Istanbul sightseeing routes: ready-made plans for the Historic Peninsula
The routes are designed for families staying in Sultanahmet who want to spend the day mostly on foot. Walking times between stops are approximate, calculated from the locations on the map, and every stop has a link that opens directions in Google Maps. Feel free to combine, shorten or split the routes over several days.
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Historic Peninsula itinerary (3 days)
Hagia Sophia → Basilica Cistern → Blue Mosque → Sultanahmet Square → Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts …
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Imperial mosques route
Blue Mosque → Nuruosmaniye Mosque → Bayezid Mosque → Süleymaniye Mosque → New Mosque …
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Mimar Sinan route
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque → Hürrem Sultan Hamam → Çemberlitaş Hamam → Süleymaniye Mosque → Süleymaniye Hamam …
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Byzantine Istanbul route
Hagia Irene → Hagia Sophia → Basilica Cistern → Binbirdirek Cistern → Column of Constantine …
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Free things to see in the Historic Peninsula
Blue Mosque → Sultanahmet Square → Fountain of Ahmed III → Soğukçeşme Street → Gülhane Park …
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Things to do in the Historic Peninsula in the evening
Süleymaniye Mosque → Rüstem Pasha Mosque → Galata Bridge → Hodjapasha → Sultanahmet Square …
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Viewpoints of the Historic Peninsula
Sultanahmet Square → Topkapı Palace → Gülhane Park → Seraglio Point → Galata Bridge …
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Places to visit with the Müzekart
Hagia Irene → Topkapı Palace → Archaeology Museums → Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts → Mosaic Museum …
Adapting the routes to your trip
Mosques close to visitors during prayer times, so routes need some flexibility around them; our sightseeing plan around prayer times helps with this. With children, add a park break to every day (things to do with kids), and on rainy days focus on indoor sights (rainy day plan). For a short stopover, see our guide to an Istanbul layover.
Frequently asked questions
Which route should a first-time visitor to Istanbul choose?
The Historic Peninsula itinerary is best for first-time visitors: in three days it covers the main sights such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapı, the Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye and Eminönü.
Can the routes be done on foot?
Most of the routes can be walked. For distant stops (such as Kariye, Edirnekapı or Yedikule) the route page suggests a taxi or public transport.