Which mosques and historic sites are worth visiting in Istanbul?

To see which sultans Turks hold in higher regard, visit the mausoleums attached to mosques (like Süleymaniye, Şehzade) and compare them to the mausoleums of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and Sultan Ahmed I, which almost every tourist visits.

For a first visit, a suggested must-have list: Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Galata, Blue Mosque, plus Süleymaniye, the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar. Note that Galata Tower has extremely long queues, while wait times elsewhere vary a lot.

The dome of Süleymaniye Mosque offers a view comparable to the Galata Tower observation deck — they're at almost the same height.

From Şehzade Mosque it's an easy walk to Süleymaniye Mosque; along the way there's a lokanta (local eatery) worth stopping at.

The Havaist bus goes to Sultanahmet Square, from which Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Spice Bazaar are all walkable. Topkapi Palace needs a separate half-day.

From the Eminönü pier you can take a ferry to Kadıköy or Üsküdar — the ferry is more scenic, while the Marmaray from Sirkeci station is faster.

From the historic peninsula, cross the Galata Bridge to Galataport, then reach Galata Tower on foot via the stairs or by funicular, walk down Istiklal Street, and head back from Taksim Square by metro or Havaist bus.

A suggested route: visit a mosque near the bus stop, then walk along the old Constantinople city walls, head down to the Chora Church, and finish in the Balat neighborhood.

Plan roughly an hour each for Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, plus extra time for the entrance queues.

A local guide recommended a hamam right by Sultanahmet Square that allows couples to bathe together and is noticeably cheaper than the Hürrem Sultan Hamam.

For a first trip, a common recommendation is to start with the classic historic highlights: the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet, the Basilica Cistern, and the Galata area; lesser-known palaces and churches can come later.

Inside the Grand Bazaar area, Fahri Bey Han is worth a stop: there is a café upstairs with views over the bazaar rooftops, making it a nice extra historic stop while exploring the old city.

The Arnavutköy neighborhood offers scenic views with a mosque backdrop, though it's tricky to frame both people and the mosque in the same shot — plan your angles in advance.

Beyond the main sites, visit Rüstem Pasha Mosque (famous for its Iznik tiles), Süleymaniye Mosque, Şehzade Mosque, and Hürrem Sultan Mosque — all located in the historic peninsula.

Hagia Sophia's ground floor is free to enter, but only for Muslims attending prayer. Tourists must purchase a ticket to access the designated visitor areas.

Staying in the Sirkeci area is convenient — it sits between Sultanahmet and Eminönü ferry terminal, giving easy walking access to major sights and Bosphorus ferries.

Public toilets near mosques in Istanbul are generally clean. If you take the cable car and walk along the fortress walls, restrooms are available at the end of the route.

The entrance to Topkapi Palace is to the right of Hagia Sophia when viewed from the Blue Mosque side. The nearest metro stop is Sultanahmet.