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Topkapı & Sultanahmet: free self-guided audio tour of Istanbul
Topkapı & Sultanahmet is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Istanbul, Turkey: 5 stops in about 1 h 40. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
| Stops | 5 |
|---|---|
| Duration | about 1 h 40, including time at each stop |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Distance | about 1.3 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Topkapı Palace |
| Finish | Basilica Cistern |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
Sultan's palace and Byzantine treasures
The stops, in order
- Topkapı PalaceThis is Topkapı Palace, the beating heart of the Ottoman Empire for nearly four centuries. This massive complex, overlooking the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, is not just a palace but a city within a city where thousands once lived. As you explore its four successive courtyards, you will discover the lavish apartments of the Harem, the imperial kitchens, and most notably, the Treasury room.
- Hagia SophiaWelcome to Hagia Sophia, one of the world's most extraordinary monuments, witnessing over 1,500 years of imperial history. Built in just six years by Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 537 AD, it served as the largest cathedral in Christendom for nearly a thousand years before being converted into a mosque by the Ottomans in 1453. Its revolutionary dome, spanning 31 meters, seems to float miraculously due to a feat of ancient engineering.
- Blue MosqueYou are looking at the Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmed Mosque, famous worldwide for being the only mosque in Istanbul to boast six majestic minarets. Built in the early 17th century directly across from Hagia Sophia, it was intended to assert the power of the Ottoman Empire. Its popular nickname comes from the more than 20,000 deep-blue Iznik tiles decorating the interior walls, creating an atmosphere of total serenity.
- HippodromeYou are standing in the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople, once the social and political center of the Byzantine capital. Here, over 100,000 spectators would crowd in to cheer for thrilling chariot races that could trigger imperial revolts. Although the grandstands have vanished, the plaza retains three millennial monuments witnessing its past glory.
- Basilica CisternWelcome to the Basilica Cistern, known as the 'Sunken Palace'—a mysterious underground cathedral located beneath Istanbul's busy streets. Built by Justinian in the 6th century to store the city's drinking water, this massive structure is supported by a forest of 336 marble columns salvaged from recycled ancient temples. As you walk along the platforms above the still waters, you'll be enveloped in a cool atmosphere and soothing music.
How to take this tour
- Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
- Open Guided tours, choose Istanbul, then Topkapı & Sultanahmet.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Topkapı Palace and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Istanbul
Planning a whole day? See one day in Istanbul.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Topkapı & Sultanahmet tour in Istanbul free?
- Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Istanbul in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
- How long does the Topkapı & Sultanahmet tour take?
- About 1 h 40 for 5 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Topkapı & Sultanahmet tour start and finish?
- It starts at Topkapı Palace and finishes at Basilica Cistern.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.