13 Historical Places In Istanbul, Turkey - Updated 2024

Anaanya
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 7 min read

Istanbul–a city with two worlds. It is almost like Istanbul is separated into two different cities–almost two different worlds–just by a bridge. Istanbul is divided into the Asian side, known as Anadolu Yakası, where the city was first founded, and the European side, Avrupa Yakası, which hosts the Old City and some of its most famous attractions. Should you be inclined toward the appeal of “New Istanbul”, head to the Asian side and explore its quaint cafes and shops in Kadikoy, its cultural center. If you’re seeking a more historical route on your visit, don’t miss sites like the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and more. Check out these historical places in Istanbul, Turkey, you must visit.

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3. Blue Mosque

historical places in istanbul | blue mosque

The Blue Mosque is without a doubt one of the most famous mosques in the world. This mosque was constructed in the 1600s under the rule of Ahmad I. This mosque is actually different from any other mosque in Istanbul because it is the only mosque which has six minarets! This five-hour guided tour in English is a tour of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, two of the most historical places in Istanbul. Your tour guide will first take you to the Hagia Sophia where you will learn all about the history of the Ottoman sultans followed by the Blue Mosque where you will learn about the Byzantine Empire. You can also go pray at the Blue Mosque if you wish to.

Tip from tour guide

Rose

Rose
Istanbul

Video of the historic Blue Mosque in Istanbul shared by Turkey tour guide, Rose.

Tip from Content Creator

Blue Mosque Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque or Turkish Sultan Ahmet Mosque, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Handpainted with more than 50 different tulip designs, it has decorations that include verses from the Qur’an and intricate window designs in which natural lights shine through. The beautiful and historic mosque has 5 main domes and 8 secondary domes. It is considered to be the last great Mosque of the Classical Period of Ottoman Architecture.

Here are some tips for your visit:

Bring a shawl to cover your head and shoulders. One will be provided on the main entrance door of the mosque. No shoes are allowed, although you can carry them in a plastic bag or like.

It is free to enter the mosque, and it is open to the public. Make sure though to check the hours since certain times are closed for Prayer hours.

Photos and videos are allowed here, but tripods are not allowed. Please be mindful of your surroundings.

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4. Topkapi Palace

historical places in istanbul | topkapi palace

Topkapi Palace is a huge museum in Istanbul. Originally, in the 15th century, the Topkapi Palace was home to the Ottoman sultans. Now, this palace has been converted into a museum which is filled with the history of Istanbul, the making of the Topkapi Palace, and the glory that was a part of the Ottoman era. Since this museum cannot be visited without a guide, you have to take a guided tour to learn all about the history of this palace and the Ottoman sultans. This is a 75-minute guided tour in English which starts at the Carpet Museum, takes you to the four courtyard museums, the historical kitchen of the palace, as well as the treasury.

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Istanbul Tour Guide

Rose TheGuide

Rose The Guide

Professional Tour / Travel Guide and Photographer Certified by Turkish Republic Ministry of Culture and Tourism. I am a knowledgeable and motivated individual with years of experience in organizing group tours in several areas; have the ability to motivate different sets of audience; have the ability to communicate effectively and possess high degree of energy and enthusiasm.

Istanbul Tour Guide

Dilek Orubegarcia

Dilek Orubegarcia

My name is Dilek, a national-licensed tour guide. I am 40 years old and have been guiding for 12 years. My husband is from Mexico as a Mexican Turkish family and with our two young kids we live in Istanbul. When I don't work I spend most of my time outdoor with my family, enjoying Istanbul as much as we can. We go out, try to discover new restaurants, new museums, art galleries, children's acti... Read more

Istanbul Tour Guide

Safiye Kaban

Safiye Kaban

Hi there, this is Safiye from istanbul. I am a professional licensed tour guide and travel expert over 12 years. I have guided thousands of travellers from all around the world. I love meeting with new people, making new friends and building bridges. I orgnize cultural, historical, shopping and food tours to small groups, I mostly guide to private tours. I am also a foodie, I love discovering n... Read more

Istanbul Tour Guide

Guide Hamide

Guide Hamide

Hello, everyone! I'm Hamide, a professional tour guide in Istanbul. I studied archeology, mithology, history of art, anatolia, and religions. After my bachelors' degree graduation, I started to work in Cappadocia for 4 years. I came and settled in Istanbul when I realised that Istanbul has a very deep history, a unique multiple culture and stunning geography! I still keep experiencing new taste... Read more

Tours by Guide

5. Hagia Sophia

historical places in istanbul | hagia sophia

Hagia Sophia was built in AD 537 and is known for its huge white dome. The Hagia Sophia was originally a Greek Orthodox Christian cathedral which was then taken over by the Ottoman sultans and converted into an imperial mosque, and it is now a museum. The Hagia Sophia is probably one of the most famous museums in the world and one of the most visited historical places in Istanbul. This is a one-hour guided tour in English, where the guide tells you a little about the history of the Old City, followed by the history of Hagia Sophia. Afterward, you get free time to admire and take in the beautiful architecture of the Hagia Sophia.

