Vikings reached Constantinople from the north, and some eventually became part of the emperor's elite Varangian Guard. Their story includes Harald Hardrada, Viking settlements and even a Viking inscription in Hagia Sophia.

With more than 3,000 mosques, Istanbul offers far more than the famous Blue Mosque. Some began life as Byzantine churches, while others were built by powerful sultans and grand viziers during the Ottoman Empire. Together, they tell the remarkable story of a city shaped by two great civilizations. Here are eight must-see mosques that I believe every visitor should experience.

Panorama 1453 Museum recreates the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople through an impressive 360-degree panorama. Here’s my honest assessment of whether the museum is worth your time and money.

A narrow alley behind the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque in Fatih has long been the subject of an unusual story. According to local lore, it was once a Byzantine urinal. But how much of the tale is history, and how much is myth?

The 1,600-year-old Şerefiye Cistern, also known as the Theodosius Cistern, has opened the summer exhibition Dün ile Bugün by Seçkin Pirim. After losing its popular light show earlier this year, the historic site may finally have found a new identity.