Sultanahmet District

Sultanahmet District

Sultanahmet District
4.5
NeighbourhoodsHistoric Walking Areas
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
The old section of Istanbul where you can find many attractions including Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque.
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The area
Neighbourhood: Sultanahmet
With so many unmissable attractions within a mere stroll of each other – and all set around the site of an ancient Byzantine hippodrome – Sultanahmet is an overwhelmingly popular tourist destination, and a prime location for visitors to be wowed on a truly epic scale. Beyond the wonders of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more, this relatively small area of Istanbul somehow manages to retain an air of peace and calm. It offers visitors a significantly less celebrated but nonetheless pleasant network of quaint lanes and side streets, majestic panoramas of the Bosphorus, and an impressive assortment of accommodation options for all budgets and tastes.
See what travellers are saying
  • kumaran m
    Durban, South Africa8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An exciting and awesome area to stay and visit. It is a area you must visit when visiting Istanbul.
    This area is very busy and safe. Also has many eating outlets to accommodate all tourists. The shopping is excellent. The hotels in these tourist areas are more expensive. You can stay in other areas and travel by tram to this area.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 January 2024
  • LucyTravellingWife
    Johannesburg, South Africa279 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The hub of Istanbul
    Loved visiting this area. So many historical places to visit, things to see and explore! Great places to eat too. Would definitely find a hotel in this area next time! Perfect location.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 March 2024
  • 1957
    Ottawa, Canada913 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Heart of historical Istanbul!
    As part of our walking tour , our guide took us through to this district that happens to be the heart of old historic Istanbul. It’s filled with incredible history, we learned about the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The streets are vibrant, bazaars, delicious food restaurants.Most attractions are free but some have an entrance fee.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 April 2024
  • Ooly Schacht
    38 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice place, pushy sales people
    Amazing place, many historical sites close by. Too many stores selling the same products, very aggressive store clerks, if not buying refuse to enter the store. The sites are amazing, all very close by.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 15 April 2024
  • suhema v
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The city that calls us again & again
    Travelled to Istanbul end of Feb We love the old Sultanahmet area. It's our 4th visit. If you want to see the tourist sights, mosques, grand bazaar etc you must stay in this area. It's a beautiful area filled with cobbled streets, beautiful mosques, bazaars, street vendors etc... Access around the area & towards other parts of Istanbul are easily available via the tram system. The marmary trains and buses are very efficient as well. Buy a travel card called the Istanbul Card. 1 card can be used by multiple members of the family. The grand bazaar is a must, busy and not for the faint hearted but a labyrinth of shops, alleys all tantalising the eyes, nose and taste buds. Visit the Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque, The Topkapi palace, and many more beautiful tourist attractions. There's lots of different accommodation types from tiny 3* hotels to opulent 5* hotels. I recommend you choose a hotel close to a tram station due to the amount of walking you will be doing. Make sure you bring comfortable shoes as there's ALOT of walking. Be mindful that taxi's cannot enter the road alongside the blue mosque so trams are the main mode of transport. We rarely used taxi's as we prefer the tram & buses. Food is amazing in this area. Something for every budget. Do try the delicious Simit, sweetcorn & chestnuts from the street vendor carts. A must is dessert, Baklava or kunafe from the famous Hafiz Mustafa dessert chain. We cannot wait for our next visit
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 May 2024
  • deejay90210
    New Delhi, India2,158 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The place to stay in Istanbul
    The historical and touristic area of Istanbul. Many hotels are located here, in small bylanes with terraces overlooking the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. It becomes more lively in the evenings with many historical sites within walking distance.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 24 June 2024
  • Geetanjali
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A wonderful experience
    If you love history, architecture and scenic beauty, Istanbul is a must visit. Besides, it's a kebab treat for non veg foodies. For those with a sweet tooth, the balkhlavas and Turkish delight are a sure treat. Shoppers, the ceramics ,carpets and rugs are unique and gorgeous and, of course the knock offs for every brand of bags,purses,clutches could reel you with the duplication of the latest original. Language is an issue but surprisingly, most of the people you need to interact with, cabbies, shop keepers, are quick to pull out AI translator apps on their phones to help with basics. Cats can be overwhelming on the streets, in eateries and even hotels . Don't feed them at all. You'll be surprised how quickly the solo will convert into a brood menace!!! Dress light and carry walking shoes to enjoy this beautiful city, both, the European and the Asian sudes
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 14 July 2024
  • Dimi
    Western Australia, Australia26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Bag Selection At Great Prices
    The Sultanahmet district has some amazing bag stores and Grace Ottoman was the best. A great selection of LV and others at a great price. The best shop we’ve seen so far and the WhatsApp number is +90 538 788 67 57.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 August 2024
  • Sara A
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pleasant Experience
    The weather was very pleasant despite it being august! Very breezy cloudy weather with lots of affordable souvenir shops and Turkish street foods. We dined at a terrace restaurant with beautiful views of Hagia Sofia where we enjoyed classic kababs and delicious Iskandar Kababs. We felt safe with our children strolling the small roads of Sultanahmet.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 21 August 2024
  • Brittany_11_10
    Los Angeles, California1,856 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must-visit area
    One-stop sightseeing. Okay, so it's not one stop, per se, but one area of Istanbul that's kind of a must-visit, at least on a first trip to Istanbul. Some of the popular sites are here (like the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern...), and it's just a fun, bustling area to walk around.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 26 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles16,812 reviews
Excellent
12,536
Very good
3,611
Average
506
Poor
88
Terrible
71

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Aaron G
Los Angeles, CA345 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
Sure it's beautiful, and despite my three-star review, it's a must-see... but be prepared to be constantly harassed by Turkish rug merchants, who present themselves as "guides" and want to show you "secrets of the city..." then get extremely angry and aggressive when you don't step into their shop. And woe unto you if you do. Once you step in there, you're stuck for a good half hour while they unroll rug after rug, each looking exactly like the last, then literally yell at you when you try to leave.

