Byzantium
Archaeological Site Ancient city that became Constantinople and later Istanbul
The ancient settlement of Byzantium preceded Constantinople and modern Istanbul; visitors trace layers of urban history at Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome and sections of the Theodosian walls where Roman and later structures overlap.
Byzantium was an ancient Greek colony established on the site of what became Constantinople and today is central Istanbul; it is historically significant as the foundation of the later Byzantine capital.
Founded in the 7th century BCE as a Megarian colony, Byzantium developed into an important regional port and outpost before becoming the site chosen by Constantine the Great in 330 CE for the new imperial capital, Constantinople. It then served as the centre of the Byzantine Empire for more than a millennium.
The ancient city occupied the crest and slopes of the historic peninsula in what is now central Istanbul, at the junction of the Bosphorus Strait, the Golden Horn inlet and the Sea of Marmara.
- Foundation and re-founding: Founded as a Greek colony by settlers from Megara around 657 BCE and later re-founded as Constantinople by Emperor Constantine in 330 CE.
- Strategic location: Sits astride the Bosphorus, giving the site strategic control of naval passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean via the Sea of Marmara.
What to See #
- Historic peninsula: The historic peninsula encompasses the original urban core on the junction of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara where Byzantium was first established.
- Golden Horn: The Golden Horn is the sheltered inlet that became the harbour area central to Byzantium's maritime and commercial power.
How to Get to Byzantium #
Byzantium is the ancient core of modern Istanbul. Major air arrival is Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side (about 35 km from the historic peninsula) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side. From IST you can take Havaist airport shuttle buses or a taxi into the city; from either airport you can transfer to the city rail network. Within Istanbul the historic Byzantine peninsula (Sultanahmet/Old City) is served by the T1 tram (get off at Sultanahmet or Bağcılar-Kabataş direction) and by Marmaray rail to Sirkeci - most Byzantine sites are a short walk (minutes to a few hundred metres) from those stops.
Tips for Visiting Byzantium #
- Start in Sultanahmet at first light to see major Byzantine sites (Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome area) before cruise-ship visitors and midday tourists arrive.
- Use the Sultanahmet tram stop as your main access point for the core Byzantine sites; it places you within short walking distance of most monuments and reduces long street walks between attractions.
- Many visitors miss longer walks along the Theodosian Walls and the Chora (Kariye) Church on the city's historic peninsula-these are quieter, richly decorated Byzantine sites away from the main crowds.
Best Time to Visit Byzantium #
Visit Byzantium (Istanbul) in spring or autumn for mild weather and smaller crowds; summer is busiest and winter is wetter and cooler.
Weather & Climate near Byzantium #
Byzantium's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 3°C to 28°C. Moderate rainfall (696 mm/year).
January
January is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (35 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 17°C. Light rainfall.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 24 mm and mostly sunny skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (32 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 6°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (110 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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