# 15 places you must see in Istanbul

From the historic peninsula to the Bosphorus, the places most recommended by travel guides and visitor reviews.

- 3 votes · 16 items
- Jan 8, 2025 · burakizmir
- https://even.best/en/l/118/15-places-you-must-see-in-istanbul

## Top 15

1. **Hagia Sophia** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Byzantine basilica completed in 537; used again as a mosque since 2020.
2. **Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Six-minaret mosque from 1616 decorated with over 20,000 İznik tiles.
3. **Dolmabahçe Palace** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — 19th-century palace on the Bosphorus where Atatürk died in 1938. <https://www.millisaraylar.gov.tr/>
4. **Topkapı Palace** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Home of the Ottoman sultans for about 400 years, with the Harem and the Sacred Relics. <https://muze.gov.tr/>
5. **Grand Bazaar** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — One of the world's oldest covered markets, with over 60 streets and thousands of shops. <https://www.kapalicarsi.org.tr/>
6. **Basilica Cistern** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Byzantine cistern with 336 columns, famous for its Medusa-head column bases.
7. **Galata Tower** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 14th-century Genoese tower whose terrace overlooks the Golden Horn and the old city.
8. **Bosphorus cruise** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Ferries from Eminönü passing Dolmabahçe, Rumeli Fortress and the waterfront mansions.
9. **Süleymaniye Mosque** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Mimar Sinan's mosque completed in 1557, with Golden Horn views from its courtyard.
10. **İstiklal Avenue and Taksim** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Pedestrian avenue from Taksim to Tünel, travelled by the nostalgic tram.
11. **Spice Bazaar** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — 17th-century spice market in Eminönü.
12. **Kariye Mosque (Chora)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Building famous for its 14th-century Byzantine mosaics and frescoes; reopened as a mosque in 2024.
13. **Balat and Fener** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Historic Golden Horn neighbourhoods of colourful houses, churches and cafés.
14. **Büyükada** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The largest of the Princes' Islands, with historic mansions and the Church of St George.
15. **Ortaköy** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Waterfront square known for the Ortaköy Mosque beneath the Bosphorus Bridge and its kumpir stalls.
16. **Istanbul Archaeology Museums** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The first Ottoman museum, home to the Alexander Sarcophagus.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.