Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar. The best day in Istanbul is a walk of about 4 km, mostly downhill at the end, with a lot of tea along the way. A lot of tea.
The good news: the old city is full of public toilets. The catch: most of them charge a small fee. Here are the stops, in walking order, and how they work.
How toilets work here
Public WCs in Istanbul usually cost a few lira. Many are run by the city (İBB). Most take a contactless card or an İstanbulkart, but keep some small change just in case. Mosque WCs are separate buildings next to the mosque: you don't need to enter the mosque or follow a dress code to use them.
The walk
1Sultanahmet Square WC Paid
Between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
The first stop, right in the square. Easy to find, busy in the afternoon.
2Blue Mosque WC Paid
On the Hippodrome side of the mosque
Next to the ablution fountains. A good moment before you join the line to see the mosque.
3Gülhane Park Paid
Below Topkapı Palace
Shady park with WCs, benches and a tea garden at the far end with a view of the Bosphorus. Worth the detour.
4Grand Bazaar WCs Paid
Inside the bazaar · closed Sundays
There are several WCs inside. The maze makes them hard to spot, so just ask any shopkeeper for the 'tuvalet'. They'll point.
5Nuruosmaniye Mosque WC Paid
At the Nuruosmaniye gate of the bazaar
The easiest one to find if you're entering or leaving the bazaar on the Çemberlitaş side.
6Süleymaniye Mosque WC Paid
On the hill above the bazaar
A short uphill walk, and the best view of the Golden Horn in the old city from the mosque's back garden.
7Spice Bazaar and Eminönü Paid
Next to the New Mosque and the ferry piers
WCs at the Spice Bazaar, the New Mosque and the ferry piers. From here, a ferry to the Asian side is the perfect end of the day.
Good to know
As of September 2026, most WCs on this route charge a small fee; malls and museums (with a ticket) are free inside. Mosque WCs may close briefly at prayer times. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
Somewhere in the backstreets with no WC in sight? Open the map below to find the nearest one.