BLUE HOUSE HOTEL

Blue House Hotel is located in the heart of Sultanahmet, offering an unparalleled experience that brings the magnificent legacy and historical texture of the Ottoman Empire to life. Situated in one of Istanbul’s most exclusive locations, our hotel stands right next to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, just a few steps away from Topkapi Palace.

By staying at Blue House Hotel, our guests enjoy the privilege of being within walking distance of Topkapi Palace, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, and witnessing the grandeur of sultans’ lives and the empire’s unique treasures. The historical ambiance of our hotel provides an extraordinary experience, making guests feel as if they are traveling through time.





BLUE MOSQUE

The Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii) is a historic mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey.

A popular tourist site, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque continues to function as a mosque today; men still kneel in prayer on the mosque's lush red carpet after the call to prayer. The Blue Mosque, as it is popularly known, was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. Its Külliye contains Ahmed's tomb, a madrasah and a hospice. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the mosque’s interior walls, and at night the mosque is bathed in blue as lights frame the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets and eight secondary domes.[2] It sits next to the Hagia Sophia, another popular tourist site.





HAGIA SOPHIA

The Hagia Sophia, one of the historical architectural wonders that still remains standing today, has an important place in the art world with its architecture, grandness, size and functionality.

The Hagia Sophia, the biggest church constructed by the East Roman Empire in Istanbul, has been constructed three times in the same location. When it was first built, it was named Megale Ekklesia (Big Church); however, after the fifth century, it was referred to as the Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom). The church was the place in which rulers were crowned, and it was also the biggest operational cathedral in the city throughout the Byzantine period.
The first church was constructed by Emperor Konstantios (337-361) in 360. The first church was covered with a wooden roof and expanded vertically (basilica) yet was burned down after the public riot that took place in 404 as a result of the disagreements between Emperor Arkadios’ (395-408) wife empress Eudoksia and Istanbul’s patriarch Ioannes Chrysostomos, who was exiled. The patriarch’s mosaic portrait can still be viewed at the tymphanon wall located in the northern part of the church. No remains have been recovered from the first church; however, the bricks found in the museum storage branded ‘Megale Ekklesia’ are predicted to belong to the first construction. The second church was reconstructed by Emperor Theodosios II (408-450) in 415. This basilical structure is known to contain five naves and a monumental entrance; it is also covered by a wooden roof.


TOPKAPI PALACE

Topkapi Palace Museum, understanding the administrative structure of the Ottoman Empire, observing the palace life of the Ottoman Empire and reaching the riches of the Ottoman Empire. In the museum you can visit the administrative buildings of the Ottoman state and the Haremeden Treasury, Sacred Relics, Weapons Collection, Sultan's Portals, Portalı and Porcelain sections of the Sultan's family.

The Topkapi Palace, which is the administrative center of the state and the place of life of the sultan and his family for 380 years since 1478, was opened as a museum on October 9, 1924 and was opened on that day it continues to serve as one of the highest number of visitors since the number of visitors.





HIPPODROME

The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet Meydanı (Sultan Ahmet Square) in the Turkish city of Istanbul, with a few fragments of the original structure surviving.

The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos (ἵππος), horse, and dromos (δρόμος), path or way. For this reason, it is sometimes also called Atmeydanı ("Horse Square") in Turkish. Horse racing and chariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world and hippodromes were common features of Greek cities in the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine era.





GRAND BAZAAR

The Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı, meaning ‘Covered Market’; also Büyük Çarşı, meaning ‘Grand Market’) in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.

In 2014, it was listed No.1 among the world's most-visited tourist attractions with 91,250,000 annual visitors. The Grand Bazar at Istanbul is often regarded as one of the first shopping malls of the world.







BASILICA CISTERN

One of the magnificent ancient buildings of Istanbul is the Basilica Cistern located in the southwest of Hagia Sofia. Constructed for Justinianus I, the Byzantium Emperor (527-565), this big underground water reservoir is called as “Basilica Cistern” among the public because of the underground marble columns. As there used to be a basilica in the place of the cistern, it is also called Basilica Cistern.

The cistern is 140 m long, and 70 m wide, and covers a rectangular area as a giant structure. Accessible with 52-step staircase, the Cistern shelters 336 columns, each of which is 9 m high. Erected at 4.80 m intervals from one another the columns are composed of 12 rows, each has 28 columns. The case-bay of the cistern is conveyed by the columns through arches. Majority of the columns, most of which is understood to have been compiled from the ancient structures and sculpted of various kinds of marbles, is composed of a single part and one of it is composed of two parts. The head of these columns bear different features in parts. 98 of them reflect the Corinthian style and part of them reflect the Dorian style. The cistern has 4.80 m high brick walls, and the floor is covered by bricks, and plastered by a thick layer of brick dust mortar for water tightness. Covering 9,800 sqm area in total, the cistern has an estimated water storage capacity of 100,000 tons.

Spice Bazaar

A Historic Marketplace in Istanbul

Spice Bazaar, also known as Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Bazaar), is one of Istanbul’s oldest and most famous markets. Built in 1664 during the Ottoman Empire, it was originally a major center for the spice trade, where merchants from all over the world brought exotic goods. The bazaar got its name because many of the spices sold here came from Egypt.

Today, Spice Bazaar remains a lively marketplace where visitors can find a variety of spices, Turkish delights, dried fruits, nuts, teas, and traditional Turkish souvenirs. With its colorful stalls and rich aromas filling the air, it offers an unforgettable shopping experience that connects the past with the present.

Located in the Eminönü district, right next to the New Mosque, the bazaar is a must-visit spot for those who want to explore the flavors and history of Istanbul. Whether you are looking for authentic Turkish ingredients or unique gifts, Spice Bazaar is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant culture!

How to Get to Spice Bazaar from Blue House Hotel

Getting to Spice Bazaar from Blue House Hotel is quick and easy:

  • By Tram: Walk to the Sultanahmet Tram Station (5 minutes from the hotel) and take the T1 Tram towards Bağcılar/Kabataş. Get off at Eminönü Station (about 10 minutes). The bazaar is just a 2-minute walk from the tram stop.
  • By Walking: If you prefer a scenic walk, you can reach Spice Bazaar in 20-25 minutes, passing through the historic streets of Sultanahmet and crossing the Galata Bridge.