So my advice? Stick to the park between the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. If you learn from my mistake and do NOT venture outside of there on foot, you'll have a great time.
Written 18 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hiba M
32 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Friends
I met my childhood friend in Istanbul and stayed in Sultanahmet district. It was one of my best experiences in life! The place is really nice; people are very friendly; restaurants are open late. It’s a tourists attraction though, so you have to always negotiate the prices and check and compare the menus. There are two mosques you must visit. There are also little shops and nice street food. I think it’s a good place to stay in Istanbul. It’s near everything and the tram is easy to get. Enjoy your stay!
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

amiauk
14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
Fantastic area to stay in whilst visiting all the major attractions such as the Blue Mosque, Haig Sophia and the Topkapi Palace and Museum, all within walking distance. We stayed at the No.12 Hotel, a lovely boutique hotel with friendly staff who can’t do enough for you.

On a slightly sour note, I always expect to pay more for certain things on holidays and usually ignore a cheeky price rise etc, however I would give a warning to anyone using a local barbers called Haircuts HQ, Nuruosmaniye, Cad. No.7, Cagaloglu, ISTANBUL. This is within the Sultanahmet area, I attended on the last day of my holiday and was charged 3 times the price and only realised on returning to my hotel after the staff pointed out that I had been overcharged. The point being that people like this barber ruin it for what is a great city with some of the nicest most hospitable people I have ever encountered. To the barber .. Mr Fazli Koprubasi you are now famous for the wrong reasons and I hope my review saves some other genuine tourist from being ripped off. Shame on you !!
Written 3 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda M
Saudi Arabia83 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2021
If you just want to see the main highlights, you can do it from here pretty easily. Lots of popular sites in the same area. It's all walkable. And, if you're touring around, you'll wind up here anyway so just make it a destination.

But, if you find yourself in Istanbul for a longer period of time, Sultanahmet may become a favorite place to have a walk, enjoy some tea, or just sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. During the summer it's not so great because of the large number of tourists, but in the off-season it's lovely. Wander on up the hill and enjoy the big trees and quieter restaurants.
Written 10 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

r8ter2018
Madison, WI160 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
We saw this district both at night and during the day time, visiting it a total of three times. After you walk up from your vehicle drop off, perhaps 200 meters over sloping cobblestone walkways, it is easy to walk the level surfaces to both the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, and the sites of the Hippodrome. We were there in January, when the crowds were small and it was easy to view the mosques. Remember your scarf for the mosques, and wear comfortable shoes that you can remove without much bother. Take a bag with you to carry your shoes, although there are shelves where you can leave your shoes if you like. Be careful to avoid going into the areas for the worshipers--remember that these are functioning mosques.
Written 10 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Рамиль Х
Moscow, Russia133 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
Sultanahmet district is the historical center of Istanbul. If you want to see the city, you should visit this place, surrounded by palaces, architectural monuments, mosques, palm trees and views of the Bosphorus Strait. In the center, you need to think about Parking in advance, but there are a lot of cafes there. I am sure you will like to be photographed in Sultanahmet.
Written 17 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Iguda
Katsina State, Nigeria104 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
This area or district is a must visit by tourists coming to the city of Istanbul as there are series of tourist sites for site seeing which include historical sites of the sultanate of Istanbul and many other attractions .These attractions include series of shops to but gift items and souvenirs for loved ones and fiends alike.There were so many people during my visit which makes it looks like a pilgrimage which the large number of people from different countries of the world.I was told that some of the attractions are not open on Sundays and therefore could not visit them.
Written 10 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Szabin
London, UK435 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Solo
Lovely part in the Old City, best place to have the hotel at.
Locals are helpful and respectful to tourists.
Most shops have fixed prices but averagely they are in more or less the same price range.
Restaurant on the main streets are expensive, as long as you come off the main streets places are cheap.
Written 25 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Giulia
Marotta, Italy1,614 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Friends
super central neighborhood, with all the most important monuments. If you stay in the city for less than 4 nights I recommend sleeping here, since it takes a good two days to calmly see the most important things. The other central districts can be easily and cheaply reached by public transport and taxis
Google
Written 25 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

suhema v
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Travelled to Istanbul end of Feb

We love the old Sultanahmet area. It's our 4th visit.
If you want to see the tourist sights, mosques, grand bazaar etc you must stay in this area.
It's a beautiful area filled with cobbled streets, beautiful mosques, bazaars, street vendors etc...
Access around the area & towards other parts of Istanbul are easily available via the tram system. The marmary trains and buses are very efficient as well. Buy a travel card called the Istanbul Card. 1 card can be used by multiple members of the family.
The grand bazaar is a must, busy and not for the faint hearted but a labyrinth of shops, alleys all tantalising the eyes, nose and taste buds.
Visit the Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque, The Topkapi palace, and many more beautiful tourist attractions.
There's lots of different accommodation types from tiny 3* hotels to opulent 5* hotels. I recommend you choose a hotel close to a tram station due to the amount of walking you will be doing.
Make sure you bring comfortable shoes as there's ALOT of walking. Be mindful that taxi's cannot enter the road alongside the blue mosque so trams are the main mode of transport. We rarely used taxi's as we prefer the tram & buses.
Food is amazing in this area. Something for every budget. Do try the delicious Simit, sweetcorn & chestnuts from the street vendor carts. A must is dessert, Baklava or kunafe from the famous Hafiz Mustafa dessert chain.
We cannot wait for our next visit
Written 4 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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SULTANAHMET DISTRICT (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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