Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

2 Neighbourhood Walk Sultanahmet Saunter

START AYA SOFYA MEYDANI END ARASTA BAZAAR LENGTH 2.3KM; TWO HOURS

Set off from Aya Sofya Meydanı and turn left into Babıhümayun Caddesi to visit the 1 Aya Sofya Tombs. Then head towards the 2 Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III outside Topkapı Palace. This kiosk once dispensed cold drinks of water or şerbet (sherbet) to thirsty Ottoman travellers. Veer left into cobbled Soğukçeşme Sokak and then turn left into Caferiye Sokak to visit the 3 Caferağa Medresesi, where you can enjoy a glass of tea after admiring the elegant Sinan-designed building. Back on Caferiye Sokak, continue until you reach the busy thoroughfare of Alemdar Caddesi and then walk along Sultanhamet Park to the 4 Hippodrome, where in Byzantine times horse-drawn chariots stormed around the perimeter.