Private Beyazıt Tour: Bayezid II Mosque and Fire Tower
The mosque of Bayezid II on the old Forum of Theodosius, the stone fire tower of 1828 and the book market between them, on a short walk.
Photo: T88288 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Duration
- Half day (about 3 hours)
- Region
- Istanbul
- Walking
- Easy
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
Best for Returning visitors
Tour code IST-H28
The essence
A private Beyazıt tour takes you to the square on the old Forum of Theodosius, between the Grand Bazaar and Istanbul University. You visit the mosque that Sultan Bayezid II built in 1501-1505. Then your guide tells you the story of the stone fire tower that has watched the old city since 1828.
Highlights
- The Bayezid II Mosque of 1501-1505
- An inscription by the calligrapher Şeyh Hamdullah
- The Beyazıt fire tower of 1828
- The old book market by the mosque
- A short walk from the Grand Bazaar
Program
-
Morning
Meeting at your hotel
Your guide meets you in the old city.
-
Morning
The Bayezid II Mosque on the Beyazıt tour
The courtyard and the prayer hall, if open, outside prayer times.
Opening hours & dress code -
Late morning
Beyazıt Tower
The fire tower, seen from the square.
Opening hours & dress code -
Midday
The book market
A walk through the old book market to the Grand Bazaar.
Opening hours & dress code
In depth
Between the Grand Bazaar and Istanbul University lies Beyazıt Square, on the site of the old Forum of Theodosius. A private Beyazıt tour shows you its mosque and its tower, with your own guide.
The Mosque on the Beyazıt Tour
Bayezid II and his complex
First, you visit the Bayezid II Mosque. Sultan Bayezid II built it with a tomb, a soup kitchen, a school, a madrasa, a bath and a caravanserai. So the buildings spread across the square, not in a strict plan.
The inscription and the architect
Next, look at the inscription over the door, written by the calligrapher Şeyh Hamdullah. It dates the work from 1501 to 1505. A document names the architect as Yakub Şah, and you visit the mosque if open, outside prayer times.
The Tower on the Beyazıt Tour
After that, you turn to Beyazıt Tower, in the courtyard of the university. After a fire in 1749, a wooden fire tower went up near the palace of the Janissary Ağa. In 1826, a new wooden tower rose in this yard, but it burned too, so in 1828 Senekerim Balyan built the tower in stone. In 1849, builders added three floors on top, and today it rises about 85 m. Since the tower is not open to regular visitors, you see it from the square.
From our guides
Our suggestion From the square, look up at Beyazıt Tower rising above the university gate.
To the Grand Bazaar
Finally, you walk through the old book market by the mosque to the Grand Bazaar. Would you like a morning on Beyazıt Square? Bayezid II’s mosque, the tower and the walk into the Grand Bazaar fill a morning on Beyazıt Square.
Before you go
-
- Entry
- No ticket needed; a working mosque, closed to visitors during prayers
-
- Entry
- Seen from outside; entry to the tower needs special permission
-
- Open
- Monday to Saturday, closed on religious holidays; ask us to confirm the times before you go
- Closed
- Sundays and religious holidays
- Entry
- No ticket needed
Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.
What’s included
Included
- A professional licensed guide, in the language you ask for
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
“Everything was well organized, and Soner was always available whenever we needed anything.”
From your guide
What to wear
Modest clothes: shoulders and knees covered, and a scarf for women.
Best time
Weekday mornings; on Fridays, we visit after the midday prayer.
Photos
From the square, the tower rises above the university gate.
Practical
Updated:
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
- Ends
- The Grand Bazaar
- Meeting point
- Your hotel in the old city
- Walking
- Easy: a flat square and short walks.
- Accessibility
- The square is flat. Tell us your needs.
- Cancellation
- Visiting status can change; we confirm it before your date.
Frequently asked questions
Can we climb the tower on the Beyazıt tour?
No. The tower is not open to regular visitors, so you see it from the square.
When was the mosque on the Beyazıt tour built?
Its inscription dates it from 1501 to 1505, under Sultan Bayezid II.
Can we go inside the mosque?
Yes, if open, outside prayer times. We time the Bayezid II Mosque between prayers.
Can we add the Grand Bazaar?
Yes. The tour ends at its gates. See also our Grand Bazaar tour.
What is your cancellation policy?
Every trip with us is private, so we agree the cancellation terms with you by email before you book, and you find them in writing in your booking confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable.
How long does the tour take?
Half a day, about 3 hours. Because it is private, we can give the Bayezid II Mosque more time and move faster through the book market.
