Originally named the Tower of Christ, this watchtower was built in 1348 at the apex of fortified walls. After the Ottoman conquest, it was used to house prisoners of war and...

Walk away. Be prepared to walk away if you want to escape being harangued into a raw deal by whichever of the 5,500-odd vendors in the Grand Bazaar you happen to be dealing...

The central section of the seat of Greek Orthodoxy is permanently closed in memory of Patriarch Gregory V, who was hanged from it in 1821 as punishment for the outbreak of the...

The third sacred building on the site to bear the name, the existing Haghia Sophia ('Divine Wisdom') was dedicated on 26 December AD 537 by Emperor Justinian. He had come to...

Sultan Abdulhamid II established Yıldız Porcelain Factory in 1890 at the suggestion of the French ambassador Paul Cambon, to provide a ready supply of fancy china for the...

Organises cooking courses for parents and their children. Cooking activities for kids take place once a month on Saturday or Sunday. Call ahead for the date and reservation....

Also known as 'Little Haghia Sophia' because of its resemblance to Justinian's great cathedral. Like its larger namesake, it was originally a church, in this case dedicated to...

Completed in 1857, this relatively small palace was used by Ottoman sultans for short stays during country excursions and hunting trips. Unlike other imperial buildings,...

Although this little island was occupied by a fortress in Byzantine times, the tower dates from the last century. In Turkish it's known as Kız Kulesi, or Maiden's Tower -...

An absolutely magical attraction, which recreates 105 of Turkey's most famous sights in miniature. The models range from a palm-sized Leander's Tower to a Sultanahmet Mosque...

Construction on the mosque began in 1598, but suffered a setback when the architect was executed for heresy. It was eventually completed in 1663, after the classical period of...

Constructed on one of the seven hills within the walls of former Constantinople, this was the first mosque in the city built in the style known as Turkish Baroque. Istanbul...

Activities for children up to six. There are workshops on arts and crafts, drama, experiments and games. Arrangements are flexible: you can join in with your child, or drop him...

This indoor playground has three different rooms - all supervised - and a great outdoor playground, featuring mazes and tube slides. There's also a half- or full-day crèche for...