Sultanahmet: the most complete information about the Istanbul area

Sultanahmet district (Istanbul) is one of the busiest parts of the city, located in the center of the metropolis in Fatih district. In the south, the quarter is washed by the waters of the Sea of ​​Marmara, in the east by the Bosphorus Strait, and in the north it is bounded by the Golden Horn Bay. Sultanahmet is the main historical district of Istanbul and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is here that a large number of famous sights of the city are concentrated and it is from here that many travelers begin acquaintance with the metropolis.

The district got its name thanks to the mosque of the same name, which is best known as the Blue Mosque. The Imperial palaces of the Byzantine rulers once ruined here, destroyed with the arrival of the Ottomans on the lands of Constantinople. But part of the historical monuments of Byzantium managed to be preserved, and the conquerors themselves erected many interesting structures. And among them you can find not only religious buildings, but also palaces, parks and museums. Today, Sultanahmet has become the hallmark of Istanbul and, in addition to noteworthy objects, offers a developed infrastructure, using which tourists will be able to organize rest at the highest level.

What to watch

The Sultanahmet district in Istanbul managed to maintain its authenticity and enchanting atmosphere, capable of plunging into a completely different dimension. Clean and neat streets, old houses, green spaces and fountains, miniature cafes and enticing smells of restaurants, a tram running along the main road - all this is the invariable surroundings of the historic quarter. But a real adventure awaits you on Sultanahmet Square: after all, it is from here that the long and fascinating road to the famous sights of the metropolis begins.

Most of Sultanahmet Square is located on the territory of the ancient Hippodrome, which was built at the beginning of the 3rd century within the walls of the city of Byzantium - the predecessor of Constantinople. In the era of the Byzantine Empire, this place served as a center for horse races, political and public meetings. At that time, the Hippodrome was adjacent to the Emperor’s Grand Palace, but with the transfer of the ruling family to the outskirts of the city, it gradually began to lose its significance and finally fell into decay in the 13th century.

With the capture of Constantinople by the Ottoman forces and the construction of a mosque, the Sultanahmet Hippodrome was given the name "Horse Square" and began to be used for religious celebrations and festivities. Today, a neat square is equipped here, and almost nothing remained of the former marble masonry and columns. Horse racetracks are buried under a five-meter layer of earth, and only small fragments remind of the ancient stands. The only monument that managed to be well preserved to this day was the Obelisk of Theodosius.

The obelisk was erected in the 15th century BC. e. by order of Pharaoh Thutmose III, and in the 4th century AD he was transported to the territory of modern Istanbul and installed at the Hippodrome. The order to transport the monument was given by Emperor Theodosius I, so the obelisk was renamed in his honor. Many scientists came to the conclusion that during transportation the monolith was damaged or, due to its large dimensions, was intentionally shortened: for example, its previous length from 32 m was reduced to 19 m.

The Egyptian hieroglyphs depicting the grandiose battles and victories of Thutmose III are depicted on the monument itself. The obelisk was erected on a marble pedestal of the Byzantine period, on the bas-reliefs of which an image of Theodosius I and members of his family looms. Thus, the total height of the monolith together with the pedestal exceeds 25 m. Today, Theodosius Obelisk is the oldest monument in Istanbul.

The Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul, after which the square itself was named, is most often called Blue. The temple acquired this name because of its interior decoration: in fact, its interior is dominated by izkino tiles made in white and blue tones. It is noteworthy that Turkish architects used the building of the Hagia Sophia as a model for the construction of a mosque, but at the same time added their own details. Therefore, today the Blue Mosque has become a symbol of the interweaving of Ottoman and Byzantine architecture and, in general, is considered an outstanding example of Islamic and world architecture. Read more about the mosque here.

Aya Sofya is one of the most valuable monuments of the Sultanahmet district, the history of which dates back 1,500 years. This is one of the most unique places in the world where cultures of completely different religions - Christian and Islamic - have united. The once operating Byzantine church, with the arrival of the Turkish invaders in Constantinople, was rebuilt as a mosque, and today the building appears before us as a historical museum. You can find more information about the cathedral in our separate article.

The famous residence of the Turkish Sultans dates back more than 5 centuries, but its main heyday fell on the rule of Suleiman I the Magnificent. This is a huge historical complex, comprising 4 courtyards, each of which has its own attractions, including churches and mosques. No wonder Topkapi Palace is considered one of the largest museums in the world and is often referred to as the hotel city of Istanbul. We devoted a detailed article to this historical monument, which can be read here.

Another unique facility in the Sultanahmet Square area in Istanbul is the Basilica Cistern. Built more than 1500 years ago, the underground structure has long served as the main reservoir of Constantinople. Inside the room, 336 ancient columns have been preserved, and the column with the inverted head of Medusa is of most interest here. Read more about the monument here.

