MODERN SULTAN HOTEL

Hagia Sophia

The ancient Byzantine church, built by Justinian I between 532-537 AD after the Nika Riot. For about 1000 years this was the largest church in the world, and glory of the Byzantine Empire. It was later converted to a mosque with the addition of minarets in the mid-15th century. This remarkable building is the iconic structure of Istanbul. With its breathtaking domes that look like hanging in the air, monolithic marble columns and unparalleled mosaics, is one of the wonders of world’s architecture history.

Blue Mosque

This 17th century mosque, near Haghia Sophia, is famous for the beautiful blue tile work ornamenting its walls. Its surrounding six slim minarets distinguish it from other mosques which normally have two or four minarets. It was built by architect Mehmet Aga by the order of Sultan Ahmed I as a complex in seven years and became the most important mosque of the city, right in Sultanahmet Square.

Suleymaniye Mosque

The mosque does not compromise simplicity like other works of Mimar Sinan, but it is one of the temples that can turn simplicity into splendour. Although the ornaments and decorations were mostly used for inscriptions, the architectural geometry has managed to become an aesthetic wonder in itself. The mosque is illuminated by 128 windows and tens of oil lamps. The soot coming out of these oil lamps does not contaminate the walls. Also, a soot room was built above the entrance in order to be able to use it in ink making. Rising on the four corners of the inner courtyard of the mosque, named White Harem, built of white marble. It has four minarets; two with three balconies and two with two balconies. The four minarets in the mosque indicate that Kanuni became the fourth sultan after the conquest of Istanbul. Ten balconies on the minarets symbolize his being the tenth sultan in Ottoman history. In addition, in the middle of the inner courtyard.

Topkapi Palace

Open daily between 09:00-17:00 ecxept Tuesdays

The Topkapi Palace which has been the center of the state administration for nearly four centuries of the Ottoman Empire. Located on the historical Istanbul peninsula between the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the palace is one of the iconic structures of Istanbul. After the founding of the Republic of Turkey, Topkapi Palace was converted into a museum on April 3, 1924.

Gulhane Park

Gulhane Park forms the outer garden of Topkapı Palace during the Ottoman period, when the Tanzimat reforms have been announced for the first time here, was the place of the first concrete step towards democratization in Turkey's history.

The 16 hectare area was opened to the public in 1912. Two tree-lined paths running through the park, along the sides there are places to sit and rest. There is also a children's playground in the park. The poet-musician Aşık Veysel status is located just to the right of the hill, which is sloping down and curved around the Bosphorus, and the Goths Column (Turkish: Gotların Sütunu) is located on the top of the hill. It is a Roman ruin.

The Basilica Cistern

Open daily between 09:00-19:00

One of the magnificent historical constructions of Istanbul is the Basilica Cistern. It was founded by Justinian I, a Byzantine Empire (527-565). This cistern has fine brick vaulting supported by 336 Corinthian columns. It is the largest covered cistern in Istanbul, dating back to the Roman times. Its dimensions are 140 by 70 meters, and it is capable of holding 80.000 cubic meters of water.

The Grand Bazaar

Open daily between 09:00-19:00 except Sundays

The Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapaliçarsi, meaning Covered Bazaar) in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by the type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, gold jewelry and the like. The bazaar contains two bedestens (domed masonry structures built for storage and safe keeping), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake.

Spice Baazar

There are several documents suggesting the name of the bazaar was first "New Bazaar". However, due to the fact that many spices were imported via Egypt in the Ottoman period, the name "Mısır Çarşısı" was favored by the public. The word "Mısır" has a double meaning in Turkish: "Egypt" and "maize". This is why sometimes the name is wrongly translated as "Corn Bazaar". The bazaar was (and still is) the center for spice trade in Istanbul. The building itself is part of the külliye of Yeni Mosque, and rents from the shops within was intended to help pay for the upkeep of the mosque. The structure was designed by the chief court architect Koca Kasım Ağa, but completed by architect Mustafa in 1660.

Mosaics Museum

Open daily between 09:00-16:30 except Mondays

This Museum was built to preserve "in-situ" the exceptionally fine mosaic pavements from the 5th and 6th centuries which were in the Great Palace of the Byzantine Emperor.

