City Guide » Turkey » Istanbul » Attractions » Sultanahmet area of Istanbul

Sultanahmet area of Istanbul

The Sultanahmet district of Istanbul is the main tourist area and also known as the old part of the city. As soon as you step out of your hotel you will realise why its called the old city.

For the best views of Istanbul head to your hotel terrace or go to Sultanahmet's very own bar street which is just behing the Blue mosque as if you were heading for the sea. All of the hostels along this street offer terrace bars that are open to non residents and have the most wonderful views over to the Asian side of Istanbul and also to the Princes Islands

No trip to Istanbul can be complete without a visit inside the Blue Mosque. It is one of only two mosques in Turkey that has six minarets. Every evening as the sun sets the mosque is lit up with hundreds of lights and is very pretty. During the summer months there are free light shows for visitors. These are held in different languages on different nights.

Next to Sultanahmet Mosque is the Hippodrome and where you will be able to see the Obelisk of Thutmose III. During the Byzantine era, the Hippodrome was the focal point of Constantinople’s social life and thousands of people would attend the area to watch the chariot races.

Unfortunately for us today, the area on which the races took place has been paved over and never excavated, although the original tracks remain under the pavements untouched.