Historical peninsula, Walled City or as tourists know Sultanahmet, essentially IstanbulIt is the region where it was founded and the number one stopover point for tourists.
understand
Historical peninsula, EminonuIt is an informal name given to most of , it does not have a separate identity. Eminonu in 2008 ConquerorIt was connected to and abolished.
Transport
It is possible for people living in the suburbs of Istanbul to reach here by the T1 Bağcılar-Kabataş tram. Visitors coming from outside of Istanbul are also recommended to use the tram for safer and cheaper transportation. Visitors coming from the Great Istanbul Bus Station are advised to take the M1 Yemikapı-Kirazlı-Atatürk Airport metro and then get off in Aksaray and transfer to the T1 line. Apart from that, especially if you are coming from the Anatolian side, after reaching Eminönü by ship, you can reach the Historic Peninsula on foot or by taking the T1. Since Marmaray's Sirkeci station is very close to this area, it is a public transportation vehicle you can use.
see travel
- Hagia Sophia: The building, which was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinianus as a cathedral, was used as a Christian place of worship until the conquest of Istanbul. It served as a mosque from 1453 to 1935. After this year, it was opened to the public as a museum. In 2020, it was converted into a mosque. In other words, you can visit it free of charge, provided that you wait in line outside of prayer times.
- Topkapi Palace: The entrance to this museum, where you will encounter many objects from the rise of the Ottoman Empire, is 100 TL. There is an additional charge for the harem. This fee is determined as 70 TL and does not exceed the Müzekart.
- Hagia Irene: The building, located behind Hagia Sophia, was built during the Byzantine period and was not converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period. You can enter for 60 TL.
- Atmeydanı: With your back to Hagia Sophia, you can examine the German Fountain, Obelisk, Knitted Obelisk and Serpentine Column, respectively. It is completely free.
- Blue Mosque: You can enter this mosque free of charge after visiting the historical monuments in the open air museum in Sultanahmet Square, also known as the Atmeydanı. However, the staff will warn you to adopt an Islamic style of dress. Women are required to cover their heads, while men are required to cover their navel and knees.
- Basilica Cistern: It served as a warehouse supplying water to the city during the Byzantine period. The entrance fee for the museum, which does not pass the Müzekart because it is affiliated with the IMM, is determined as 30 TL.
- Şerefiye Cistern: You will not pay to see the cistern, which is smaller than the Yerebatan Cistern.
- Çemberlitaş: When you get on the T1 and get off at the stop with the same name, you can check out Çemberlitaş.
- Archeology Museum: The museum, which does not end with sightseeing, is one of the places you should not leave without visiting when you come to the Historic Peninsula. The entrance fee to the museum, where you will witness not only Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman but also human history, is 50 TL. Museum card passes.
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: You can see the items used by Islamic scholars during the Middle Ages, also known as the Islamic Renaissance, and products made by inventors such as Cezeri. Entry is 50 TL. Museum card passes.
- Great Palace Mosaics Museum: If you want to see Byzantine art, do not miss the museum. There is a fee of 30 TL.
- Million: It is the cornerstone used to measure the distance of cities from Constantinople in the Roman period. You will not pay to see.
- Gulhane Park: While there was no Central Park in New York, there was Gulhane in Istanbul. You can also see the Goths Column in the peaceful park. When you enter through the door next to the Archaeological Museum, you will exit from Sarayburnu, the first settlement in Istanbul, or Lygos/Byzas. You can also examine the first Atatürk statue made here. Free.
- TCDD Museum: One of the priorities of the staff who founded the Republic is railroading. In this museum, you will see both the history of railways in Turkey and the founding ideals. The museum at Sirkeci Station is free of charge.
- Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Museum: You can see the belongings of Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, one of the masters of Turkish literature whose works have been translated into many languages, in the museum located at the entrance of Gühane Park.
- Little Hagia Sophia: This building, built a few years before the current Hagia Sophia, maintains its quietness and calmness by being out of the way. Like every mosque, this one is free.
do
When you reach the Historic Peninsula by any means, it is recommended to walk. There is so much to see and do here that you can't even fit it all in one day. So you don't need to drive to see them all.
Eat/Drink
There are many restaurants in the Historic Peninsula, mostly Turkish cuisine. Recently, fast-footers, which are American Culture brands, are also in demand. However, instead of queuing for hamburgers you can eat anywhere, you can support the local shopkeepers.