Major sights like the Grand Bazaar and Hagia Sophia are well worth hours of attention, but for every landmark on an itinerary, there’s a quieter corner just waiting to be explored. These are the parts of Istanbul that offer a more grounded perspective – not just what the city looks like, but how it lives. This list brings together the headline sights and the tucked-away favourites – here are Condé Nast Traveller Middle East's best things to do in Istanbul. In 1453, the Ottomans converted it into a mosque, constructing the four minarets and a mihrab embellished with ornate tiles. Standouts include fragments of original mosaics, old blueprints, and digital reconstructions to show how the building has changed over the centuries.