The European side of Istanbul is divided into two parts by the Golden Horn, an estuary roughly 500 metres wide. The southern part — often called Stamboul — is a peninsula and the oldest part of the city. This is ancient Byzantium, later Constantinople, and its seven hills hold the most spectacular sights:
- Topkapi Palace — seat of the Ottoman sultans from Mehmet the Conqueror onward.
- Hagia Sophia — the 1,500-year-old domed church that became the template for mosques across the world.
- The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), with its stunning tile work and massive pillars known as elephant feet.
- The Hippodrome, between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, where chariot races were held in Roman times.
- The Basilica Cistern, a short walk away — a subterranean forest of columns with atmospheric lighting.
Allow plenty of time here. Hagia Sophia or Topkapi Palace alone can absorb an entire morning.
The northern part of the European side was historically the Italian and later the broader European quarter. Today it has a thoroughly Turkish atmosphere. The pedestrian boulevard Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue) is one of the most vibrant streets in the city, day and night.
This district, once called Pera, is now known as Beyoglu. Ride the historic tramway along Istiklal, but as always in Istanbul, the real rewards come from wandering the side streets.