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Hippodrome, Istanbul

3.1
#129 of 1,359 in Things to do in Istanbul
Landmark · Tourist Spot
Explore the remnants of the original Hippodrome, a circus that was the sporting and social center of Constantinople. Named after the Greek words meaning "horse path," the area used to host horse and chariot racing, and is thought to have had a seating capacity of 100,000. It was also used to host elaborate celebrations for circumcision ceremonies of the sons of Sultan Ahmed III. The actual track now sits below the present square, which features preserved monuments such as the middle barrier of the race course, two obelisks, and the Serpentine Column. The area includes an octogonal domed fountain that was constructed by the German governor to commemorate Emperor Wilhelm's visit to the city in 1891. Explore the square, visit the nearby museums, and learn more about the history of the track. Note that the square is centrally located to the city's other attractions, making it easily accessible on foot. Plan to visit Hippodrome and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Istanbul attractions using our Istanbul trip planner.
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Tours to Hippodrome

FROM $65 BOOK WITH VIATOR Full Day: Classic Istanbul Tour Including Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace
4.9
Duration: 8 hours
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FROM $59 BOOK WITH VIATOR Small Group Tour: Essential Istanbul
4.8
Duration: 8 hours
Tours from $59 »
FROM $86 BOOK WITH VIATOR Historic Off the Beaten Path Tour of the Real Istanbul
4.8
Duration: 7 hours
Tours from $86 »

Hippodrome reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.0
789 reviews
TripAdvisor
  • By Travelaround59
    The plus side of the pandemic is that you can really enjoy the beauty of the historical cities without the vast quantity of tourist that are normally around. So today I had enough time to enjoy the...  more »
  • By B1714D
    First of all, do not expect to find a hippodrome here. It used to be here, but some 17 centuries ago, even earlier. You must walk the area, catch the shape of it and use your imagination - just the...  more »
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