• Museum, Ancient Cities
  Hagia Sophia, Archeology Museum, St. Irene, Yerebatan Cistern, Chora Church, Rahmi Koç Industry Museum, Sadberk Hanim Museum.
• Palaces, Pavilions
  Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace
• Mosque and Churches
  Suleymaniye Mosque, Other Mosque and Churches 
• Bedestens
  Covered Bazaar, Egyptian Bazaar
• Towers
  Maiden Tower, Galata Tower
• Monuments and Squares
  Hippodrome

Museum, Ancient Cities

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Museum)
St. Sophia was, for nearly a thousand years, the largest enclosed space in the world, and still seen as one of the world’s most important architectural monuments. It is one of Turkey's most popular attractions, drawn by the sheer spectacle of its size, architecture, mosaics and art. 

For 916 years St. Sophia was a church, then a mosque for 481 years, and since 1935 has been a museum. Thought to have been constructed by Emperor Konstantinos I (324 – 337) it was burned down during a revolt. Rebuilt by Emperor Theodosium II, it was opened for worship in 415 and once again was burned to the ground, during the Nika revolts of 532.

Opening hours: 09:30 - 16:30, daily except Monday.

Archeology Museum
Istanbul Archeology Museums consist of three museums. Those are Archeology Museum, Old Eastern Works Museum and Enameled Kiosk Museum. Today, it still protects its outstanding place in the World's biggest museums with its works more than a million belonging to various cultures.

In the museum collections, there are rich and very important works of art belonging to various civilizations from the regions from Balkans to Africa, from Anatolia and Mesopotamia to Arab Peninsula and Afghanistan that were in the borders of the Ottoman Empire.

St. Irene (Aya Irini)
This church built during the reign of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century A.D. was the main church of the city and the seat of the bishopry Saint Sophia was built. The church was burnt with the surrounding buildings during Nika riots and was rebuilt by Justinian. During the reign of Sultan Ahmet III the arms inside were arrange and it was turned into a museum. The big cross decorating the apse of the Saint Irene church is one of the rare mosaic samples of the Iconoclastic Period.

Closed Mondays

Yerebatan Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici)
Nearby St. Sophia is the 6th century Byzantine underground Basilica cistern, with 335 massive Corinthian columns supporting the immense chamber's fine brick vaulting. This is one of several buried into the city's foundations, and the first to have been excavated and renovated. Thought to have been built in the 4th century by the emperor Constantine, then enlarged two centuries later, it was supplied with water from Belgrade Forest, and supplied it to the Great Palace and Topkapi Palace.

Opening hours: 09:00 - 17:00 closed Tuesdays.

Chora Church (Kariye Museum)
This is actually Kariye Mosque, once the 11th century church of St Saviour in Chora, is considered to be the most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul, after Aya Sofia. Whilst unremarkable in its architecture, the interior walls are decorated with superb 14th century mosaics. Illustrating scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary, these brilliantly colored paintings embody the vigour of Byzantine art. The restored wooden houses in the surrounding area are a good place for relaxation and refreshment.

Opening hours: 09:30 - 16:30, closed Wednesdays.

Rahmi Koç Industry Museum
The museum is set in an Ottoman-period building, an 18th century factory which produced anchors and their chains. It was recently converted, although has retained many of its original features, and restored by Rahmi Koc, one of Turkey's most powerful industrialists. It was essentially done so he could house his private collection of models, machines and vehicles which he had collected from all over Europe, and exhibits include original penny-farthing bicycles, a ship’s bridge, and an engine from the Kalender steam ferry.
The museum is trying to raise the Australian navy's first submarine sink of Gallipoli in World War I.

Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:00, closed Mondays.

Sadberk Hanim Museum
A private museum which originally displayed only Turkish decorative arts, was recently expanded to include a new collection of archeological exhibits. This is the oldest section, and includes sixth-millennium BC mother goddesses. In the ethnography section, there are maternity and circumcision beds, clothing and jewellery.

Opening hours: 10.00 – 18.00, closed Wednesdays.

Palaces, Pavilions

Topkapi Palace
One of the most astounding and popular places to visit in Istanbul is Topkapi Palace, the symbolic and political centre of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries.

It was built between 1466 and 1478, a couple of years before the death of Fatih. Unlike any European Palace, its architecture is predominantly Middle Eastern in character. The initial construction was Cinili Mansion, a Glass Palace finished in 1472, and the imposing main gate facing Sultanahmet, Bab-I Humayun, and the Palace ramparts, were completed in 1478. 

