Old City Travel Guide

Istanbul
Topkapi Palace showing a river or creek, a city and a bay or harbour
Suleymaniye Mosque which includes interior views and a mosque
Grand Bazaar showing shopping, markets and interior views
Topkapi Palace showing heritage architecture and a castle
Suleymaniye Mosque featuring a mosque

Popular places to visit

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

4.5/5(625 reviews)

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Hagia Sophia
Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar

4.5/5(691 reviews)

Enter the maze of shop-lined streets in one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world to browse hundreds of thousands of hand-crafted objects.

Grand Bazaar
Blue Mosque featuring heritage architecture, a mosque and religious aspects

Blue Mosque

4.5/5(685 reviews)

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

Blue Mosque
Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace

4.5/5(554 reviews)

The official residence of the Ottoman sultans for about four centuries is now accessible to the public and home to sacred relics.

Topkapi Palace
Sultanahmet Square

Sultanahmet Square

4.5/5(552 reviews)

You can find out about the history of Istanbul with a stop at Sultanahmet Square. Add the area's shops or stunning cathedral to your travel plans.

Sultanahmet Square
Basilica Cistern showing religious aspects, interior views and a church or cathedral

Basilica Cistern

4.5/5(353 reviews)

The “Sunken Palace” is one of the most striking remnants of Byzantine Constantinople and is the largest of hundreds of ancient underground reservoirs in Istanbul.

Basilica Cistern

Things to do

Istanbul: Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table

Istanbul: Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table

฿897
per adult
80% of travellers recommend
Istanbul: Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table
Blue Mosque

Istanbul Must See:Hagia Sophia Bluemosqu Topkapı Basilica Cistern Bosphorus Tour

฿2,727
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Istanbul Must See:Hagia Sophia Bluemosqu Topkapı Basilica Cistern Bosphorus Tour
The dome and windows at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque & Grand Bazaar - Half-Day Small Group Tour

฿1,804
per adult
Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque & Grand Bazaar - Half-Day Small Group Tour
Basilica of St.John

Daily Trip to House of Virgin Mary, Ancient City of Ephesus, Basilica of St.John

฿2,671
per adult
Daily Trip to House of Virgin Mary, Ancient City of Ephesus, Basilica of St.John
a lot birds and their lovers.

3 Hours Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Stop in Asia Side

฿902
per adult
78% of travellers recommend
3 Hours Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Stop in Asia Side
Istanbul: Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table

Istanbul: Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table

฿577
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Istanbul: Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table
See all activities in Istanbul

Top hotels in Old City

Sultanhan Hotel - Special Class
Sultanhan Hotel - Special Class
4 out of 5
Piyer Loti Cad No:7, Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is ฿2,872 per night from 5 Jan to 6 Jan
฿2,872
฿3,217 total
includes taxes & fees
5 Jan - 6 Jan 2025
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,805 reviews)
Fantastic Experience in Hotel Sultanhan
"The service and atmosphere of this hotel is fantastic, nevertheless, our highlight is always the breakfast. The restaurant offers an amazing view of the city of Istanbul and the service is always friendly and great! You could feed the seagulls on a good day and the owner /manager was kind enough ..."

Reviewed on 21 Dec 2024

Sultanhan Hotel - Special Class
Hotel Amira Istanbul
Hotel Amira Istanbul
Kucuk Ayasofya Mahallesi Mustafa, Pasa Sokak No: 43 Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is ฿5,170 per night from 25 Dec to 26 Dec
฿5,170
฿5,790 total
includes taxes & fees
25 Dec - 26 Dec
Stay at this luxury hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (1,001 reviews)
"I couldn’t fault The hotel Amira, rooms were nice and lovely and clean but the stand out for me was the staff they were so friendly welcoming and helpful and it made it a pleasure to stay. If ever I went back to Istanbul I wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again."

Reviewed on 18 Dec 2024

Hotel Amira Istanbul
Carina Gold Hotel and Restaurant
Carina Gold Hotel and Restaurant
4 out of 5
Türbedar Sk. 20, Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is ฿2,855 per night from 16 Jan to 17 Jan
฿2,855
฿3,198 total
includes taxes & fees
16 Jan - 17 Jan 2025
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (116 reviews)
Excellent
"Location was excellent! Walking diatance to all main attraction. The service was superb! Our room was ready much earlier thank check in, around 8am. The front desk arranged the airport transfer, called for taxi, gave us a tram card to use, and were very helpful with every one of our requests. The ..."

Reviewed on 14 Dec 2024

Carina Gold Hotel and Restaurant
Sultanahmet Palace Hotel - Special Class
Sultanahmet Palace Hotel - Special Class
4 out of 5
Sultanahmet mah. Torun Sokak, No:19, Istanbul, Istanbul
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿6,552 per night from 27 Dec to 28 Dec
฿6,552
฿7,339 total
includes taxes & fees
27 Dec - 28 Dec
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (943 reviews)
"This was a nice place to stay. A little outdated, but clean and staff was friendly."

Reviewed on 21 Dec 2024

Sultanahmet Palace Hotel - Special Class
Radisson Hotel President Old Town Istanbul
Radisson Hotel President Old Town Istanbul
Tiyatro Caddesi, No. 25, Beyazit, Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is ฿3,275 per night from 19 Jan to 20 Jan
฿3,275
฿3,668 total
includes taxes & fees
19 Jan - 20 Jan 2025
Stay at this spa hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"Great location, brilliant hotel and amazing staff!! Definitely recommend!!"

Reviewed on 14 Dec 2024

Radisson Hotel President Old Town Istanbul
GLK PREMIER Regency Suites & Spa - Special Class
GLK PREMIER Regency Suites & Spa - Special Class
5 out of 5
Akbiyik Cad No 46, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Istanbul
The price is ฿3,185 per night from 8 Jan to 9 Jan
฿3,185
฿3,567 total
includes taxes & fees
8 Jan - 9 Jan 2025
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Istanbul. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
"This hotel was very affordable and included breakfast for our family each morning. They explained the area well and best of all is the 5 minute walk to the Hagia Sophia. We appreciated the entire staffs help making our experience nice. Thanks Huseyin!"

Reviewed on 21 Dec 2024

GLK PREMIER Regency Suites & Spa - Special Class
See all 1,052 properties in Old City
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Old City

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Sirkeci

Travellers choose Sirkeci for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Sirkeci Station or Eminonu Station and check out top sights like Topkapi Palace.

Sirkeci
Blue Mosque which includes a fountain, a mosque and a pond

Sultanahmet

Gourmet restaurants interesting history and top sights from Blue Mosque to Hagia Sophia – discover Sultanahmet, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Sultanahmet
Galata Tower featuring a bay or harbour, night scenes and a ferry

Karaköy

Spend some time visiting places like Galata Tower while getting to know Karaköy, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Karakoy Station or Karakoy Tünel Station to see more of the area.

Karaköy
Galata Tower featuring cruising, general coastal views and a city

Galata

Travellers choose Galata for its abundant dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Sishane-Zemin Metro Station or Karakoy Tünel Station and check out top sights like Galata Tower.

Galata
Galata Tower featuring a bay or harbour, night scenes and a ferry

Beyoğlu

Enjoy the popular shops in Beyoğlu. Taksim Square is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Sishane-Zemin Metro Station or Tophane Station to see more of Istanbul.

Beyoğlu
Istanbul which includes a city, a marina and a sunset

Fatih

4.5/5(1,512 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Fatih. Grand Bazaar is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Aksaray Station or Yusufpasa Station to see more of Istanbul.

Fatih

Old City Travel Guide