Highlights of Istanbul: the old city in one day
Istanbul was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires in turn, and the old city on the Sultanahmet peninsula is where all four left their mark within a short walk of each other. Day 2 of every tour that starts in Istanbul is a guided day here. This is what you see, in the order we usually walk it.
Hagia Sophia
Built as a church in 537, a mosque from 1453, a museum from 1935 and a mosque again since 2020. The ground floor is a working mosque and free to enter outside prayer times; visitors are now directed to the upper gallery, which is ticketed and gives the best view of the dome, the mosaics and the sheer size of the space. Dress modestly and bring something to cover your hair if you are a woman; scarves are lent at the door.
The Blue Mosque
Facing Hagia Sophia across the park, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has six minarets and more than 20,000 Iznik tiles inside, which is where the nickname comes from. It is a working mosque: it closes to visitors for about an hour at each prayer time, and the guide times the visit around that.
The Hippodrome
The long square between the two is the floor of the Byzantine chariot stadium. Three monuments still stand on its central line: the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius (older than the city itself), the Serpent Column from Delphi and the Walled Obelisk. The German Fountain at the top end is a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm.
Topkapi Palace
Home of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries: four courtyards, the kitchens, the treasury, the council chamber and the harem (separate ticket). Allow two hours. The terrace at the back looks straight down the Bosphorus.
The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market
Sixty streets and about 4,000 shops under one roof since the 1460s. You will not see all of it, and you do not need to; the guide takes you through the main streets and shows you how to tell hand-made from machine-made before you buy anything. The Spice Market down by the water is smaller and smells better.
The Bosphorus cruise
Late afternoon we leave the land behind and see the city the way it was meant to be seen: from the water, with the palaces, wooden mansions and fortresses on both shores and the bridge between Europe and Asia overhead.
If you have an extra day
The Basilica Cistern (336 columns and the upside-down Medusa heads, reopened after restoration), the Chora Church mosaics, Galata Tower for the view, a ferry to the Asian side for lunch in Kadikoy. Arrive a day early and we will happily point you to all of them.
Every tour that starts in Istanbul includes this day: the Istanbul to Fethiye Tour, the All Around Turkey Tour and the longer routes with the gulet week.