Trip Planner:   Europe  /  Turkey  /  Istanbul  /  Sultanahmet District

Sultanahmet District, Istanbul

4.8
#1 of 36 in Neighborhoods in Turkey
Historic Walking Area · Neighborhood
Boasting many of the city's most important sites, from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque to the Grand Bazaar, Sultanahmet District serves as the historic and tourist center of Istanbul. This old district is bordered on three sides by bodies of water--the Golden Horn, Bosphorus, and Sea of Marmara--which is why it's commonly called the "Walled City." While today the quarter is only part of this expansive and sprawling city, it used to make up almost the entirety of Constantinople. Enjoy a plethora of sights while walking through the concentrated center or take a Bosphorus cruise from the shores of this peninsula. With our online itinerary creator, Istanbul attractions like Sultanahmet District can be center stage of your vacation plans, and you can find out about other attractions like it, unlike it, near it, and miles away.
Create an itinerary including Sultanahmet District

Tours to Sultanahmet District

FROM $175 BOOK WITH VIATOR Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Tour
5.0
Duration: 7 hours
Tours from $175 »
FROM $85 BOOK WITH VIATOR Private Tour: Istanbul’s Ottoman Experience Including Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque
4.5
Duration: 4 hours
Tours from $85 »
FROM $119 BOOK WITH VIATOR Full Day Private Istanbul Tour
5.0
Duration: 7 hours
Tours from $119 »
FROM $175 BOOK WITH VIATOR Istanbul Combo: Classic City Tour and Bosphorus Cruise
5.0
Duration: 7 hours
Tours from $175 »
FROM $350 BOOK WITH VIATOR Private Istanbul Layover Tour
5.0
Duration: 7 hours
Tours from $350 »
FROM $36 BOOK WITH VIATOR Segway Istanbul Old City Tour - Morning
5.0
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Tours from $36 »
FROM $95 BOOK WITH VIATOR Istanbul Old City Walking Tour | Lunch Included | Full Day
Duration: 8 hours
Tours from $95 »
FROM $378 BOOK WITH VIATOR 4 Days Turkey Tour: Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus
Duration: 6 days
Tours from $378 »
FROM $319 BOOK WITH VIATOR Private Old City Tour Of Istanbul Full Day
Duration: 8 hours
Tours from $319 »
FROM $48 BOOK WITH VIATOR Small Group Tour of Istanbul Highlights Morning
Duration: 4 hours
Tours from $48 »
FROM $89 BOOK WITH VIATOR Topkapi Palace and Harem guided tour with skip-the-line tickets
Duration: 3 hours
Tours from $89 »
FROM $48 BOOK WITH VIATOR Istanbul Historical Sightseeing Tour
Duration: 4 hours
Tours from $48 »

Sultanahmet District reviews

Rate this attraction
TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
16,474 reviews
TripAdvisor
  • By 201abidi
    It is very near to The Sultan Ahmed Mosque and mosque has five main domes, It was first announced that the mosque would undertake a series of renovations back in 2016.  more »
  • By 954hollyb
    I stayed in the Old City as it’s known- very safe, clean, and I could easily walk to every single bazaar. Also had great morning runs around the neighborhood.  more »
See more on TripAdvisor »

Plan your trip to Istanbul

  • Get a personalized trip
    A complete day by day itinerary
    based on your preferences
  • Customize it
    Refine your trip. We'll find the
    best routes and schedules
  • Book it
    Choose from the best hotels
    and activities. Up to 50% off
  • Manage it
    Everything in one place.
    Everyone on the same page.

Popular things to do in Istanbul

Hagia Sophia Mosque ©
Architectural Building
Hagia Sophia Mosque
4.7
Duration: 1h 30 min
Buy tickets from $35 »
Topkapi Palace ©
History Museum
Topkapi Palace
4.4
Duration: 2h 30 min
Buy tickets from $42 »
Sultan Ahmed Mosque ©
Religious Site
Sultan Ahmed Mosque
4.5
Duration: 1 hour
Galata Tower ©
History Museum
Galata Tower
4.3
Duration: 1h 30 min

Historic Sites in Istanbul

Suleymaniye Cami ©
Religious Site
Suleymaniye Cami
4.9
Duration: 1 hour
Basilica Cistern ©
Ruin
Basilica Cistern
4.4
Duration: 1 hour
Historic Areas of Istanbul ©
World heritage site
Historic Areas of Istanbul
4.7
Duration: 3 hours
Little Hagia Sophia ©
Religious Site
Little Hagia Sophia
4.7
Duration: 30 minutes

Shopping in Istanbul

Kapali Carsi ©
Flea Market
Kapali Carsi
3.8
Duration: 1h 30 min
Mısır Çarşısı ©
Gift & Specialty Shop
Mısır Çarşısı
4.2
Duration: 2 hours
Adnan and Hasan ©
Gift & Specialty Shop
Adnan and Hasan
4.8
Duration: 1h 30 min
Ruby Ceramics & Gift Shop ©
Gift & Specialty Shop
Ruby Ceramics & Gift Shop
5.0
Duration: 3 hours

Museums in Istanbul

Chora Museum ©
Art Museum
Chora Museum
4.4
Duration: 2h 30 min
Istanbul Archaeological Museum ©
History Museum
Istanbul Archaeological Museum
4.3
Duration: 3 hours
Ural Ataman Classic Car Museum ©
Specialty Museum
Ural Ataman Classic Car Museum
4.8
Duration: 3 hours
Pera Museum ©
Specialty Museum
Pera Museum
4.6
Duration: 1 hour

Hidden gems in Istanbul

Ortakoy ©
Neighborhood
Ortakoy
4.4
Duration: 3 hours
Istanbul Modern ©
Art Museum
Istanbul Modern
4.3
Duration: 1h 30 min
Rahmi M. Koc Museum ©
Specialty Museum
Rahmi M. Koc Museum
4.8
Duration: 1h 30 min
Rumeli Fortress ©
History Museum
Rumeli Fortress
4.4
Duration: 1h 30 min

Nearby attractions in Istanbul

Dolmabahce Palace ©
Architectural Building
Dolmabahce Palace
4.5
Duration: 2 hours
Bosphorus Strait ©
Water Body
Bosphorus Strait
4.7
Duration: 3 hours
Taksim Square ©
Neighborhood
Taksim Square
2.3
Duration: 6 hours
Galata Koprusu ©
Bridge
Galata Koprusu
4.0
Duration: 1h 30 min

Featured attractions

44A Sanat Galerisi ©
Art Gallery
44A Sanat Galerisi
4.2
Duration: 3 hours
Robios Tours ©
Shopping Tour
Robios Tours
5.0
Duration: 4 hours
Before Travel ©
Multi-day Tour
Before Travel
4.9
Duration: 1 hour
Cookistan Istanbul Cooking Classes ©
Cooking Class
Cookistan Istanbul Cooking Classes
4.8
Duration: 6 hours

Don't Miss a Thing. See & Do More.

Trips to Sultanahmet District by other users

17 days in Turkey & Bosnia and Herzegovina BY A USER FROM TURKEY Goreme Izmir Bodrum City 10 days in Turkey BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES Istanbul Goreme 11 days in Turkey BY A USER FROM UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Istanbul Goreme Antalya 7 days in Istanbul BY A USER FROM CZECH REPUBLIC Mısır Çarşısı Ortakoy Sogukcesme Sokak 15 days in Turkey, Romania & Bulgaria BY A USER FROM INDIA Istanbul Goreme Bucharest 17 days in Turkey & Montenegro BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES Istanbul Podgorica Kotor