Ortaköy is a small neighborhood on the European shore of the Bosphorus with two claims to fame. The first is its mosque, a baroque building at the water's edge with the Bosphorus Bridge rising behind it. The second is kumpir, the giant stuffed baked potato sold from a row of stalls near the quay. Between those two, the waterfront cafés, and the weekend markets, people tend to stay longer than they planned.

The collections here cover both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Many objects are more than a thousand years old and well preserved. Seeing them side by side shows how much the two cultures borrowed from each other.

Visitors interested in Byzantine and Ottoman architecture will want extra time here. Photographers usually come early, before the crowds arrive and while the light is low.

First-time visitors and solo travelers both manage easily here. The area is walkable, and staff at most sites are used to tourists.

Nearby bazaars sell Turkish crafts and souvenirs. Tea houses in the side streets are a good place to rest between sights.