Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet, Yıldız Park in Beşiktaş, and Hıdiv Kasrı and Emirgan Korusu (woods) on the Bosphorus.

Churches There are a surprising number of still-functioning Christian churches in İstanbul, many of which are of great historical significance and none of which charge an official entry fee. The best known of these is the Patriarchal Church of St George in Fener, the symbolic headquarters of the Greek Orthodox church. Byzantine Monuments Many of the city’s Byzantine churches were converted into mosques after the Conquest and still function as such. Other Byzantine monuments that can be visited at no charge include the beautifully restored cistern in the basement of the Nakkaş carpet store in Sultanahmet and the historic city walls built during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II. The best place to see the latter is at Edirnekapı in the Western Districts.