Reid & Robie

If the earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.

– Napoleon Bonaparte

Many visitors schedule a few days to bag the Big Four in Istanbul. A tour of Topkapi Palace, visits to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia followed by a quick shopping spree at the Grand Bazaar is all they really manage. But a day or two visiting the top sites barely scratches the surface in Europe’s largest city where history spans nearly three millennia.

During our three months in Istanbul, Reid & Robie sought out unfamiliar places. With time to discover ancient Constantinople, take in modern Taksim and wander around Asian Kadikӧy, we curated this list of overlooked places that are just as impressive as the big names.

Grouped together by neighborhood with directions to get around using public transportation, these easy day trips let you explore beyond Istanbul’s Big Four.

It starts with an Istanbulkart

Our recommendations start with the Istanbulkart. This transit pass provides access to trains, metros, buses, ferries, trams and funiculars across the sprawling metropolis. While it’s possible to tap and go using a credit card every time you board, anyone staying more than a few days will save in the long run and eliminate the surcharge for paying to ride without an Istanbulkart.

Available on arrival at kiosks in Istanbul International (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen International (SAW) airports, Istanbulkarts can also be found at most major transit stops. The little red card costs 165 lira (about $3.50) but need funds added before the first use. Topping up the card is simple. Just place it in the reader and add a pre-set amount (usually 200 lira) or any quantity up to 999 lira (about $21).

For most of trips suggested in the itineraries below, the cost for a single one-way fare is between 46-65 Turkish lira, about $0.99-1.39 at the time of writing.

Go deeper around Sultanahmet Square

Beyond the Big Four, there’s still plenty to see in Sultanahmet. For travelers limited by time or uncomfortable navigating trams and ferries, here’s everything you need to dive deeper into the historic heart of Istanbul.

Across from the Blue Mosque is the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum, a museum that traces the history of the region from the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates to the Ottoman Empire. Inside is a collection of antique carpets and rare Islamic works including metal, ceramics, illustrated Qur’ans and relics of the Prophet Muhammad. Plus, since the museum is housed inside a palace once owned by the grand vizier to Süleyman the Magnificent, it offers a rare chance to see an Ottoman palace – one with stunning views overlooking Sultanahmet Square and Blue Mosque.

A short stroll from the museum is the cathedral-esque Basilica Cistern. This immense, underground water system constructed in the 6^th century features 336 beautiful Ionian and Corinthian columns salvaged from ruins. Built to store water for the imperial residence, the cistern holds 80,000 cubic meters (about 21 million gallons) of water creating an artificial freshwater lake the size of two football fields. While walking along raised platforms don’t forget to look for the upside-down Medusa heads whose presence remains a mystery. 

A short walk from the cistern is the Great Palace Mosaic Museum. Built by Emperor Constantine in the 4^th century, the Great Palace served as the ceremonial and administrative heart of the Byzantine Empire for nearly 900 years. More than a single building, the complex was a sprawling, city within a city consisting of ceremonial halls, residential quarters, churches and lush gardens. Before the Ottoman conquest in 1453, the Great Palace was abandoned and largely in ruins. Today all that remains are a series of 5^th and 6^th-century mosaic floors once part of a massive, paved peristyle courtyard.

Seen from elevated platforms, the Great Palace Mosaic Museum displays scenes of daily life made from millions of limestone, terracotta and glass cubes. Unfortunately, the museum is currently closed for restoration. But the displays were so stunning we still recall a visit 12 years earlier and have no qualms recommending a stop as soon as the place reopens.

For those looking to dive into the city’s long history, we suggest the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Located on the grounds of Topkapi Palace, the artifacts include the famous “Alexander Sarcophagus.” Shaped like a classic Greek temple, it’s the final resting place of Abdalonymus, a Phoenician King appointed by Alexander the Great. Along the sides are intricate, high-relief carvings depicting Alexander’s Macedonian forces in dramatic battle scenes alongside Persian fighters.

Finally, if a little greenery is what you crave after so much art and history, you’ll find lots of it and plenty of benches to rest tired feet in Gülhane Park. Plus, it’s only a short stroll downhill from the Archaeological Museum.

Directions to follow this itinerary from Sultanahmet Square

Start in Sultanahmet Square. After admiring the Blue Mosque and Obelisk of Theodosius, the entrance to the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art will be directly behind you.

