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Sultanahmet Square

Landmarks ·Istanbul
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#3Landmarks in Istanbul#4Landmarks in TurkeyTravelers' Choice 2025
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About

Sultanahmet Square, on the site of the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople, in Istanbul's Fatih district beside the Blue Mosque.

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Sultanahmet Square

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Why go

  • The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), at the eastern end of the square
  • The Yerebatan Sarnıcı and Binbirdirek Sarnıcı cisterns, lying beside the square
  • The Türk ve İslam Eserleri Müzesi in the İbrahim Paşa Palace, open to visitors

Don't miss

  • Serpent ColumnA bronze tripod cast to celebrate a victory over the Persians. Its top third and serpent heads were destroyed in 1700.Standing in a pit in the landscaped garden on the square. On the map
  • Obelisk of TheodosiusA pink granite obelisk raised here in 390. It is now 19.59 metres tall; it was over 32 metres originally.On the line of the old racetrack, between the traffic-free walkways. On the map
  • Deutsche BrunnenAn octagonal fountain with a roof, also called the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Brunnen. It was built to mark the second visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II.At the north end of the square, in front of the Blue Mosque. On the map
  • Örme DikilitaşOne of three monuments that survive from the hippodrome.Between the traffic-free walkways of the square. On the map
  • Round southern endA brick structure with large arches, the surviving round end of the hippodrome. Remains of the Sphendone semicircle still stand.The south end of the square. On the map

Interesting facts5

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  1. The lower marble base bears a building inscription by Proc(u)lus, city prefect, in two versions.

    Hippodrom (Konstantinopel) - Wikipedia

  2. Base reliefs show winches, ropes and a slide used to move the obelisk.

    Hippodrom (Konstantinopel) - Wikipedia

  3. The old racetrack is marked with paving, and the real track lies about 2 m below.

    Hippodrome of Constantinople - Wikipedia
  4. 5 metres

    The ground of the hippodrome has risen 4-5 metres, leaving three monuments standing.

    Sultanahmet Meydanı - Wikipedia

  5. Circumcision feasts for princes, lasting forty days and nights, were held here.

    Sultanahmet Meydanı - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The square lies where the ancient circus of Constantinople stood, the city's sporting and social centre. Constantine enlarged the city and renovated the hippodrome. Its stands could hold around 100,000 spectators, and a passage linked the emperor's lodge to the Great Palace. The Serpent Column was first set up at Delphi, cast to celebrate a victory over the Persians. Today the square is a major tourist centre, and the ground has risen 4 to 5 metres over time.

  1. 203Emperor Septimius Severus gave the city a hippodrome for chariot races.
  2. 330Constantine I probably had the Serpent Column brought to the city.
  3. 390Theodosius the Great set up an obelisk from Egypt in the racetrack.
  4. 532The Nika riots killed an estimated 30,000 people and destroyed many buildings.
  5. 1204The horse statues were looted and later installed on St Mark's Basilica in Venice.
Show all
  1. 1453After Mehmed II took the city, the hippodrome was gradually forgotten, but never built over.
  2. 1901The Deutsche Brunnen fountain opened on 27 January 1901, the Kaiser's birthday.
  3. 2016A terror attack on the square on 12 January 2016 killed at least ten people, most of them German.

Tips for your visit

  • Two-way walkways closed to traffic run through the square and link the surviving monuments.
  • Look at the ground too: the real racetrack lies about 2 metres below the paving that marks the old track.
  • Recovered parts of the serpent heads are shown in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum.
  • The square is a busy tourist promenade, so expect other visitors on the walkways.

Sources: Hippodrome of Constantinople - Wikipedia · Hippodrom (Konstantinopel) - Wikipedia · Hippodrome de Constantinople - Wikipedia · Sultanahmet Meydanı - Wikipedia · checked 25 Oct 2026

Where
Istanbul

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

What is left of the ancient hippodrome on Sultanahmet Square?

Three monuments from the old hippodrome survive on Sultanahmet Square: an obelisk, the Örme Dikilitaş and the Serpent Column. The square lies where the ancient racetrack once stood.

How many people could the Hippodrome at Sultanahmet Square hold?

The stands of the old hippodrome could hold around 100,000 spectators. The racetrack sat right beside the imperial palace.

Where is the Serpent Column on Sultanahmet Square?

The Serpent Column stands in a pit in the landscaped garden on the square. Recovered parts of its serpent heads are shown in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum.

Is Sultanahmet Square built on the old racetrack?

Yes. The old racetrack is marked with paving on the square, and the real track lies about 2 metres below it.

What is the Deutsche Brunnen on Sultanahmet Square?

The Deutsche Brunnen is an octagonal fountain with a roof at the north end of the square, in front of the Blue Mosque. It opened on 27 January 1901.

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