the crowds at the same time. It might just be worth your visit.

 

The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, located right across from the Blue Mosque, is an interesting visit if you have the time. The museum is dedicated to displaying the rich culture of Islamic and Turkish art from various periods, housing over 40,000 works of art ranging from traditional Turkish carpets, wooden works, and Islamic calligraphy to exquisite tiles.

 

The Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, located next to the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, narrates the 1700-year history of Hagia Sophia. An immersive audiovisual experience awaits on the upper two levels, explaining the Roman Empire Period on the third floor and the Ottoman Period on the second. On the ground floor, the Eastern Roman cistern is visible through frameless windows.

 

The Istanbul Archaeological Museums comprise three main units housed within the same garden: the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Tiled Kiosk Museum. As the first regular museum in the history of the Ottoman Empire, it houses approximately a million artifacts brought from the vast imperial lands.

 

Hagia Irene, located just inside the outer yard of Topkapı Palace, is the oldest known church in the city, predating even the more popular Hagia Sophia. It is also one of the few Byzantine-era cathedrals that was never converted into a mosque. While there isn't much to see, it's worth a check out if you are already visiting Topkapı Palace.

 

Gülhane Park, located between Sultanahmet and Eminönü, used to be part of Topkapı Palace's outer garden. Over the years, it has had many uses, from growing roses to even having a small zoo! Today, it's a popular public park known for its many seasonal flowers and huge trees.

 

The German Fountain is an elegant and small fountain at the northern edge of Sultanahmet Square. It was a gift from German Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Ottoman Sultan. The fountain was constructed in Germany, then shipped in pieces to its current site and assembled in 1900.

 

 

Speaking of fountains, if your plan includes visiting Topkapı Palace, you can't miss the Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III. This huge fountain, constructed in typical Ottoman Rococo style in 1728, stands in the square directly in front of the palace's outer gate.

 

 

The Hürrem Sultan Hamam, built in the sixteenth century, was commissioned by Hürrem Sultan (wife of Suleiman the Magnificent) and The architect was the most well-known Turkish architect, Mimar Sinan. Today, it's still fully operational, offering you a truly authentic and royal hamam experience.

The Serpent Column (Yılanlı Sütun) is an ancient bronze column originally erected at Delphi. The Greeks dedicated it to Apollo to commemorate their victory over the Persian Empire at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC. It was later brought to the Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) by Constantine the Great in 324. Today, one of its original serpent heads is on display at the Istanbul Archaeology Museums, while the other two are lost in history.

Right next to the Serpent Column stands the Obelisk of Thutmose III. This ancient monument was first erected during Egypt's 18th dynasty. It made an incredible journey, coming from Egypt to Alexandria by the Nile River (where it stayed from 357 AD to 390 AD). Later, Emperor Theodosius I moved it to Constantinople and used it as a decoration in the Hippodrome. It's truly amazing to imagine this structure has travelled all the way through history to arrive in Istanbul.

 

Right next to the Obelisk of Thutmose III, you'll find the Walled Obelisk, a Roman monument. We don't know exactly when it was first built, but we know it was repaired in the 10th century by Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. An interesting fact, though, is that young Janissaries (Ottoman soldiers) used to climb this obelisk to grab flags from the top to show off their skill and power.

 

A bit further west to the Sultanahmet Square and other columns, near the Grand Bazaar, you'll find Çemberlitaş. This column was built in 328 AD by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great to celebrate Constantinople's dedication. It's the oldest Constantinian monument still standing in Istanbul.

 

 

Only the Sphendone Remains are left standing of the great Constantinople Hippodrome. It's exciting to imagine what lies beneath you when you see them, but these ruins aren't kept up very well today.