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6. Galata Tower

Galata Tower (AP4M2642 1PS)
Source: Photo by Flickr user Alexandru Panoiu used under CC BY 2.0

The Galata Tower is a medieval stone tower which is commonly known as the Christea Turris or the Tower of Christ. Galata Tower is a Romanesque-style tower that was originally built in 1348. This tour of the Galata Tower and the ancient streets of Istanbul is a three-hour guided tour in English. You get to walk through the ancient streets of Istanbul that are now filled with churches, ancient walls, and vibrant streets. Stroll through the hillside of Galata, enjoy a beautiful view of the Bosphorus, and visit the Galata Tower from outside. This is a walking tour so don’t forget to have your walking shoes on and carry a bottle of water with you.

Tip from tour guide

Dilek

Dilek
Istanbul

If you don't want to wait in line to get to the top of Galata Tower, go to Galata Konak Cafe & Restaurant. It boasts nearly the same view as Galata Tower, and you can enjoy the sights while sipping your coffee or tea. Moreover, the popular Turkish TV series "Masumlar Apartmanı" is filmed in this cafe.

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7. Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest, most famous, and most visited markets in all of Istanbul. This is without a doubt one of the most historical places in Istanbul that every tourist wants to visit. Spread over 61 streets and 4000 shops, the Grand Bazaar is indeed unique. This three-and-a-half hour guided tour is a small walking tour around the Grand Bazaar where your tour guide helps you haggle like a pro, ensures you don’t get lost in this huge market, and helps you shop for authentic Turkish items. While you’re at it, your English-speaking tour guide will also give you a little history of the Grand Bazaar.

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8. Hippodrome of Constantinople

Turkey-03241 - Serpent Column
Source: Photo by Flickr user Dennis Jarvis used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Hippodrome of Constantinople was originally built by the Roman Emperor Severus and was kept as is during the Ottoman Era. The Hippodrome of Constantinople was basically a public arena where many chariot races were held. Now, this arena has basically become an open-air park/area which has a few statues and objects from the Roman and Ottoman era. When you come here, you can only imagine how glorious it was!

Hippodrome of Constantinople

Address: Binbirdirek Mh., Sultan Ahmet Parkı No:2, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Price: Free admission

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9. Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace is located on the European side of Istanbul. This palace originally served as the administrative centre of the Ottoman sultans. In fact, even Mustafa Atatürk (the first president of Turkey) lived in this Palace. This three-hour guided tour of the Dolmabahçe Palace is offered in English, German, Spanish and French. Your tour guide will tell you all about the history of the Ottoman Empire as well as Mustafa Atatürk. You will also get to see the glorious rooms of the palace, the famous crystal staircase and the Medhal Hall. Once you have explored the palace, you will cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to the Asian side to get some beautiful, picturesque views of the city.

Tip from tour guide

Rose

Rose
Istanbul

Dolmabahçe Palace
Photo of Dolmabahçe Palace shared by Turkey tour guide, Rose.
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10. Basilica Cistern

Basilica Cistern Istanbul
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Moise Nicu used under CC BY 3.0

Basilica Cistern is an ancient cistern which was originally built in the 4th century. This is one of the many ancient cisterns that were built under the city of Istanbul, but it is the most famous one because it is the largest. For those of you who might not know, a cistern is basically an underground tank that is made for storing water and the Basilica Cistern was one of the largest cisterns that used to supply water to the Ottoman Palace. Go on this 30-minute guided tour in English. In this tour, your guide will tell you all about the Medusa heads from Greek mythology that watch over the waterway as well as how the water travels all the way from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Center to the Basilica Cistern.

Tip from tour guide

Guide

Guide
Istanbul

Basilica Cistern

Hundreds of cisterns, underground water containers, were built in Constantinople to provide water for the public during the Byzantine era. Did you know that the Basilica Cistern was the largest one? It's waiting for us to experience its mystical atmosphere...

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11. Chora Church

chora church

The Chora Church is a medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church which is located in Istanbul. This two-hour guided walking tour in English starts with a cup of Turkish tea and then takes you into the Chora Church where you will see mosaics that depict the lives of Mary and Christ, motifs that depict one scene from the Book of Revelation, and frescos that follow a theme of death and resurrection. This tour is a great way to learn about Byzantine art and Greek Orthodox mythology.

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12. Istanbul Archaeology Museums

istanbul archaeology museums
Source: www.viator.com

The Istanbul Archaeology Museums are a group of three archaeological museums in Istanbul. In this day tour, you get to visit all three museums, namely the Archaeology Museum, the Old Eastern Works Museum, and the Enameled Kiosk Museum, all of which will teach you a little about the history of Istanbul and the Ottoman era. This is not a guided tour but an entrance ticket for the three museums, which means no waiting lines and ticket queues. You can spend a whole day at these three museums looking at artefacts, learning about history, and taking pictures.

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All set to learn about Istanbul and its history?

Clearly, Istanbul has a very cultural and rich history. From the Roman Empire to the Ottoman Era, Istanbul has seen a vast shift in culture, architecture, and religion, all of which are still prominent in modern-day Istanbul. There are so many historical places in Istanbul to see and so many things to learn so what are you waiting for?

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!

In light of the February 2023 earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria, Trip101 urges you to be apprised of the latest news if you have any plans to travel to Eastern Turkey. Other parts of the country remain open to travelers.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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A freelance content writer by profession, Anaanya is an avid traveller whose main goal in life is to visit as many new places as possible. Anaanya enjoys travelling, not just because of her love...Read more

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