EUROPE ISTANBUL · TÜRKIYE

Sultanahmet Square and Hippodrome

Walk the former Hippodrome between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, stopping at its surviving obelisks and the German Fountain.

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What to expect

The former Hippodrome now forms an open pedestrian route between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Walk the length of Sultanahmet Square to see the German Fountain, Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column and Walled Obelisk; the monuments are part of the street scene rather than a ticketed museum visit.

Free entry

Before you go

Entry and costs

Walking through Sultanahmet Square and seeing its outdoor monuments is free. Entry to the nearby mosques, cisterns and museums follows separate visitor rules, schedules and, in some cases, admission charges.

Visitor notes

The square is public and free; mosque interiors have prayer-time etiquette and security rules, and museums charge. Check local worship schedules and crowd controls.

Opening hours

Date-specific hours are not available for this place. Check the official page for the day you plan to visit.

Good for

City walkLandmark viewsFree day out

Official sourceGoTürkiye — Hippodrome of Istanbul

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality — Sultanahmet Square

Checked 1 November 2026. Hours, entry rules and access can change; check this page again before you visit.

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