Located in the middle of rather dull surroundings, the Panaghia Pammakaristos church was the seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate until 1586. Its funerary chapel has preserved a remarkable set of 14C mosaics on a gold background. On the pendentive..

A visit to the imperial complex of Fatih Mehmet is one of the highlights of any visit to Istanbul, both because of its monumental appearance and the atmosphere in this strong Islamist district of the city (appropriate attire required). Mehmet II buil..

The holy complex of Eyüp, which has benefited from a programme of restoration and maintenance, stands on the banks of the Golden Horn. The site honours Eyüp, the companion of the Prophet. The spectacle of popular fervour and the profusion of religiou..

Evliya Tchelebi, the Istanbul poet, has counted 3 080 boutiques and 200 “dens of iniquity” in Galata. Galata, the cradle of the city, is a district full of life on the banks of the Bosphorus, culminating in the 68m-high Galata Tower, from where the d..

The Pera Museum is housed behind the neo-Classical façade of the former Bristol Hotel (1893). It displays on two floors part of the private collection of the Kirac Foundation that is based around three themes: “the Ottoman Empire through the eyes of ..

A feast of Rococo architecture, the 19C Flower Passage (Çiçek Pasaji in Turkish) has retained its full charm as well as inscriptions in French on its entrance gates. Its restaurants, which are lively day and night, serve local specialities such as me..

Facing Ortaköy, on the other side of the bridge, the district of Beylerbey is worth a visit for its 18C Baroque-style mosque and old summer palace, which is clad with marble and surrounded by gardens. Built in 1865, this palace is one of the architec..

The Bosphorus is a hive of activity, with boats constantly loading and unloading cargo and passengers between Istanbul’s eastern and western shores and the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. A boat trip along the straits makes for a pleasant and relax..

Passing under this suspension bridge is one of the highlights of any boat trip on the Bosphorus. Opened in 1973, the Bosphorus Bridge was the first bridge to link two continents. The bridge is 64m high, and has a span of 1 074m between its two pillar..

Built for Sultan Abdülmecit on the shores of the Bosphorus in 1870, Küçüsksu Palace has a highly ornate, Baroque exterior that contrasts sharply with the symmetrical lines of its façade. This elegant building once provided entertainment for the Ottom..

The towers and crenellated walls of the imposing ramparts of the Rumeli Hisari (1452) can be seen on the European shore of the Bosphorus, resembling a long stone snake lying on the side of a hill. The castle was built in just three months by Mehmet I..

This is one of the two bridges, always crowded with traffic, which cross the Bosphorus. The third bridge, in the planning stage but constantly postponed, has become a bit of a joke with locals. With its attractive silhouette, the Mehmet the Conqueror..

The verdant Emirgan Park, situated on the European shore of the city, with its spring waters and delightful gardens of tulips, is very popular with locals. Don’t miss the tulip festival (April-May), which provides a real explosion of colour. The Baro..

In this paradise of scents and flavours it’s hard to resist the myriad offerings on offer, such as the ubiquitous Turkish Delight and other gourmet treats. The Egyptian bazaar also continues to sell herbs and spices, just as it did when it was first ..

Ortaköy is located beneath the 65m-high suspension bridge spanning the Bosphorus. This former fishing village, which has been transformed into a fully-fledged district of the city, now devotes itself to arts and crafts. It has spruced up its pictures..

The former main boulevard of the Pera district, which remains dear to those nostalgic for the cosmopolitan aspect of old Istanbul, stretches for 2.2km between the funicular and Taksim Square. Pedestrianised since 1990, it is also home to an emblemati..

One of the chapels in the Soganli Valley, the Church of the Snake was once part of a monastery, of which several rooms and cells still survive. The church has undergone extensive damage and the frescoes themselves are in poor condition. To the left o..

The stag is one of the oldest Anatolian allegories, used by the Hittite gods as a mount. Christianity adopted the stag as a symbol of divine love, and in a damaged but memorable fresco in this church, Christ himself is portrayed between the antlers o..

At the entrance to the Church of St Barbara stands a small narthex crowned by a dome and decorated with frescoes. This is followed by a single nave with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and an apse at one end. A funerary chapel was created at a later date to..

This vast oblong square dotted with a few obelisks is all that remains nowadays from the prestigious Roman hippodrome. Only three monuments survive from those originally standing inside the track: to the south of the square, the Column of Constantine..