Background
On the Bosphorus peninsula between the Balkans and Anatolia, Istanbul has been tied to major political, religious and artistic events for more than 2,000 years. UNESCO names the ancient Hippodrome of Constantine, the 6th-century Hagia Sophia and the 16th-century Süleymaniye Mosque among its masterpieces, and warns that population pressure, pollution and uncontrolled building threaten them.
The listing covers four zones of the old city in Fatih: the archaeological park at the tip of the peninsula with Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque; the Süleymaniye quarter; the Zeyrek quarter; and the Theodosian land walls. Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for nearly a thousand years before the Ottoman conquest of 1453.
- 4th c.Constantine the Great makes Byzantium his imperial capital
- 6th c.Hagia Sophia is built
- 1453Mehmed II takes the city for the Ottomans
- 16th c.Sinan builds the Süleymaniye Mosque
- 1985Inscribed as World Heritage
Find Your Way Around
The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them
- 1Hagia SophiaThe great Byzantine dome; not included in the Museum Pass, says Wikivoyage.
- 2Blue MosqueThe Sultan Ahmed Mosque across the square; closed to visitors at prayer times.
- 3Topkapı PalaceThe sultans' palace, treasury and Harem; closed on Tuesdays.
- 4Basilica CisternThe sunken Byzantine cistern beside Hagia Sophia.
- 5Süleymaniye MosqueSinan's greatest mosque above the Golden Horn, near the Grand Bazaar.
- 6Theodosian Land WallsThe 1,500-year-old walls on the landward side, with the Chora mosaics nearby.
Know Before You Go
From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides
Sultanahmet in a Day
From the GoGo Istanbul guide · Open the Istanbul Guide ›
- 09:00Hagia Sophia75 minThe Byzantine dome.
- 10:30The Blue Mosque45 minAcross the square.
- 11:30Basilica Cistern45 minThe sunken cistern.
- 14:00Grand Bazaar90 minThe covered bazaar.
- 16:00Süleymaniye Mosque1 hrSinan's masterpiece.
- 18:30Sunset from the Galata Bridge1 hrMinarets against the sunset.
Best Time to Visit
Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Typical highs
Climate: NASA POWER
Pair It With
Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance
