After a delicious Turkish breakfast, we recommend visiting Hagia Sophia early in the morning. In fact, we suggest arriving at the ticket office just before 8:30 AM. This is an important tip if you want to avoid waiting in a long line.
Once you leave Hagia Sophia, you’ll see the tram tracks. Cross the road and take a look at the Million Stone and the Hagia Sophia Water Tower. Then, let’s continue towards the Blue Mosque. Since it’s Hagia Sophia’s neighbor, we definitely have to visit it too, right?
Next to the Blue Mosque, you’ll find the Tomb of Sultan Ahmed. We recommend stopping by there after your mosque visit as well.
I think we’re getting hungry now! How about a delicious lunch? Maybe a bowl of soup and some kebab would be just right!
After lunch, we can visit the German Fountain and begin our tour of the Hippodrome. We actually recommend starting with the Obelisk of Theodosius. Then, continue with the Serpent Column, the Walled Obelisk, and the German Fountain to complete your Hippodrome tour. This order will make your visit more efficient.
Then, it’s time for a Turkish tea break! We can recommend a place for you here. We don’t want to go too deeply into restaurant recommendations because prices can vary a lot, and restaurants may close, move, or change from year to year.
İlkcan Çay Evi is a truly local tea house—not everyone knows about it, so you heard it from us! 😉
After your tea break, we recommend visiting the Spice Bazaar, which is only about a 7-minute walk from there. It’s a great place to pick up some spices and local treats.
We recommend sumac, chili flakes (pul biber), pomegranate molasses (nar ekşisi), pistachio Turkish delight (Antep fıstıklı lokum), and Turkish fairy floss (pişmaniye).
We’ll also share a quick and flavorful recipe using the spices and pomegranate molasses.
(The bazaar closes at 7:30 PM.)
After that, it’s time for a nice dinner. If you like, you can have dinner around Galata Tower. There are some wonderful places in the area, and we’ll be ending the day with a view of Galata Tower.
You can also relax at one of the cafés facing Galata Tower. If you’re tired or it’s too crowded to go up the tower, you can always visit it during the day instead.
IMPORTANT: The Museum Pass is valid. However, for night museum visits, you need to purchase an additional ticket.
Link: Night Museums of Istanbul
Finally, it’s time to use the ingredients you bought from the Spice Bazaar!
Onion & Parsley Garnish
Slice the onion into half-moons and finely chop the parsley. Add sumac and mix well. You can also add a pinch of salt if you like. This garnish pairs especially well with meat dishes. One onion and half a bunch of parsley will be enough.
Salad with Pomegranate Molasses
Dice the tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions—or cut them however you prefer. It doesn’t really matter! Add olive oil, pomegranate molasses, a little sumac, and salt. Mix well. We especially recommend using pomegranate molasses in your salads. It also goes wonderfully with just tomatoes.
Tomatoes with Sumac for Breakfast
For a simple Turkish-style breakfast dish, slice the tomatoes into half-moons and drizzle them with a little sumac, pomegranate molasses, and olive oil. If you like spicy food, you can also add a little chili flakes. Mix gently, dip your bread in, and enjoy! That’s the true taste of a Turkish-style breakfast!
We recommend checking out our audio tours to discover the interesting and fun stories of Hagia Sophia, the Million Stone, the Hagia Sophia Water Tower, the Blue Mosque, and the Hippodrome.🎧
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