Empires Fell, Cats Stayed: Istanbul's Spice Bazaar to Topkapi Tour
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Istanbul has earned its reputation as the world's cat kingdom, and this tour makes the most of it. On this walking tour, you'll explore the Ottoman and Byzantine landmarks of old town Istanbul through the lens of its most celebrated residents. You'll also discover how cats have shaped – and been shaped by – a thousand years of Islamic tradition, imperial politics, and neighborhood life.
The tour starts inside the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, built in 1664 to fund the New Mosque next door. You'll exit into the surrounding streets, circle the New Mosque's courtyard, and pass the Hünkar Kasrı – the Sultan's private elevated pavilion – before strolling down Soğukçeşme Street, a cobblestone lane running between Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace walls. Along the way, you'll pass the Sublime Porte, once the administrative heart of an empire spanning three continents, and learn how Istanbul evolved from Byzantine Byzantium to Ottoman capital to modern Turkish republic.
You'll walk through the First Courtyard of Topkapi Palace, stop at Hagia Irene – one of only two Byzantine churches never converted to a mosque – and pass through Gülhane Park, once the Sultan's private rose garden. After a hidden bazaar, you'll also visit the ancient Hippodrome, where three extraordinary monuments still mark the original racetrack's central spine. The tour ends at the Blue Mosque courtyard, where you're literally standing on top of the buried western seating tiers of that same Hippodrome.
On this 90-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:
- Hear why the Prophet Muhammad's love for cats made them spiritually protected residents of every mosque in Türkiye
- Visit the Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III, a marble masterpiece of Ottoman charitable design from the Tulip Period
- Discover how the city's cats survived a pandemic, a population census, and a controversial 2024 legislation battle
- Spot the Milion Stone – the zero-mile marker from which every distance in the Byzantine Empire was measured
- Browse the Arasta Bazaar, a 17th-century cavalry market now home to carpet dealers and İznik ceramic artists
- Admire the Obelisk of Theodosius, carved in Egypt 3,500 years ago and still standing in remarkable condition
Stop for Turkish tea, look out for cats on every warm surface, and don't rush – Istanbul rewards the slow walker.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Heidi Nicklaus
Hey there!
I’m Heidi, an American originally from New Jersey. After quitting my job and traveling solo, I fell in love with a Bulgarian man and moved to Sofia.
I have a not-so-subtle obsession with exploring the world. I’ve traveled through 50+ countries and spent months solo in the Balkans, always curious about the people, stories, and cultures I encounter.
After over a decade in Student Affairs and Higher Education, I learned to lead with empathy, listen deeply, and value diverse perspectives skills I now bring to every city I explore. That always-learning mindset turned me into the over-eager, unofficial tour guide who can’t stop sharing stories about wherever I am.
Now, as a group fitness instructor and whimsical yoga teacher, I combine my love of movement and exploration through my blog, HeidiRunsAbroad - helping fellow travelers stay active and turn every trip into an adventure. Walking tours are a natural fit: they get you moving, spark curiosity, and bring a place to life.
As a tour publisher, I focus on designing thoughtful, efficient walking routes that help you get the most out of your time exploring - whether you follow the tour start to finish or use it as the backbone for a longer day of wandering.
Through creating tours, I’ve also become fascinated by how language shapes travel experiences, especially when locals and visitors use different names for places and people. Those small differences often reveal a lot about history, identity, and power.
Though I’m not always a local expert, I’m always a passionate traveler - learning from locals through Couchsurfing, coffee shop conversations, and the streets themselves. Building and sharing a tour is one of the best ways I now learn about a city: connecting the dots, walking the streets, and telling the story.
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Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 30
Life Behind the Palace Walls
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The palace kitchens once fed up to 10,000 people daily — staff, guards, officials, visitors. The Chinese celadon porcelain displayed there was valued not just for beauty but because it supposedly changed color — or cracked — if touched by poisoned f...
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Egyptıan Spıce Bazaar
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Yeni Mosque
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Soğuk Çeşme Sokak
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Topkapı Palace
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Gülhane Park
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Basilica Cistern
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Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
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Arasta Bazaar
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Sultanahmet Square
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The Blue Mosque
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationRüstem Paşa, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
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Total distance4km
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Distance back to start location1km
Directions to Starting Point
The Egyptian Spice Bazaar ("Mısır Çarşısı") is an L-shaped building. The tour starts at the junction of the two long hallways. Once inside at this intersection, you'll see the wooden balcony tower in the corner, plus you'll see the two short hallways leading outside (labeled gate 2 and gate 4).
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
- Exterior shops of Egyptian Spice Bazaar since they're often cheaper
- Hafiz Mustafa 1864 for some sweets
- Espresso Lab - there are various locations, but one just a 5 minute walk away from Hafiz Mustafa 1864 if you're in need of some caffeine
- Cafer Ağa Madrasa located just off Cold Fountain Street (this small side street has a nice view of the Hagia Sophia plus some crafts)
- Sarnıç İstanbul which is a restaurant located in a former cistern
- Topkapi Palace inner grounds (paid entry), though you might want more time for this experience
- Basilica Cistern (paid entry) to discover the unique, underground watery lair (great for photos)
- Hagia Sophia (paid entry), you'll need to buy tickets to visit inside and access is just to upper galleries (women must also wear a head scarf)
- Seven Hills Restaurant offers incredible views of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque; enjoy their seagull experience; great even just for a coffee
- Blue Mosque (free to visit inside) and scarves and wraps are available to borrow and wear (if what you're wearing doesn't cover your knees and hair for women)
Best time of day
Months: April to October are great for visiting (peak tourism/hottest months are June-August)
Shoulder seasons (April, May, September, October) are ideal with more comfortable walking temperatures
(If you go in peak summer, consider the morning or evenings for less heat)
Time of day: Morning or late afternoon
If you plan to visit inside the mosques, make note of prayer times as they are closed to visitors. Since Friday is a sacred day of prayer for Muslims, the Blue Mosque is closed before 2:30pm.
If you'd like to visit the Basilica Cistern and/or Hagia Sophia, consider buying your ticket online as waiting in line can take a long time.
Precautions
During the summer, wear sunscreen and bring water. It can get quite hot in the sun! In case of rain, bring an umbrella or raincoat. (You can always pause the tour and do as the cats do - find someplace warm and dry until it clears).
If you want to visit the Blue Mosque, but would prefer not to borrow the scarves and wraps, all humans need to cover their knees, and women need to have something to wear as a headscarf.
Take note of prayer times if you’d like to visit inside the mosques.
Download the tour in advance and fully charge your phone. Bring headphones, and if you're out for the rest of the day, consider bringing a portable battery and charging cord. If you have a portable tripod, you’ll find some great spots for photos especially among Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
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