The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque)

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is an historic mosque in Istanbul. The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.

It was built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also contains a tomb of the founder, and a school (madrasah). While still used as a mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has also become a popular tourist attraction.

Entrance: Free of Charge

Coordinates: 41°0'19.63"N 28°58'35.54"E

Directions:
From Taksim: Take the Funicular (line: F1) from Taksim station to Kabataş station. (F1: Yellow label)
then Take the Tramvay (line: T1) from Kabataş station to Sultanahmet station. (T1: Grey label)

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia (Greek word means "Holy Wisdom") is a former Orthodox church, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as an Orthodox cathedral,except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935.

Entrance: 25 TL (Turkish Lira) , around 14 $, around 93 EGP

Working hours: daily from 09:00 to 16:30 except Monday

Coordinates: 41°0'28.49"N 28°58'45.04"E

Directions:
From Taksim: Take the Funicular (line: F1) from Taksim station to Kabataş station. (F1: Yellow label)
then Take the Tramvay (line: T1) from Kabataş station to Sultanahmet station. (T1: Grey label)

From Blue Mosque: Walk through Sultanahmet square.

Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace is a large palace in Istanbul, Turkey, that was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856).

As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a major tourist attraction and contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Profit Muhammed's cloak and sword.it is announced as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is described under UNESCO's criterion iv as "the best example of palaces of the Ottoman period."

The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. At its peak, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people, and covered a large area with a long shoreline. It contained mosques, a hospital, bakeries, and a mint. Construction began in 1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople.

It was originally called the New Palace (Yeni Sarayı) to distinguish it from the previous residence. It received the name "Topkapı" (Cannon Gate) in the 19th century, after a (now lost) gate and shore pavilion. The complex was expanded over the centuries, with major renovations after the 1509 earthquake and the 1665 fire.

Entrance(Main Entrance): 25 TL (Turkish Lira) / apx. 14 $ / apx. 11 EURO / apx. 93 EGP
Entrance(Hareem Section): 15 TL (Turkish Lira) / apx. 9 $ / apx. 6.5 EURO / apx. 56 EGP

Working hours: daily from 09:00 to 17:00 except Tuesday

Coordinates: 41° 0'42.40"N 28°58'59.17"E

Directions:
From Taksim: Take the Funicular (line: F1) from Taksim station to Kabataş station. (F1: Yellow label)
then Take the Tramvay (line: T1) from Kabataş station to Gülhane station. (T1: Grey label)

From Blue Mosque: Walk through Sultanahmet square, Topkapi Palace is just behind Hagia Sophia.

Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

This cathedral-size cistern is an underground chamber approximately 9,800 square metres (105,000 sq ft) in area, capable of holding 80,000 cubic metres (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. The ceiling is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns, each 9 metres (30 ft) high, arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns each spaced 4.9 metres (16 ft) apart.

Fifty-two stone steps descend into the entrance of the cistern. The cistern is surrounded by a firebrick wall with a thickness of 4 metres (13 ft) and coated with a waterproofing mortar. The Basilica Cistern's water came from the Eğrikapı Water Distribution Center in the Belgrade Forest, which lie 19 kilometres (12 mi) north of the city. It traveled through the 971 metres (3,186 ft)-long Valens (Bozdoğan) Aqueduct, and the 115.45 metres (378.8 ft)-long Mağlova Aqueduct, which was built by the Emperor Justinian.

Entrance: 10 TL (Turkish Lira) / apx. 6 $ / apx. 4.5 EURO / apx. 37 EGP

Working hours: daily from 09:00 to 18:30

Coordinates: 41°0'29.00"N 28°58'40.00"E

Directions:
From Taksim: Take the Funicular (line: F1) from Taksim station to Kabataş station. (F1: Yellow label)
then Take the Tramvay (line: T1) from Kabataş station to Sultanahmet station. (T1: Grey label)

From Blue Mosque: Walk through Sultanahmet square, Basilica Cistern is just beside Sultanahmet Park (the fountain).

Süleymaniye Mosque

The Süleymaniye Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque located on the Third Hill of Istanbul. It is the largest mosque in the city, and one of the best-known sights of Istanbul.

The Süleymaniye Mosque, built on the order of Sultan Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent), "was fortunate to be able to draw on the talents of the architectural genius of Mimar Sinan" (481 Traditions and Encounters: Brief Global History). The construction work began in 1550 and the mosque was finished in 1558.

Entrance: Free of charge

Coordinates: 41°0'58.16"N 28°57'50.03"E