The oldest park in Istanbul, whose history is inextricably linked with the Topkapi Palace, has become popular among tourists due to the thousands of plantings of roses and tulips that open with the onset of the thaw. On the territory of the object there are two museums, an old ready column, as well as an observation deck with views of the Bosphorus. You will find detailed information about the park in a separate article.

This landmark in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul will plunge you into the history of ancient civilizations that once existed on the territory of modern Turkey. Here you can see old tombs, antique sculptures of the ancient Roman and ancient Greek periods, as well as admire the unique collection of pottery and tiles. The museum is described in detail in another article.

Where to settle

Being the most popular tourist area of ​​Istanbul, Sultanahmet is ready to offer a lot of accommodation options. Among the hotels you can find expensive hotels with a luxurious interior and high-quality service, as well as budgetary institutions with a minimum set of necessary services. It is best to choose housing near the central streets of the quarter, where all the key attractions of the city are located. It is important that almost all accommodation options are located near the main air harbor of Istanbul, and we will look at how to get from Ataturk Airport to Sultanahmet a bit later.

Among budget hotels, 3 star hotels are mainly represented. The average cost of living for a night for two in them is 200-350 TL. But for renting a room in an elite hotel you will have to pay several times more. In five-star hotels, the prices for a double room per night vary within 1000 TL.

A detailed selection of the best hotels in the Sultanahmet district can be found on this page.Find out RATES or book any accommodation using this form

Where to eat

Not a single tourist in Istanbul will have to starve for sure: after all, here you can find an institution for every taste and budget. The streets of the district are literally strewn with countless cafes, eateries, restaurants and canteens. Some of them offer national street food and home cooking at affordable prices, while others indulge in delicious European dishes and high-quality service. It is noteworthy that many restaurants are located on terraces, which offer picturesque panoramas of the sea and the sights of the city.

Detailed information about the best places in Istanbul, with a description and addresses, can be found in our separate article.

How to get from Ataturk Airport

If you are interested in the question of how to get from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet, then the information below will be useful to you. First of all, it is important to know that there are two air harbors in the metropolis. One of them is named after Sabiha Gokcen and is located in the Asian part of the city. The other is named after Ataturk and is located in the European region of Istanbul. Since most international flights are made to Ataturk Airport, we decided to dwell on it in more detail. There are only three options to get to the area: by taxi, metro and bus.

Near the airport, at least hundreds of drivers are waiting for their passengers, so you should not have problems finding a taxi. But, of course, this option of the trip will be more expensive than public transport. It is worth considering that the distance from the airport to the historical district is about 20 km. Taxi drivers in Istanbul work strictly on the counter. In 2018, the price for boarding passengers is 4 TL, and then for each kilometer you pay 2.5 TL. Thus, for the trip from the airport to Sultanahmet you will pay an average of 54 TL. If you get stuck in traffic on the way, the price tag may increase slightly.

Important! Some unscrupulous taxi drivers try to fool tourists by looping in roundabout ways and winding kilometers on the counter. Others call a fixed price, do not reset the counter, or require you to pay for each passenger. All these are illegal frauds, so be careful and do not fall for the tricks of such drivers.

You can get from Ataturk to Sultanahmet both by metro and by bus. In the first case, upon arrival at the airport you need to find the subway, which is conveniently located on the underground floor of the international terminal. Finding it is quite simple, following the signs for "Metro". Once in the subway, find the Havalimani station, having previously bought a token in a special device or travel card in the appropriate kiosk. You need to drive 6 stops on the M1 line and land at the Zeytinburnu station.

As you exit the subway, head east on Seyit Nizam. You will have to go a little more than 1 km to the tram station of the line T 1 Kabataş - Bağcılar. Your final action will be the landing of the tram at the Sultanahmet stop, 300 meters from which the desired area is located.

You can learn how to use the metro in Istanbul and all the nuances of moving around the city from this article.

To get from Ataturk to Sultanahmet, as well as back, you can use HAVABÜS buses running every half hour from the airport to the Yenikapi district from 04:00 to 01:00. Travel time is approximately 40 minutes, and the cost of the trip is 14 TL. You need to land at the Yenikapi Sahil stop, then you need to walk about 1.5 km east along Kennedy Street, and then turn north to Sultanahmet Square along Aksakal Street. Exactly the same way can be done by driving to Yenikapi Sahil by city bus following route YH-1. The fare in this case will be significantly lower and will be no more than 4 TL.

Prices on the page are for November 2018.
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Output

Before you go on vacation to the Sultanahmet district, Istanbul, it is important to study all the necessary information about the quarter and its infrastructure. This will help to organize a truly worthy vacation and get an exclusively positive experience. And our current articles about the metropolis will help you with this.

Watch the video: The Easiest and Cheapest way to get from Taksim to Sultanahmet - Public Transportation in Istanbul (May 2024).