Areas of Sultanahmet, Fatih and Eminenyu, and how to get to them

Description of the area

Sultanahmet (Sultanahmet) - the most successful tourist area in Istanbul, but also the most expensive. Formally, this is not an independent district, but a quarter of a large District of Fatih( Fatih), so in principle you can settle in any convenient place of Fatih, just not too far from the sights of Sultanahmet.

• Sultanahmet district on the map
• Fatih district on the map

Fatih also includes neighborhoods:

• Laleli. This is the most "Russified" quarter in Istanbul, because since the Soviet period, traders from all the republics of the USSR began to come to the market for goods, many settled here. Generally an acceptable place to stay, but unnecessarily noisy and dirty due to trade and visitors. But just perfect if you come to the city for cheap consumer goods. Laleli on the map
• Eminonu. A good historical area, here are the famous tourist markets. Many places to walk, but few options for accommodation. Eminenu on the map
• Beyazit (Beyazıt)
• Aksaray

All these neighborhoods are so close and dense that when you settle or walk you will not even feel the difference between them and the border.

It is in Sultanahmet that all the iconic historical sites of Istanbul are located: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Culture, Archaeological Museum, Blue Mosque. It will be possible to inspect them during hiking, without resorting to transport. Here there is an atmosphere of a real tourist area with cafes, restaurants, travel agencies, souvenir shops, flavored with the spirit of the traditional narrow streets of the ancient city, along which you can walk for hours. At the same time, from the tourist district of Beyoglu and Istiklal Sultanahmet Street, a quieter atmosphere is advantageous, especially in the evenings. Of course, near the main attractions and in the area Of The Grand Bazaar there is always an influx of tourists that just does not crowd, but it is worth moving a little to the side, as it becomes quieter and calmer. Well, one more plus – this area is flat, without height differences.

Transport is well represented in Fatiha: there are metro lines M2 and M1, tram T1, Marmaray city train, there are two marinas. However, directly in the Sultanahmet quarter there is only a tram T2, a city train station, and taxis.

Sights of Sultanahmet, what to see

This is a historic district, and it is here that all the main attractions of Istanbul are concentrated. Here is a list of them with links to a detailed description:

• Museum-Hagia Sophia
• Topkapi Palace
• Blue Mosque
• Istanbul Archaeological Museum
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
• Mosaic Museum
• Museum of the history of Islamic Science and Technology
• Church of St. Irene
• Church of little Aya Sofya or Saints Sergius and Bacchus
• Basilica Cistern
• Filoxene Cistern
• Cistern Of Theodosius / Šerefiye Sarnıcı
• Kariye museum or Chora Museum / Kariye Muzesi, Chora Museum
• Grand Bazaar
• Egyptian Bazaar or spice market
• Arasta Market
• Suleymaniye Mosque / Süleymaniye Camii
• Fethiye Museum / Fethiye Museum (under restoration, closed to the public)
• Carpet Museum
• Ish Bank Museum / Turkey Iş Bank Museum
• Railway Museum

In addition to the above, there are many architectural and historical monuments in the area, attractions that are not worth a separate visit, but will come across just during a walk. For example, these are: Sultanahmet Square, Gulhane Park, the German Fountain, the fountain of Sultan Ahmet III, the mausoleums in Hagia Sophia, The Obelisk of Theodosius, the remains of the Byzantine fortress, the Museum of photography and much more.

How to get to Fatih and Sultanahmet:

• From Istanbul New Airport.

  Taxi from the airport will cost from 150 liras (3.27 USD, see Turkish currency and exchange rate), 1 hour on the way.

  Cheaper on Havaist bus routes iST-20 and iST-1Y for 18 lire (0.39 USD). Buses run around the clock every 30-45 minutes, an hour and a half or more on the way, here you can check the schedule - https://hava.ist/en/Voyage/VoyageTime. Depart from the stop at the exit from the arrival terminal across the road. Payment is made with a single transport card Istanbul Kart or contactless bank card at the entrance to the bus in the cabin. Transport cards Istanbul Kart are sold and replenished here in the machines. The card costs 7 lira, payment in the machine only in cash. The machines do not issue change, the balance is credited to the card account.

  In the area they arrive at the stops, the location of which can be seen on this map - https://hava.ist/en/Voyage/Stations, or on our Istanbul map:

  • Havaist iST-20 stop on the map
  • Havaist iST-1Y stop on map

  They also go to the airport from these stops, they are final.

• From Sabiha Gokcen Airport (Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen)

  A taxi from the airport will cost from 160 lira (3.48 USD), more than 1 hour on the way.

  There are no direct buses from Sabiha Gokcen to Seltanahmet, so you will have to go with transfers. There are two options:

  • Take the Havabus bus to Taksim Square for 18 lira (from 04:00 to 01:00 every 30 minutes). Payment in the cabin at the entrance in cash. The bus arrives at a stop near the square (stop on the map), and there you need to transfer to a taxi, minibus (dolmushi), or Metro Line M2. More from Taksim squares you can take the funicular line F1, and transfer to the tram T1 in the Sultanahmet district.
  • Take Havabus buses (cash payment) or city buses E10, E11 (payment by Transport carats or via Istanbul card) to Kadikoy pier for 10 lira (from 04:00 to 01:00 every 30 minutes). From the pier (Marina on the map) for 3 lira (0.07 USD) take the ferry to Eminenyu pier (Eminonu Marina on the map).

• From Beyoglu district

  On the metro line M2, tram T1, there are many taxis and buses.

• From the Asian part of the city

  By S-Bahn Marmaray, by ferry from the Marina Eminonu / Sirkechi.

Hotels in Sultanahmet and Fatih

When choosing a hotel, it is best to choose it as close as possible to the edge of the peninsula, because that is where the most iconic sights are located. Prices for accommodation here are high, budget options are few. For a room for two without furniture only with a bed, a shared bathroom, and even without windows, you should count on 140 lira (3.05 USD), for a more or less comfortable accommodation you will have to pay from 200 lira (4.35 USD).

For family accommodation, it is better to look for housing. There are also such options here, but less than in other areas.

You can find and book accommodation in Sultanahmet through the following sites or the search form:

• 🛌 search hotels in Sultanahmet on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Istanbul on Booking.com
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Istanbul on Trip.com
• 🛌 Search hotels in Sultanahmet on Ostrovok.ru
• 🛌 Search for affordable accommodation in Istanbul on Sutochno.ru

Fatih and Sultanahmet map with hotels, attractions and transport