Sultanahmet Square

From the fountain in the middle of Sultanahmet Square, a slow turn shows you Hagia Sophia on one side and the Blue Mosque on the other. The obelisks of the Hippodrome stand behind the trees, and the Basilica Cistern entrance is on the corner. Nowhere else in Istanbul packs this much history into 300 metres. The square costs nothing, it never closes, and most walking tours of the Old City begin or finish here.

Quick facts

Which name means what

The names can be confusing. Sultanahmet Square normally refers to the open park between the two great buildings, with lawns, flower beds and a big round fountain at its centre. Just to the west lies the long open space with the obelisks. That is the old Hippodrome, officially called At Meydani, where chariot races took place in Byzantine times. Many Turks simply say Sultanahmet for the whole area, a name taken from the sultan who built the Blue Mosque. The Hippodrome of Constantinople and its monuments have a page of their own.

During the Byzantine period this was the centre of the imperial capital. The Great Palace ran down the slope to the sea, and the Augusteion forum stood close to Hagia Sophia. Much of it now lies beneath the park and the streets around it, and digs in the area still uncover mosaics and foundations.

Around the square

• Hagia Sophia, to the north-east.
• The Blue Mosque, to the south-west.
• The Basilica Cistern, on the far side of the tram line at the northern corner.
• The Haseki Hurrem Sultan Bath, a double bath house designed by Sinan in the 1550s. It stands between the two great mosques and is once again in use as a hamam.
• The German Fountain, an eight-sided fountain with a dome at the northern end of the Hippodrome, given by Kaiser Wilhelm II and put in place in 1901.
• The Topkapi Palace gate, five minutes on foot behind Hagia Sophia.
• The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, along the western side of the Hippodrome.

When to go

Come early, before 08:30, when the light is gentle and the square is nearly deserted. Sunset is also beautiful, as the call to prayer sounds back and forth between the two great buildings. In summer, midday brings heat and crowds. In Ramadan, evenings see the square packed with food stalls and families: lively, but very crowded. On major national days and at certain events, security barriers go up and entry points are checked.

The Istanbul Half-Day Private Old City Tour & Hagia Sophia Fast-Track begins in Sultanahmet Square and spends four hours on the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, from US$200. To see the square lit at night, the Istanbul Private Night Tour: Old City, Taksim and Istiklal lasts four hours, also from US$200. The Luxury Istanbul Tour includes the square in a two-day programme planned around you.

Scams and nuisances

Sultanahmet is a safe area. It is also the busiest tourist district in Turkey, and some tricks come up again and again.

• A shoe shiner lets his brush fall in front of you. You pick it up, he thanks you with a free shine, and then he wants payment. Give the brush back and keep walking.
• Kind strangers with excellent English sometimes guide the talk towards a cousin's carpet shop. Saying no does no harm.
• Guides without a licence may come up to you near the Blue Mosque. Licensed guides wear an official badge.
• If someone you have just met recommends a certain bar at night, it is a well-known setup for an overpriced bill. Pick your own venue.

Tips

• You will find public toilets close to the Blue Mosque and the tram stop; carry a small coin or a card.
• In the morning the benches along the park are in the shade.
• Simit sellers and carts with roasted chestnuts and corn offer cheap snacks; ask the price before you buy.

Nearby sights are listed on our Istanbul destination page.

Frequently Asked Questions