Hotels near Hippodrome and the Sultanahmet Square

The Hippodrome (At Meydani) was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople for over a thousand years - a Roman chariot-racing arena that once held 100,000 spectators. Today the elongated Sultanahmet Square preserves its footprint, and three ancient monuments from the arena's central spine (the spina) survive in situ: the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius (a 3,500-year-old granite column from Luxor), the Serpentine Column (cast from Greek bronze in 479 BCE to commemorate victory over the Persians), and the rough-hewn Constantine Obelisk.

The German Fountain at the northern end was a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1901. The square itself is a natural gathering point between Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Basilica Cistern, so you will likely cross it multiple times. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts on the western side (in the former palace of Ibrahim Pasha) is an underrated collection of carpets, calligraphy, and ethnographic displays, with a pleasant garden cafe. Entry is TRY 200 (EUR 6).

Pro Tip: The Hippodrome is an open-air site best visited early morning or late afternoon for photographs without tour groups. Read the information panels at each monument to appreciate the staggering timeline - you are standing beside artefacts spanning 3,500 years. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is often empty and the carpet collection alone justifies the modest entry fee.