Visit the Old City, or Historical Peninsula, to experience the oldest and busiest part of Istanbul. Adjust your senses to the exotic aromas of steaming shisha pipes, the cacophony of trams, taxis and touts, and dazzling colors of the Ottoman-style shops as you stroll to the district’s grand mosques and palaces.
Base yourself in the central Sultanahmet or Fatih neighborhoods to be able to walk to many of the Old City’s star attractions. Conveniently, the Sirkeci Station in Fatih is the terminus for trains from Europe and this beautiful Ottoman-era building is right next to the Eminönü transportation hub.
To start your adventure, go underground to see the Yerebatan Sarayi, the cathedral-like Basilica Cistern in the Hagia Sophia. Next, admire the mosaic ceiling inside the nearby Blue Mosque, before taking in the many historical sights in Sultanahmet Square.
Sample strong Turkish coffee with sweet Turkish delights in the maze-like Grand Bazaar. Or, for something different, try a Turkish bath in the Çemberlitaş Hamamı next door. Pack a picnic and head to the sprawling Gülhane Park of the impressive Topkapı Palace.
Head north to admire the colorful, late 19th-century European-style terraced houses in the Fener and Balat neighborhoods. While in these areas, visit the 16th-century Mihrimah Sultan Mosque and Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, and don’t miss the medieval mosaics in the Chora Museum.
From the Balat wharf, take the ferry back to the Galata Bridge. Here you can hop on a cruise over the Golden Horn and Bosphorus Strait to end your day in style. Seeing the lights of the Old City reflected in the water after dark, you can be forgiven for thinking you have just stepped into a One Thousand and One Nights folk tale.
