Bayezid II Mosque, Istanbul
The Bayezid Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque located near the ruins of the Forum of Theodosius in Bayezid Square in Istanbul. Commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II, it was one of the largest mosque complexes erected after the conquest of Istanbul.
The complex consists of a madrassah (Islamic school), imaret (public kitchen), shops and a hammam (Turkish bath). The shops and the kitchen were designed by famous imperial architect Mimar Sinan, and the rental proceeds from them were used to support the mosque. Presently, the kitchen premises accommodate the State Library of Istanbul.
The interior of the mosque has been fashioned after the Hagia Sophia, but on a much smaller scale. The architectural style is classic Ottoman and, unlike the Fatih Mosque – repeatedly damaged by earthquakes, the Bayezid Mosque has never undergone any major renovations, except for minor repairs to the dome and minarets done in 1573-74 following an earthquake, and also to the minarets – after a fire – in 1767.
Behind the mosque, there is a garden holding the tombs of Sultan Bayezid II, his daughter Selcuk Hatun, and Grand Vizier Koca Mustafa Resid Pasha.
The complex consists of a madrassah (Islamic school), imaret (public kitchen), shops and a hammam (Turkish bath). The shops and the kitchen were designed by famous imperial architect Mimar Sinan, and the rental proceeds from them were used to support the mosque. Presently, the kitchen premises accommodate the State Library of Istanbul.
The interior of the mosque has been fashioned after the Hagia Sophia, but on a much smaller scale. The architectural style is classic Ottoman and, unlike the Fatih Mosque – repeatedly damaged by earthquakes, the Bayezid Mosque has never undergone any major renovations, except for minor repairs to the dome and minarets done in 1573-74 following an earthquake, and also to the minarets – after a fire – in 1767.
Behind the mosque, there is a garden holding the tombs of Sultan Bayezid II, his daughter Selcuk Hatun, and Grand Vizier Koca Mustafa Resid Pasha.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Istanbul. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Bayezid II Mosque on Map
Sight Name: Bayezid II Mosque
Sight Location: Istanbul, Turkey (See walking tours in Istanbul)
Sight Type: Religious
Sight Location: Istanbul, Turkey (See walking tours in Istanbul)
Sight Type: Religious
Walking Tours in Istanbul, Turkey
Create Your Own Walk in Istanbul
Creating your own self-guided walk in Istanbul is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Istanbul Introduction Walking Tour
Formerly known as “Byzantium”, “Constantinople” and “New Rome”, Istanbul is the main city of Turkey, straddling the Bosphorus Strait, and as such, bridging the gap between Europe and Asia, both geographically and culturally. This ancient transcontinental metropolis embraces cultural influences of the many empires and civilizations that once ruled and flourished on this land.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles
Byzantine Heritage Walking Tour
Originated as a Greek city called Byzantium, what's now known as Istanbul initially made name as Constantinople, an Eastern Roman imperial capital whose greatness had lasted for over a millennium, from 330 AD until the Ottoman invasion in 1453.
The Byzantine Empire’s rich cultural and architectural heritage is still preserved in dazzling sites throughout the city. Away from its Islamic... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
The Byzantine Empire’s rich cultural and architectural heritage is still preserved in dazzling sites throughout the city. Away from its Islamic... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Istanbul City Walls
One of the most elaborate fortification systems of ancient times, the Walls of Constantinople were built by Constantine the Great to protect the city, the then newly-established capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, from attacks by land and sea. Of these, only the Golden Gate, an old ceremonial gateway into the city, had survived by the late Byzantine Era when a new series of land walls were added... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
Bosphorus Coast Walking Tour
One of the planet's most praised stretches of water, the Bosphorus is a source of great pride for Istanbulites and of admiration for travelers. The 30-km strait dividing Europe and Asia and connecting the Marmara with the Black Sea is one of the city's highlights, having been for all ages the subject of legend and art.
This self-guided walk will take you along the coast so that you... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
This self-guided walk will take you along the coast so that you... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Istanbul Old City Walking Tour
Situated at the heart of Old Istanbul, the Sultanahmet neighborhood is a fascinating hub of historical timeline. Dramatically located on a peninsula pointing across the Bosphorus Strait to Asia, this area was formerly an administrative pole of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, and as such, reflects numerous influences of the cultures once prevalent here.
Whether you feel like walking... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Whether you feel like walking... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Old European Quarter Walk
Back in the Ottoman era, the Beyoğlu neighborhood (then known as Pera) together with Galata formed the European Quarter of Istanbul. Home to embassies and trading centers, as well as the fine 19th-century, Parisian-style apartment houses, this area was much loved by the city's non-Islamic minorities.
Its growth was boosted by the opening of the Orient Express line, connecting Paris to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Its growth was boosted by the opening of the Orient Express line, connecting Paris to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Istanbul Shopping Guide: 16 Turkish Items To Bring Home
Istanbul, known throughout history as Byzantium and Constantinople, has been a major center of commerce and trade, a place where merchants and general folk would rush to regularly in search of exotic things. In our days, modern travelers to Istanbul are also bound to enjoy a truly magnificent...