Istanbul can be a fun city to visit due to a variety of reasons. In this city, visitors can have a lot of awesome activities to do, like going to the natural spots, hidden gems, as well as the famous buildings in Istanbul. When it comes to Istanbul famous buildings, there are many great examples to discuss. If you are planning to go to Istanbul one day, you may be curious about such places. On this blog post we are going to discuss some amazing choices for this.
One of the reasons why Istanbul is a wonderful city is because this place has a long and rich history. So, as a result of this, there are numerous historical buildings in Istanbul, and some of these are quite well-known. For example, places such as Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and Galata Tower are certainly among those. We will talk about these, as well as many others on this blog post.
Istanbul Famous Buildings
Topkapi Palace is Among the Istanbul Famous Buildings
There are lots of Istanbul famous buildings. And if we are going to talk about this topic, we should definitely mention this place: Topkapi Palace. It is one of the historical spots in Istanbul and it is a fairly well-known choice among the places of interest in this city. So, let’s talk briefly about the history and significance of this place.
Topkapi Palace is one of the museums in this city and historically it has been used as a palace by many Ottoman sultans. Built in 1465, it was used for many centuries as the place where the sultan lived in and ruled from, until Dolmabahçe Palace started to serve that purpose in the 19th century. As it was used for such a long time by many sultans, it can be considered a historically significant place. It is located in the Fatih district and from Wednesday to Monday, it is open between 10 AM and 4 PM.
If You’re Looking for Famous Buildings in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia is a Great Example
Are you trying to find Istanbul famous buildings? If that is the case, we should absolutely talk a little bit about Hagia Sophia. Istanbul is a city where there are lots of mosques and Hagia Sophia is now among them. For some time, it functioned as a museum but in 2020 it was turned back into a mosque.
Although this structure was used as a mosque in the Ottoman period, as well as for a while after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, it was originally built as a church. Hagia Sophia was built in 360 AD and until 1204, it functioned as an Orthodox church. Between 1204 and 1261, the building was used as a Catholic church, when the city was a part of the Latin Empire. However after the Byzantines took control of the city, Hagia Sophia returned to being an Orthodox church, until the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans.
It is a magnificent building in this city and it is among the most well-known places in Istanbul. Hagia Sophia is surely one of the places to visit in this wonderful city.
How About Checking Out the Blue Mosque?
As we have stated in the previous section of this post, there are lots of mosques in Istanbul. While the last one we talked about, Hagia Sophia, was built as a church and turned to a mosque, this one was built with the intention to use it as a mosque.
The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is one of the Istanbul famous buildings and it was built in the 17th century. The construction of this structure was ordered by Ahmed I and it started in 1609. A few years later, the building of this place was completed in 1617. It is a mosque with six minarets and it has a capacity of 10000. Along with being such a large and magnificent place, it is a beautiful structure, too. This mosque is located in the Fatih district.
Also Read: Istanbul Famous Mosque Options: 12 Well-Known Mosques in Istanbul
One of the Most Well-Known Buildings in Istanbul is Galata Tower
There are many iconic structures in Istanbul, and Galata Tower is surely among them. As it is a very well-known place in this city, we are including this tower in this list of Istanbul famous buildings. In case you are planning to go to Istanbul, this structure can be among the places that can be worth checking out.
Galata Tower was built in the 14th century and it has been renovated numerous times. The building, which has Romanesque architectural style, is around 62 meters high and it is located in the Beyoğlu district. Historically, it was used as a watchtower, fire tower, observation tower and even a prison at some point. Now it is a museum and an exhibition place, and it is among the most well-known places in Istanbul.
Maiden’s Tower is Another One Among Istanbul Famous Buildings
As we discussed in the previous part of this blog post, Galata Tower is among the Istanbul famous buildings. Speaking of towers, another one that we can mention on this post is Maiden’s Tower. Because just like Galata Tower, Maiden’s Tower is a very famous place in this city.
Maiden’s Tower is a fairly old building and its history goes back to the 12th century. On the spot where this place is located today, a tower was constructed by the Byzantines in 1110. Through its history, Maiden’s Tower was damaged multiple times. In the 18th century, the building was rebuilt. Historically, the tower was used in various ways, like as an observation tower, lighthouse or a quarantine place. Today, it is among the most well-known spots in the city.
A Very Well-Known Building in This City is Beylerbeyi Palace
Another one of the palaces in this city is this one, and it is among the Istanbul famous buildings. Beylerbeyi Palace can be another nice place to visit while enjoying an Istanbul trip. If you are curious to learn about this spot, let’s talk about it a bit.
The construction of this building was ordered by Abdülaziz, who ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1861 to 1876. It construction started in 1861 and it was completed in 1865. Beylerbeyi Palace functioned as a palace to be used during summers. It is located in the Üsküdar district. In case you are looking for Istanbul famous buildings to visit, this one can be among the nice choices.
Another One Among Istanbul Famous Buildings is Dolmabahçe Palace
Speaking of palaces, another one that we can mention on this list of Istanbul famous buildings can be Dolmabahçe Palace. It is another one of the well-known spots in this city and it can surely be worth checking out. If you want to visit this place, let’s not forget to mention that it is located in the Beşiktaş district.
As for the history of this palace, firstly, its construction was ordered by Abdülmecid I and it started in 1843. The construction of this palace lasted more than a decade and was completed in 1856. For those looking for places to visit in Istanbul, Dolmabahçe Palace can be among the awesome choices to pick from.
There are Numerous Istanbul Famous Buildings, and One of Them is Rumeli Fortress
On this post where we discuss Istanbul famous buildings, we talked about towers, palaces and mosques. Now let’s talk about a fortress in this city. Rumeli Fortress, which is also known as Rumelihisarı is located in the Sarıyer district.
The construction of this fortress was ordered by Mehmed II and it was built in 1452. Along with Anatolian Fortress, it was used for the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans. Now it is one of the historical spots in the city and it is among the well-known structures in Istanbul.
Also Read: Rumeli Fortress: History, Significance And How To Visit
Suleymaniye Mosque Can Be Worth Checking Out, If You are Looking for Famous Buildings in Istanbul
Do you want to know about some Istanbul famous buildings? In this case, another one of the spots that we can talk about is Suleymaniye Mosque. Aside from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, another one of the well-known mosques in this city is this one.
The construction of this mosque was ordered by Suleiman the Magnificent and its architect was Mimar Sinan. Starting in 1550, the construction of this mosque was finished in 1557. If you are looking for famous places to visit in Istanbul, this one can be another one among the many options. It is located in the Fatih district.
Ortaköy Mosque is a Famous Structure in This Wonderful City
On our list of Istanbul famous buildings, we have talked about numerous well-known spots in this city. The last place which we will discuss on this post is Ortakoy Mosque, another one of the famous mosques in Istanbul.
This mosque’s construction was ordered by Abdülmecid I and it was built in approximately 1854 or 1856. With its location and style, it has a unique and iconic look. Ortaköy Mosque is located in the Beşiktaş district.
Keep reading our posts to get much more Tips for Istanbul Travel and Istanbul Touristic Places.