A Day in Balat
Colorful houses, ancient synagogues, the Greek Patriarchate and cozy cafés — the best of Balat and Fener in one walk.
Stops (7)
Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Edirnekapi)
Sinan built this mosque for Süleyman's beloved daughter Mihrimah, perching it dramatically atop the old city walls at the Edirne Gate. Legend says Sinan was secretly in love with the princess — true o
Ahrida Synagogue
The oldest synagogue in Istanbul, built before the Ottoman Conquest by Jews from Ohrid (now in North Macedonia). In the old Balat quarter, where Sephardic Jews settled after fleeing the Spanish Inquis
Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate
The spiritual centre of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, tucked behind modest walls in the Fener neighbourhood. The Church of St George inside holds the ornate patriarchal throne and icons t
Sultan Selim Mosque
Perched on the Fifth Hill with commanding views of the Golden Horn, this mosque was built by Süleyman the Magnificent to honour his fearsome father, Selim the Grim. The austere exterior suits a sultan
Blachernae Palace Ruins
The last imperial residence of the Byzantine emperors — a series of crumbling walls and foundations near the Theodosian walls. The palace was still in use when Constantinople fell in 1453. Not much re
Chora Church (Kariye Museum)
Tucked away near the old city walls, far from the Sultanahmet crowds, this former Byzantine church holds the finest mosaics and frescoes in Istanbul — and possibly all of Christendom. The 14th-century
Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars
Everything about this church is improbable — it's made entirely of cast iron, shipped in pieces down the Danube from Vienna on 100 barges in 1871. The gilded iron glinting through stained-glass window