Opening hours: Daily 09:00 - 17:00, winter closed Tuesday.

Dolmabahçe Palace
Built in the reign of Sultan I Abdulmecit during the 19th century, this over-ornate palace lies along the European coast of the Bosphorus. 

The palace has a level of luxury not present in most other palaces, with walls and ceilings decorated with gold, and European art from the period. Top quality silk and wool carpets, southeast Asian hand-made artifacts, and crystal candlesticks adorn every room. The men's hamam (public bath) is adorned with alabaster marble, and the harem also contains the Sultan's bedrooms and the women and servants divisions. One of the highlights is the throne room, which stands at an amazing 36 meters high - almost twice the height of the rest of the rooms. The east wing is home to the Museum of Fine Arts.

Opening hours: Daily 09:00 - 16:00, except Monday and Thursday.

Mosque and Churches

Suleymaniye Mosque
Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent ordered a mosque appropriate to his title, to be built by architect Sinan. Completed in 1557, this is the finest architectural work of the ottoman art. Following the tradition, a full complex was also built around the mosque, including schools, market place, library, hospital, public kitchen and fountain.

Other Mosque and Churches
Sultanahmet Mosque, Rustem Pasa Mosque, Fatih Mosque, Eyup Mosque, Yeni Mosque, Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Mosque and Mihrimah Sultan Mosque are amongst the most famous places of interest.

There are many churches and monasteries active within the city, some of which have been turned into mosques. Studios Monastery Church, Sergios-Bakhos Church, Hagia Eirene Church, Pantakrator Monastery Church, Vefa Church (Hagios Theoderos), Nyrelaion Monastery Church, Eglise D'hagia Thekla Monastery, Eski Imaret Mosque (Pantepoptes Monastery Church), Kalenderhane Mosque (Akataleotos Monastery), Fenari Isa Mosque (Lios Monastery Church) and Fethiye Mosque (Pammakaristos Monastery Church) are the best-known ones.

Bedestens

Covered Bazaar (Kapali Carsi)
The oldest and biggest closed bazaar in the world, also known as the Grand Bazaar, has around 4000 shops and over 60 alleyway, covering a huge labyrinth in the city center. The original two structures, covered with a series of domes and remains of the 15th century walls, became a shopping area by covering the surrounding streets and adding to it over the following centuries. In Ottoman times this was the center of trading, and a vital area of town. The Sandal Bedesten was added during Suleyman's reign, to cope with the rising trade in fabrics, during the 16th century.

Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)
Also known as the Spice Market, this is Istanbul's second bazaar, constructed in the same complex as Yeni Camii (or New Mosque). There are six gates, which make it an attractive exterior. 

Although no longer the prime spice trading area of the city, there is still the aroma of ginger, cardamom, pepper and saffron from the piles of spices sold from many stalls. These days it is also popular for great varieties of lokum (Turkish delight), small souvenirs, flavored teas and local delicacies - including the dubious sounding "Turkish Viagra". Outside the market on the Galata Bridge end, is this is the best place to choose olives from huge barrels, and many varieties of beyaz penir (white cheese).

Towers

Maiden Tower (Kiz Kulesi)
Considered to be symbolic of Istanbul, this tiny tower was established on a small island at the entrance of the Bosphorus. In the past, it was used as a watchtower and a lighthouse, until its present purpose of a tourist attraction. Western sources describe this as Leander's Tower, who was drowned while swimming, to reach his lover Hera. Another story suggests that it was a tower where an emperor's daughter put her there for security, having dreamt that she would be bitten by a snake. 

Galata Tower
The tower was built by the Genoese in 1348, during their occupation of the area, primarily to prevent attacks. Originally known as the Tower of Christ, it stood above the fortification surrounding the Genoese city-state. There is a spiral rock staircase which ascends to the top viewing platform, which today offers visitors spectacular 360 degree panorama of the entire city. The tower was restored in 1967, and an elevator was installed to offer a less tiring alternative to the steep climb. There is also a restaurant on the top floor.

Monuments and Squares

Hippodrome
The ancient Hippodrome, scene of chariot races and the centre of Byzantine civic life, stands in the area that is now in front of the Blue Mosque, and now part of Sultanahmet. Of the ornaments which once decorated it, only three remain: The Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Remains of the curved end of the Hippodrome wall can be seen on the southwest side of the three.

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