9 Amazing Under-the-Radar Spots to Hit in Istanbul

Istanbul's reputation precedes it, and the same is true of its most notable sights: the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, Topkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern. At the same time, the history and heritage of this city are so extensive that even the "lesser-known" attractions are world-class. Here are nine exceptional examples.

Navigate the warren of narrow streets west of Istanbul's Egyptian Spice Market to find a twisting staircase that leads to a truly stunning place of worship. Built by the great Mimar Sinan for Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent's grand vizier in 1563, this seldom-visited mosque is embellished with stunning blue İznik tiles whose beauty rivals that of the far more famous 17th-century Sultan Ahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque). The quality and variety of the tile work here is unrivalled anywhere in Istanbul.

Under the second Bosphorus bridge stands the fanciful Perili Köşk, translating as "Haunted Mansion," built in 1911 for a pasha. Its London-style red-brick walls and conical turret could feature in a horror movie — its nickname comes from the years it stood unfinished after most of the empire's skilled craftsmen were drafted to fight in World War I. Work on its nine floors was completed almost a century later; the mansion now serves as a corporate headquarters and houses the Borusan Contemporary art collection, open to the public on weekends with both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Istanbul is filled with street markets, but two stand out. The Kasımpaşa market on Sunday mornings is on a small street and sells a limited but unusual selection of meats, fruits, vegetables and fungi grown in Kastamonu province in the Black Sea region — driven 300 miles through the night by the vendors themselves. The other is the Bomonti organic market, where you can find heirloom varieties of everything and enjoy high-minded conversations with local intellectuals over freshly cooked gözleme.

The seat of world Orthodoxy and home to the 270th successor of the Apostle Andrew is a surprisingly humble complex of buildings in the Golden Horn neighbourhood of Fener. The 17th-century Church of St. George bears a magnificent gold-leaf altar with important icons, and the relics of major saints rest in the cathedral's narthex. The spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, continues to hold services here, and Orthodox pilgrims from Greece and Eastern Europe stream through the church. Stop for a peaceful rest in the pleasant garden, full of friendly cats.

Travel up the winding Golden Horn — lined by parks and promenades — to visit the holy district of Eyüp, named after an officer in the army of the Prophet Mohammed who died during a siege of Istanbul and is buried here. Hugging the hill behind the 15th-century Eyüp Sultan Mosque is a sprawling cemetery of strange, beautiful turban-topped tombs. For the best views, head to the hilltop Pierre Loti Café, named after the French novelist and naval officer who wrote his 1876 novel Aziyade at this very spot when it was still called the Rabia Kadın Café.

Several Greek Orthodox patriarchs are buried in the inner courtyard of this ornate monastery — a popular shrine and pilgrimage site since early Byzantine times. It is one of many Greek Orthodox churches in Istanbul established at the site of a sacred underground spring. The fish inhabiting the spring here are said to have arrived as a miracle following the fall of Constantinople — hence the monastery's name, which translates as "Church of Fish." Most interesting is the outer courtyard bearing old tombstones inscribed in Karamanli — Turkish written using the Greek alphabet.

A stroll down the main street of Kuzguncuk, a former fishing village on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, offers a glimpse of the ethnic tapestry that was Istanbul half a century ago. Two synagogues, three Greek Orthodox churches, two mosques and an Armenian church are crammed into this tiny neighbourhood of 19th-century wooden houses — now home to art galleries and the studios of artists, artisans and architects. It is one of the most visually charming and culturally layered neighbourhoods in the entire city.

Overshadowed by its fully restored, upscale cousin down the block (the Pera Palace), the scruffier Grand Hotel de Londres exudes a quirky, fin-de-siècle charm — complete with a squawking parrot in the lobby. It re-emerged as a somewhat popular spot following the 2005 release of Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul, the acclaimed documentary by director Fatih Akın. Climb to the hotel's rooftop bar for some of the finest views of the Golden Horn and Old City that money cannot buy.

Among the grandest buildings on İstiklal Avenue, the art-nouveau Mısır Apartment was built for the Khedive of Egypt as a winter residence in the early 1900s. Today it is a one-stop destination for half a dozen contemporary art galleries. Head down the hill to Boğazkesen Street for several more art spaces, which connects with the Karaköy district where even more galleries have appeared in recent years. You might not have previously associated Istanbul with world-class contemporary art of the non-architectural variety — now you know better. Let Turquaz Travel build your Istanbul itinerary around these hidden gems.