Istanbul's Cats: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Istanbul has earned its reputation as the world's cat kingdom, and this tour makes the most of it. On this self-guided walking tour, you'll explore the Ottoman and Byzantine landmarks of old town Istanbul through the lens of its most celebrated residents. You'll also discover how cats have shaped – and been shaped by – a thousand years of Islamic tradition, imperial politics, and neighborhood life.

The tour starts inside the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, built in 1664 to fund the New Mosque next door. You'll exit into the surrounding streets, circle the New Mosque's courtyard, and pass the Hünkar Kasrı – the Sultan's private elevated pavilion – before strolling down Soğukçeşme Street, a cobblestone lane running between Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace walls. Along the way, you'll pass the Sublime Porte, once the administrative heart of an empire spanning three continents, and learn how Istanbul evolved from Byzantine Byzantium to Ottoman capital to modern Turkish republic.