Sights · 33 of the best in Istanbul
The Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square)
Where the chariots raced
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout The Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square)
Sultanahmet Square follows the shape of the Hippodrome of Constantinople, where crowds of up to 100,000 watched the chariot races. Its monuments still stand on the old central barrier: the Egyptian Obelisk of Thutmose III, brought by Theodosius I in 390, the bronze Serpent Column from Delphi and the Walled Obelisk, plus the German Fountain of 1900. The curved substructure, the sphendone, survives at its southern end.
Why it's on our list
- Obelisk of Theodosius
- Serpent Column
- German Fountain
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from The Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro & tram stops
- SultanahmetT1200 m3 min walk
- ÇemberlitaşT1400 m5 min walk
- GülhaneT1700 m9 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Çayıroğlu Sokağı350 m4 min walk
- Taxi rank, Ishakpaşa Caddesi550 m7 min walk
Key sights
- Blue Mosque150 mWalk 2 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Basilica Cistern350 mWalk 5 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Hagia Sophia500 mWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Grand Bazaar800 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Topkapı Palace850 mWalk 11 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Spice Bazaar1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Süleymaniye Mosque1.4 kmWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Galata Bridge1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Galata Tower2.2 kmWalk 27 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 9 min
- İstiklal Avenue3.0 kmWalk 38 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 12 min
Getting around
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)30 kmCar or taxi 94 min
- Istanbul Airport (IST)35 kmCar or taxi 109 min