Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

Neighbourhoods at a Glance

1 Sultanahmet & Around Many visitors to İstanbul never make it out of Sultanahmet. And while this is a shame, it’s hardly surprising. After all, not many cities have such a concentration of historic sights, shopping precincts, hotels and eateries within easy walking distance. Ideally suited to exploration by foot, the neighbourhood is a showcase of the city’s glorious past, crammed as it is with mosques, palaces, churches and houses dating from Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. 2 Bazaar District This beguiling district is home to the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. Amid the thousands of shops that surround these centuries-old marketplaces are