Istanbul

The Blue Mosque, an Istanbul landmark. Photo © Helen Betts.

Istanbul (previously known as Constantinople and Byzantium) is the largest city in Turkey, with a population of almost 14 million people.

Turkey is a place to which the common phrase "East meets West" really applies, and that's especially true of Istanbul, where the continents of Europe and Asia come together, separated only by the Bosporus. On the vibrant streets of Istanbul, miniskirts and trendy boots mingle with head scarves and prayer beads.

Istanbul has many attractions for visitors, especially those interested in history and religion. The ancient city is a layering of civilization on civilization, empire on empire. As a major religious center (it has been the heart of the Greek Orthodox Church as well as the Islamic faith for centuries), Istanbul is the custodian of one of the world's most important cultural heritages and home to some of the world's most opulent displays of art and wealth, most of which were built in the name of faith.

City Guide & Travel Resources

	Istanbul Maps Our high-resolution, interactive aerial map of Istanbul with photos and links. Plus: hand-picked links to the best city maps of Istanbul elsewhere online and in print.
	Istanbul Sightseeing Tours & Excursions Before you leave home, book a sightseeing tour, airport transfer or a day trip in your own currency.
	Istanbul Hostels Search and book budget lodgings in Istanbul.
	Istanbul Hotels Book the Istanbul hotel of your choice at Expedia.
	Istanbul Hotel Reviews Read unbiased reviews and compare prices on hotels in Istanbul.
	Istanbul Travel Forum Get travel advice and insider tips on Istanbul from fellow travelers.
	Istanbul Car Rentals Rent a car in Istanbul and explore Turkey at your own pace.
	Istanbul Flight Search Compare prices and availability of flights to Istanbul.

Sacred Sites & Religious Places

	Archaeological Museum of Istanbul This huge museum has a world-class collection of Greek and Roman artifacts, including finds from Istanbul, Ephesus and Troy.
	Beyazit Mosque Located by Istanbul's university, this is one of the oldest mosques in the city. It was built in 1506 using materials from Theodosius's Forum, on top of which it was constructed.
	Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) The cascading domes and six slender minarets of the Blue Mosque dominate the skyline of Istanbul. This 17th-century mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet I to rival the Hagia Sophia.
	Church of the Holy Apostles (site) No longer standing, this great church was built by Constantine and rebuilt by Justinian. It was the burial place of emperors as well as Andrew, Luke, Timothy, John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian.
	Eyüp Sultan Mosque/Mausoleum This is the holiest site in Istanbul and one of the most sacred places in the Islamic world. Erected by Mehmet the Conqueror, it honors the tomb of Eyüp Sultan, the standard bearer for the Prophet.
	Fatih Mosque Originally built in 1470, this mosque was entirely rebuilt in 1766 after an earthquake. It shelters the tomb of Fatih Mehmet the Conqueror.
	Fethiye Camii (Theotokos Church) Originally a Byzantine church, Fethiye was built in 1292 and served as the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarchate from 1456 to 1528. Five years later, it was converted into a mosque.
	Hagia Eirene The "Basilica of Holy Peace" dates from the 6th century and was tranformed into the arsenal of the Topkapi Palace in the 1460s. Today, its acoustics make it popular for concerts.

	Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) This world-famous great building was originally a Byzantine church built by Justinian. It later became a mosque and is now a museum.
	Kariye (St. Savior in Chora) This 11th-century church (later a mosque, now a museum) contains one of the finest preserved galleries of Byzantine mosaics anywhere.
	Küçük Ayasofya (Sergius and Bacchus) Begun by Justinian in the first year of his reign (527), this was an important stage in the process of Byzantine building. It is now a mosque.
	Mosaic Museum A museum centered around the mosaic floor of Emperor Constantine's Great Palace, discovered in 1933. The mosaic features scenes of hunting and personifications of the four seasons.

	Orthodox Patriarchate A rather humble exterior in Fener shelters the worldwide headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Church. It includes the Patriarchal Cathedral Church of St. George (Aya Yorgi).
	Süleymaniye Camii Commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and constructed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, this beautiful mosque patterned after the Hagia Sophia was finished in 1557.
	Yeni Camii The New Mosque is not so new - it was built in the 1600s. Designed by the architect Da'ud Aga, a pupil of Sinan, Yeni Camii has become a defining feature of Istanbul's skyline.
	Zeyrek (Pantocrator) The Church of the Pantocrator, now a mosque named Zeyrek Camii, is a former monastery church and one of the most important landmarks of the Byzantine period. Today it is in a state of neglect.