Free things to see in the Historic Peninsula: a two-day free route
Route summary
| Duration | 2 days |
|---|---|
| Best for | Families on a careful budget |
| Number of stops | 16 |
| Total walking (approx.) | 7 km |
Which places are free?
- Mosques: All mosques in the Historic Peninsula are free. At Hagia Sophia, foreign visitors use the paid gallery entrance; Turkish citizens and worshippers enter free.
- Squares and parks: Sultanahmet Square, Gülhane Park, Seraglio Point, Beyazıt Square, the seaside promenade.
- Bazaars: the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, the Arasta and the Book Bazaar.
- Monuments: the Column of Constantine, the Valens Aqueduct, the Fountain of Ahmed III, the Tomb of Mahmud II, Soğukçeşme Street, the land walls.
- Free museums: the Tanpınar Literature Museum Library, the Rezan Has Museum and the Railway Museum at Sirkeci Station (usually free).
Day 1: Sultanahmet, Gülhane and Eminönü
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About 3 min walk to the next stop (220 m) Directions
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About 10 min walk to the next stop (710 m) Directions
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About 2 min walk to the next stop (110 m) Directions
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About 7 min walk to the next stop (470 m) Directions
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About 8 min walk to the next stop (560 m) Directions
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About 10 min walk to the next stop (670 m) Directions
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About 8 min walk to the next stop (590 m) Directions
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Day 2: Divanyolu, the Grand Bazaar and Süleymaniye
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About 12 min walk to the next stop (850 m) Directions
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About 2 min walk to the next stop (150 m) Directions
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About 8 min walk to the next stop (560 m) Directions
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About 3 min walk to the next stop (220 m) Directions
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About 1 min walk to the next stop (90 m) Directions
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About 12 min walk to the next stop (860 m) Directions
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About 13 min walk to the next stop (910 m) Directions
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Things that may still cost money on the free route
The route needs no tickets, but an Istanbulkart for transport, donation boxes in mosques and shopping in the bazaars are optional costs. If you want to prioritise among the paid sights, the ones we recommend most are Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern and the Archaeology Museums. For money, currency exchange and tipping, see our money guide.
Our family hotels closest to the start of the route
Walking times are approximate and measured from the hotel door; where the hotel gives its own time, we show that.
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Green Life Apart Hotel
Blue Mosque: 7 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
Family-run apartments with kitchenettes and a sea-view roof terrace in Küçük Ayasofya
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Sareban Hotel
Blue Mosque: 7 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
An alcohol-free family hotel in Küçük Ayasofya, looking out to the Marmara
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Seven Roses Apart Hotel
Blue Mosque: 7 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
Apartments with kitchens in Küçük Ayasofya, with roomy options for larger families
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Emirhan Inn Hotel
Blue Mosque: 10 min walk (time given by the hotel) Walking route
A budget-friendly hotel with free breakfast in Küçük Ayasofya
Frequently asked questions
Is the Blue Mosque free?
Yes. The Blue Mosque and all other mosques in the Historic Peninsula can be visited free; visitors are simply not admitted during prayer times.
Is entry to Hagia Sophia free?
It is free for Turkish citizens and those who want to pray. Since 2024 foreign visitors buy a paid ticket and tour the upper galleries through a separate entrance.