Historical Places to Visit in Eyüp (Eyüpsultan)

Eyüp (now Eyüpsultan) is one of the oldest districts in Istanbul. It has been an important settlement area since the Byzantine period. Before the Ottomans conquered the city, it was one of the first places where Sufi lodges (tekke) were established. With its mosques, lodges, fountains, aqueducts, mansions, and churches, it is a magnificent area for sightseeing on the shores of the Golden Horn and outside the city walls.

Historical Places to Visit in Eyüpsultan:

  • Eyüp Sultan Mosque: One of the oldest mosques built in Istanbul. Its mausoleum (türbe) was constructed over the rumored grave of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.

  • Eyüp Sultan Mausoleum (Türbesi): Built adjacent to the mosque in the name of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the companion of Prophet Muhammad.

  • Eyüp Bath (Eyüp Hamamı): Located near the Eyüp Mosque, on Silahdar Ağa Street. The bath, commissioned by Fatih Sultan Mehmed (1451-1481), is open to visitors as a museum today.

  • Şemsi Pasha Mausoleum (Türbesi): Built by Şemsi Pasha in the 15th century. The mausoleum is located near the Eyüp Sultan Mosque.

  • Pierre Loti Hill: The highest hill in Eyüpsultan. It is where the French writer Pierre Loti lived. From the hill, you can watch the magnificent view of Istanbul.

  • Rami Barracks (Rami Kışlası): Constructed by the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century after the abolition of the Janissary Corps. Today, the barracks serve as a cultural center, primarily housing a library.

  • Walls of Istanbul (İstanbul Surları): The historical walls, starting from the Edirnekapı entrance and extending to the Golden Horn shore, are among the must-see places.

  • Karagöz House (Karagöz Evi): A stone house in the Topçular neighborhood of Eyüp, still standing today, though in an old and dilapidated condition.

  • Cülüs Road (Cülüs Yolu): The road extending from the back exit of the Eyüp Sultan Mosque to the Golden Horn shore. Walking along this historical road is beautiful and inspiring.

  • Feshane: A cultural and entertainment center located in the Eyüp district of Istanbul. Feshane was established by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1869 for fez production, stopping production after the 1950s. Today, it has been converted into a culture center by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and is on its way to becoming one of Istanbul's major cultural hubs.

  • Bahariye Mevlevi Lodge (Bahariye Mevlevihanesi): A Dervish lodge located in Eyüp. Built by Sultan Abdülhamid II in 1877, it was closed with the Dervish Lodge and Mausoleum Law in 1925 and was used as a warehouse for a while. The Bahariye Mevlevi Lodge, which was demolished in 2010, was rebuilt by the IMM and given to a foundation unrelated to Mevlevi culture. Today, artifacts and photographs related to Mevlevi culture are exhibited in the museum.

  • Mihrişah Sultan Imaret (Mihrişah Sultan İmareti): Located around the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, this soup kitchen/charitable complex was built for charitable purposes between the Mihrişah Valide Sultan Mausoleum and Hüsrev Pasha Library.

  • Musicians' Café (Müzüsyenler Kahvesi): Commissioned by Mihrişah Sultan, the mother of Sultan Selim III, it was a meeting place for important music masters until the early 20th century. In recent years, it has been restored by the IMM and included in the cultural heritage sites. It is located near the Eyüp Pier, overlooking the Golden Horn.

  • Surp Asdvandzadzin Apostolic Armenian Church: Located on İslambey Mektebi Street. The church was first built of wood in 1812, repaired in 1841, and rebuilt with stone in its final form in 1855.

  • Surp Yeghia Apostolic Armenian Church: Located near Nişanca, Eyüp. It was rebuilt in 1932 on the site of an older Armenian church named Surf Egia from 1966.

  • Santralistanbul: The Silahtarağa Power Plant, which provided electricity to Istanbul from 1910 until 1983. Its restoration and conversion into the Museum of Energy occurred in 2007.

  • Historical Toymakers' Bazaar (Tarihi Oyuncakçılar Çarşısı): The bazaar, which included the shops belonging to Sokullu Mehmed Pasha's complex (Külliye), served as Eyüp's famous toymakers' bazaar for many years. Today, it sells souvenirs and religious products.

(And a long list of Sufi Lodges/Tekkes is summarized as key religious/historical sites):

  • Baba Haydar Lodge (Tekkesi)

  • Sheikh Abdülmecid Sivasi Lodge (Tekkesi)

  • Sheikh Murat Efendi Lodge (Tekkesi) (Established as a Mevlevi lodge in the 1700s.)

  • Afife Hatun Lodge (Tekkesi) (Only the semahane—ritual hall—remains today.)

  • Kaşgari Mürteza Efendi Lodge (Tekkesi) (A Naqshbandi lodge founded by Uzbeks.)

  • Karyağdı Baba Lodge (Tekkesi) (Famous Bektashi lodge near Pierre Loti Hill.)

  • Ümmi Sinan Lodge (Tekkesi) (Associated with Yahya Galip, a leader of the Republic/War of Independence.)

  • Fevzi Pasha Lodge (Tekkesi) (A Qadiri order lodge that can be visited.)

(Historical Aqueducts):

  • Uzun Kemer (Long Aqueduct): A work by Mimar Sinan located within the borders of Eyüp's Göktürk neighborhood, built between 1554–1564. It is the longest standing aqueduct in Turkey.

  • Kemerburgaz Aqueduct: Located within the borders of Eyüp Kemerburgaz. The aqueduct, which allows vehicle crossings, is worth seeing.

  • Mağlova Aqueduct (Mağlova Su Kemeri): An aqueduct built by Mimar Sinan over the Alibey Stream in Istanbul between 1554–1562. Today, it is located inside the Alibeyköy dam.

Eyüp, one of Istanbul's historic districts, is among the must-visit places with its many historical sites. Although these historical sites are not promoted enough in the field of tourism, they have gained popularity day by day.

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