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City guide · İstanbul
Istanbul
A thousand-year imperial capital spanning two continents: Byzantium, the Ottomans and the Bosphorus
Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus, half in Europe and half in Asia. In the old city of Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar are all within walking distance; crossing the strait by ferry is the best way to see the city.
History
Los orígenes de la ciudad
Around 657 BC settlers from Megara in Greece founded Byzantium on today's Sarayburnu point. In 330 Constantine the Great rebuilt it as his capital, Constantinople. For almost sixteen centuries after that it was capital in turn of the Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, the Latin Empire and the Ottoman Empire. In 537 Justinian I completed Hagia Sophia. In 1453 the 21-year-old Ottoman sultan Mehmed II captured Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire. When the Republic of Türkiye was founded in 1923, its capital was set at Ankara.
- c. 657 BCGreek settlers founded Byzantium
- 330Constantine the Great made Constantinople his capital
- 537Hagia Sophia was completed
- 1453Mehmed II captured Constantinople
- 1616The Blue Mosque was completed
- 1923The Republic of Türkiye was founded, with Ankara as its capital
Stories
Historias de la ciudad
Historia · Old Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar
The cathedral after the riot
In January 532 the chariot-racing factions of Constantinople set aside their usual rivalry and united against Justinian I — the 'Nika riots'. The emperor almost lost his throne, and the old church of Hagia Sophia was burned down in the rioting. Justinian then ordered it rebuilt, and in 537 today's Hagia Sophia, with its enormous dome, was completed; for nearly a thousand years it was the spiritual centre of the Byzantine Empire.
Historia · Old Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar
A 21-year-old conqueror and a 13-year-old sultan
In 1453 the 21-year-old Ottoman sultan Mehmed II besieged Constantinople with a great army and took the city, ending the Byzantine Empire; Hagia Sophia was promptly converted into a mosque. A century and a half later, in 1603, Ahmed I came to the throne aged 13; opposite Hagia Sophia he built the Sultan Ahmed Mosque — the 'Blue Mosque' — completed in 1616; he died the following year.
People
Personajes vinculados a Istanbul
Local life
Gastronomía y vida cotidiana
Before you go
Normas que debe conocer en Istanbul
Türkiye: don't buy or take away antiquities
- Before buying old items, check whether they may be exported
- Buying antiquities or taking them out of the country
Illegal; can bring a fine and 5 to 12 years in prison.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Turkey travel advice
Türkiye: you must carry photo ID
- Carry your passport and cooperate with police checks
- Going out without any photo ID
Not carrying photo ID is illegal; checks are common in Istanbul and elsewhere.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Turkey travel advice
Türkiye: during Ramadan, don't eat or drink in public by day
- During Ramadan, check shop opening hours and be patient with people who are fasting
- Eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the day (including in a car)
- Playing loud music, dancing or swearing
It offends people who are fasting.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Turkey travel advice
Türkiye: dress properly in mosques
- Cover shoulders and knees; women cover their hair
- Ask permission before photographing people
- Wearing shorts or a vest in a mosque or holy site
It offends local people; inappropriate dress is more likely to cause offence during Ramadan.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Turkey travel advice