From the museum, the Basilica Cistern is 450 meters (less than 500 yards) away. Turn left and stroll past the German Fountain toward Hagia Sophia. Where the road curves, cross the street and the cistern will be on your left. Afterwards, walk diagonally through Sultan Ahmet Park keeping the Hagia Sophia on the left and the Blue Mosque to your right. You’ll pass Darvis Café, a great place to stop for a cool beverage and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere beneath a canopy of trees. Once refreshed, continue down the street before making a right at Arasta Bazaar, an outdoor shopping lane located behind the Blue Mosque. The entrance to the Great Palace Mosaic Museum is found inside the bazaar.

To reach the Archaeological Museum and Gülhane Park, return to Sultanahmet Square and stroll down Alemdar Street until the park is right in front of you. To access the museum, make the short, uphill climb on a cobblestone road to the right. The entrance to the museum will be on your left.

Exploring Beyoğlu District

For a lovely day out, take a stroll across Galata Bridge to Beyoğlu District. Across the Golden Horn, Beyoğlu is home to Galata Tower, Taksim Square, İstiklal Avenue, Taksim Mosque and a pair of stunning churches. In between are plenty of shops and places to eat along the way.

Directions for how to get there from Sultanahmet Square

With so much to see and do, we advise taking the tram across the bridge for an easy start.

Beginning in Sultanahment Square, hop the T1 tram to Kadakӧy. Once on the other side of the Golden Horn, enter the underground tunnel and reemerge on the northwest corner of Tersane and Kemeralti streets. Inside the large building near the corner is the F2 Tünel funicular, the second-oldest underground railway in the world (after the London Underground). A short ride later and you’ll be in Beyoğlu at the top of the hill.

While it’s possible to get on the underground M2 train from Şişhane to Taksim Square, the better option is the scenic route onboard the Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway. To access it, walk 90 yards (about 81 meters) up the street to the covered bus stop fronting the escalators to the Şişhane metro. From there, board the iconic red tram that runs just under a mile (1½ kilometers) down İstiklal Avenue to Taksim Square.

In Taksim Square take in the vast open space and Republic Monument then visit Taksim Mosque. When finished, wander into the nearby Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church before walking back the way you came on the tram. It’s an easy, downhill journey along İstiklal Avenue with shopping and plenty of restaurants where you can stop for lunch. Then pop into the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua for a quick look at the stunning stained glass.

When you return to the F2 funicular stop, hop back on for a return trip to Kadakӧy or enjoy the short but steep downhill walk to Galata Tower, the iconic medieval stone tower with 360-degree views of the city.

Hit the museums and shops along Galataport

Another day, head back across Galata Bridge where the day’s fun begins at Galataport, Istanbul’s large cruise ship terminal. During a visit, we saw the large Costa Fortuna, the medium Seven Seas Voyager by Regent and small (by comparison) Seabourn Quest all parked in a row.

Along with name-brand shops like Gap, Skechers and Under Armour, you’ll find Burger King and Popeye’s Chicken. Also in Galataport is the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art and the fabulous Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. This oft-overlooked museum offers a deep dive into the evolution of Turkish art through artistic movements like social realism, Art Deco and Cubism.

Don’t miss Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque and Tophane Fountain, two stunning architectural treasures then relax at one of the portside restaurants with a coffee or cold beverage. But save your appetite for a fish bread sandwich from Derya Kafeterya.

Directions from Sultanahmet Square

From Sultanahmet, take the T1 tram to Fındıklı-Mımar Sınan Ünıversıtesı stop. Be sure to get on a tram going all the way to Kabataş since during peak hours some trams turn around at Eminönü.

From there, head south keeping the water on your left as you access Galataport through one of the many security screenings areas. After shopping and enjoying the museums, continue along Kemankeş Street passing the massive Peninsula Hotel. Enter the alley lined with umbrellas to find Derya Kafeterya on the back side of the ferry terminal. Here, you’ll find the tastiest grilled fish sandwich for about $5.

When sated, it’s a short stroll to Kadakӧy tram terminal and a quick ride back to Sultanahmet Square.

Treasures along Beşiktaş waterfront

Further north past Galataport sits the neighborhood of Beşiktaş, home to Dolmabahçe Palace, the Naval Museum and National Painting Museum.

At the Naval Museum enjoy the world’s oldest surviving galley and the largest collection of imperial Ottoman caiques. The exhibit also features part of the massive iron chain used by the Byzantines across the Golden Horn to block Ottoman fleets during the siege of Constantinople.

When finished, the nearby National Painting Museum specializes in paintings from the late Ottoman era to the early Turkish Republic. These treasures are housed in the former apartments of the Crown Prince, an artistic masterpiece in its own right restored to showcase the building’s original 19th-century charm.

Next door you’ll find Dolmabahçe Palace. Unlike the Eastern-style pavilions of Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahçe was built to reflect a 19^th-century “Europeanized” Ottoman empire, one marrying Neoclassical, Baroque and Rococo and featuring a massive 4.5-ton Bohemian crystal chandelier and iconic double-horseshoe Baccarat Crystal staircase.

