The notebook of Istanbul
Look up, then change the street.
Between Horn of Gold and Bosphorus, Istanbul brings together the monuments of Constantinople and the great Ottoman foundations. Sultanahmet concentrates mosques, palaces and cisterns, while Galata and the strait banks offer other perspectives on the city. A stay of several days allows to connect museums, covered markets and inhabited areas without reducing the metropolis to its monuments alone.
At your own pace
Identity summary
4 to 7 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Possible without car depending on area
Metropolis area · Heritage · Coast
Good accessibility
Sweet rhythm
General presentation
Istanbul
Between Horn of Gold and Bosphorus, Istanbul brings together the monuments of Constantinople and the great Ottoman foundations. Sultanahmet concentrates mosques, palaces and cisterns, while Galata and the strait banks offer other perspectives on the city. A stay of several days allows to connect museums, covered markets and inhabited areas without reducing the metropolis to its monuments alone.
The discovery of Istanbul revolves around St.Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace. The stay thus alternates between the big city, heritage and the coast, which gives a concrete picture of the destination beyond its only best known site.
See all
For a stay of 4 to 7 days, a quiet rhythm works well. Also to be anticipated: slopes between neighborhoods and crossing time of the Bosphorus to be integrated; specific access to cults. The trip can be organised without a car if the drop point and local connections are selected in advance. The main sites are generally easy to access.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Sainte-Sophie
- Mosquée bleue
- Topkapı Palace
- Citerne Basilique
- Mosquée Süleymaniye
- Great Bazaar of Istanbul
- Galata Tower
- Dolmabahçe Palace
- Archaeological Museums of Istanbul
- Saint-Sauveur-in-Chora — mosquée Kariye
Before you choose
- Pentes between neighborhoods and crossing time of the Bosphorus to be integrated; specific cultural access.
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Heritage
Sainte-Sophie
Built under Justinian in the sixth century, Sainte-Sophie preserves a major space of Byzantine architecture, organized under a large dome. Former cathedral and then museum, it now has a Muslim cultural use, to be taken into account in the preparation of the visit.
Heritage
Mosquée bleue
The Sultan Ahmed mosque faces Saint-Sophie, near the former racetrack. Built in the early seventeenth century, it combines six minarets, courtyard and room under domes; its tiles d İznik explain its nickname.
Museum
Palais de Topkapı
Established after the Ottoman conquest, Topkapı was the residence of the Sultans and the centre of power for centuries. Its courses, pavilions and administrative spaces constitute a wide range of collections and imperial history.
Heritage
Citerne Basilique
Under the historic peninsula, this large tank built in the sixth century under Justinian bears witness to the water supply of Constantinople. The underground space allows us to grasp the scale of the infrastructure needed in an imperial capital.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
