16 places · parks, museums, landmarks
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An early 17th-century imperial mosque famous for its Iznik tile interior. It's still an active place of worship, so visits are scheduled around prayer times.
A lively, working fish market where locals shop for the day's catch. The surrounding streets are packed with meyhanes, produce stalls, and specialty food shops.
A beautiful 19th-century mosque right on the Bosphorus waterfront in Ortaköy. It's famous for its elegant baroque style and the stunning view of the Bosphorus Bridge behind it.
This is the city's main spice market, a covered arcade in Eminönü filled with stalls selling everything from saffron to lokum. It's smaller and more focused than the Grand Bazaar, with a strong scent of herbs and tea in the air.
Süleymaniye Mosque, designed by Mimar Sinan for Suleiman the Magnificent, is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. Its hilltop location offers one of the best views of the Golden Horn.
A medieval Genoese watchtower that's now a museum and observation deck. It offers the classic postcard view of Istanbul's old city skyline.
A restored 19th-century row of workers' houses built for Dolmabahçe Palace staff. Today, it's a quiet, upscale pedestrian street with high-end shops and cafes.
A valley neighborhood of Beyoğlu known for its antique shops lining 19th-century streets. It's a quiet, winding alternative to the main avenue.
The spiritual center of the Eastern Orthodox Church, located in the historic Fener neighborhood. It's the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch, considered 'first among equals' in Orthodox Christianity.
Originally a 6th-century Byzantine church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Bacchus, this building was later converted into a mosque. It's a quieter, smaller-scale architectural sibling to the grand Hagia Sophia.

A Mimar Sinan-designed mosque tucked above the Spice Bazaar, famous for its incredible collection of Iznik tiles. It's a small, peaceful space that feels like a hidden treasure chest.
A Mimar Sinan-designed mosque built for the admiral Sinan Pasha in Beşiktaş. The tomb of the famous Ottoman admiral Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha is right across the street.

The largest Catholic church in Istanbul, a red-brick neo-Gothic landmark on İstiklal Avenue. It's a quiet, beautiful space just steps from the busy street.

A peaceful Ottoman-era complex built for the scholar and Sufi sheikh Yahya Efendi. It's a quiet cemetery and shrine in the heart of Beşiktaş.