Directions for how to get there from Sultanahmet Square

To follow this excursion, take the T1 tram from Sultanahmet to Kabataş, the last station on the line. From there, you can opt for one of several bus lines (including 29 C&D, 41E, 58A and 62) further along Beşiktaş Avenue for a 7-minute ride or simply walk 18 minutes to the Naval Museum.

When finished, walk (or take the bus) back toward Kabataş, stopping at the National Painting Museum and Dolmabahçe Palace before returning by tram to Sultanahmet Square.

A day trip to Kadikӧy

While we think it’s worth making a trip across the Bosphorus to the Asian side of Istanbul just for the ferry ride, why not make an afternoon out of it and enjoy the circular tram that runs around the heart of the district. Along the way, you can have your picture taken with the famous bull statue, wander the lively markets and stop for lunch or coffee.

Directions from Sultanahmet

To get to the Asian said, take the T1 tram toward Kabataş until Eminönü. It’s a short stroll across the street to the pier for one of dozens of daily ferries plying the divide every day.

Arriving at the Kadikӧy ferry terminal, it’s a short walk to Çarşi stop for a fun ride on the T3 tram around the old town using your Istanbulkart. Get off any place that strikes your fancy or stay onboard until you come full circle before wandering around.

An afternoon stroll around Kumkapi neighborhood

Close to the main attractions, there’s still plenty to entertain. Behind Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque is Kumkapi, a neighborhood of steep, winding streets with plenty of shops and restaurants and great views of the waterfront, a wonderful place for an afternoon stroll.

Starting at Gülhane Park, walk through the beautiful greenspace toward Kennedy Avenue. After crossing the street to see the Statue of Ataturk, enjoy the scene across the Bosphorus from Sarayburnu Aile Café. Then take a stroll along the boardwalk where you’ll find men sunbathing on the rocks and get sweeping views of the old city and Blue Mosque from below.

In Kumkapi Square, grab a seat at any of the restaurants. While there, why not check out the stunning mosaics at Aya Kiryaki, a Greek Orthodox Church originally built in the 16^th century and rebuilt twice before the current structure replaced one destroyed by an earthquake in 1894.

Directions from Sultanahmet

From Gülhane Park, exit at Kennedy Boulevard. Go left to stop at Sarayburnu Aile Café then follow the boardwalk right to Kumkapi. Cross the pedestrian overpass at Kumluk Street walk through Kumkapi Railway Station to Kumkapi Square. When you reach Kadirga Limani Road, Aya Kiryaki is half a block to the right.

Afterwards, it’s a bit of an uphill climb to Sultanahmet Square. Or retrace your steps through Kumkapi Square and hop the T6 train from Kumkapi to Sirkeci, one stop away. From there it’s a quick ride on the T1 tram heading toward Bağcılar to return to Sultanahmet Square.

This itinerary can also be done in reverse. Start in Sultanahmet Square and wander around to the back of the Blue Mosque until you locate Arasta Bazaar. Follow any of the side streets downhill by keeping the shore on your left to include stops at Aya Kiryaki and Kumkapi Square then walk through the railway station to the boardwalk. Once on the waterfront, head left and you’ll end up at the Kennedy Avenue entrance to Gülhane Park. From the park, walk to Sultanahmet Square or hop the T1 tram for the short but slightly uphill ride.

Exploring the Bosphorus

For a more relaxing day of sightseeing, we love recommending the Long Bosphorus Tour, a six-hour cruise up the narrow straight to the Black Sea.

Departing daily at 10:35 a.m. from Eminönü dock, the ferry meanders between the European and Asian shores. It passes iconic sites like the Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Rumeli Fortress and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge allowing unobstructed views from the water. Around noon the boat arrives at the quaint fishing village of Anadolu Kavağı for a 3-hour layover. This allows time to explore the town, hike up to a medieval castle for panoramic views of the strait and Black Sea and still enjoy a fresh seafood lunch before reboarding the ferry for the return journey at 3 p.m.

To enjoy this low-key tour, you’ll need a separate ticket since the Long Tour doesn’t accept payment by Istanbulkart. To get to the port, take the T1 tram to Eminönü on the Sultanahmet side of Galata Bridge. We advise getting to the pier half an hour before departure to allow time to purchase tickets and be in line for an outdoor seat on this popular ferry route.

Conclusion

After three months in Istanbul, we had time to explore beyond the Big Four. For anyone wanting to go further afield in this amazing city, our list not only points you in the right direction, it gets you there from Sultanahmet Square and back every time.