Turkish & Islamic Art Museum

Open daily between 09:30-17:00 except Mondays

Built in 1524 by Ibrahim Pasa, grand Vizier of Suleyman the Magnificient, it was the grandest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire. It is now used as a museum for many beautiful Turkish and Persian miniatures, Seljuk tiles, Korans and antique carpets.

St.Irene Museum

St.Irene was the first church in Istanbul built by Constantine the Great in the 4th and rebuilt by Justinian. It is reputedly the site of a pre-Christian temple.

Dolmabahce Palace

Open daily between 09:00-16:00 except Mondays and Thursdays

The Dolmabahçe Palace was a home to six sultans from 1856, when it was first inhabited, up until the abolition of the Caliphate in 1924: The last royal to live here was Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi. A law that went into effect on March 3, 1924 transferred the ownership of the palace to the national heritage of the new Turkish Republic. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, used the palace as a presidential residence during the summers and enacted some of his most important works here. Atatürk spent the last days of his medical treatment in this palace, where he died on November 10, 1938.

Beyoglu And Istiklal Street

Beyoglu near Taksim Square is a part of the heart of Istanbul, it's a great way to get way from the old city and enjoy modern Istanbul as the locals do. There is so much going on in the approximately 2,5 kilometers long street between the Tunnel funicular stop near Galata Tower and Taksim Square that you can spend a whole day here. You can find a brief of Istanbul in every corner, there is a hidden story of the city everywhere. Religions, languages and ethnic groups live brotherly around these premises, it's the center of art and culture, many national, international and local activities reach art lovers through the neighborhood.Beyoglu is a residential area consisting of 45 districts and about 225,000 residents, but the daily population reaches up to a million being the center of commerce, entertainment and culture. It's one of the most important tourist points and one of the most famous avenues of the city, the distinguished brands of business and entertainment world serves in this area as well. Many exquisite boutiques, music and bookstores, libraries, art galleries, cinemas, theaters, cafes, bars, restaurants, pubs, coffee houses, patisseries, chocolateries, and technological centers are lined on Istiklal Street.Beyoglu has a large number of foreigners of all nationalities living in this neighborhood. The area is also home to significant Turkish Christian and Jewish communities, there are several churches and synagogues.

Taksim Square

Taksim Square (Turkish: Taksim Meydanı) situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network. Taksim Square is also the location of the Monument of the Republic (Turkish: Cumhuriyet Anıtı) which was crafted by the famous Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica and inaugurated in 1928. The monument commemorates the formation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, following the Turkish War of Independence.

Galata Tower

The tower was built using a masonry rubble stone mesh system. The outer facade is stone mesh. The 16-line panegyric in the inscription at the entrance is dedicated to Mahmut II in connection with the restoration carried out during the reign of Mahmut II. The round-arched window above the door was a haven for soldiers. It is a nine-story building after a high ground floor.

Today, it is observed that part of the building up to the third floor has a Genoese character, while the rest of the floors have an Ottoman character. Today the building is used for social and cultural events. It's constructively solid. The Galata Tower was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. It was built in the years 507-508 A.D. The Genoese rebuilt the current tower in 1348-49. The tower was erected between 1445-46. It was damaged by an earthquake in the 1500s and was renovated by the architect Murad bin Hayreddin.

Maiden's Tower

One of the indispensable views of the Bosphorus is undoubtedly the Maiden's Tower. This tower, built on a tiny island off Salacak, contains many legends. Dating back to 24 B.C, the Maiden's Tower has been used as a defence castle, exile station, prison, quarantine room, radio station, tax point and lighthouse throughout its long history. The tower, which is the symbol of Üsküdar, was restored by a private company in 2000 and was opened as a cafe and restaurant during the day.

Princes Island

The Princes' Islands are composed of nine islands off the Asian coast of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara. There are regular passenger ferries and fast passenger ferries to the four of the islands from different piers of the city; from Sirkeci, from Kabatas, and from Bostanci districts. Motor vehicles are not permitted on the islands except the ones belonging to local municipality for public works, so people walk or rent a bicycle or horsedrawn carriage, even a donkey. These are nice little islands where local people have their summer homes or go there for small beaches and for picnicking, or just to wonder around at the weekends.