Golden Horn As Seen From Suleymaniye

This spot is one of my favorite spots in Istanbul to take photos. You can review the map below for the exact location. I captured this image from the garden of the Süleymaniye Mosque, where the stone terrace opens up like a painter’s easel to the entire city. It's a place where time slows, where the call to prayer echoes above the hum of ferries, and the breeze carries whispers from centuries past.

Domes are in the foreground, and the Galata Bridge, Bosphorus Bridge, the Golden Horn, and ships sailing through the Bosphorus are in the background. Each layer of the view tells a different chapter of Istanbul—the city that rises like poetry from the waters, stitched together by history, faith, and ceaseless movement.

If I had to express Istanbul in just one photo, this one would probably be my choice. But this is not a very comfortable spot to take the shot since there's a lack of space where you can set your tripod up. But if you can, this view is your prize!