German Fountain (Alman Çeşmesi)

Provided as a gift from Germany to bring clean and accessible water to the public in Istanbul, the German Fountain was assembled in Germany and brought to Istanbul by ship, piece by piece. It’s now an indispensable Sultanahmet Square landmark—although one sadly overlooked by many tourists within a neighborhood already stuffed with blockbuster attractions, from the Blue Mosque to the Hagia Sophia. There is no fee to visit the German Fountain, which is located across from the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I.

• You’ll find running taps on the sides of the fountain where visitors can wash their hands—a good tip for families traveling with kids needing a quick clean-up or anyone dealing with a dripping ice cream cone.

• Bring a camera, as the fountain makes for great photographs. Pay particular attention to the stunning interior of the domed gazebo, decorated with turn-of-the-century gold mosaics.

• The German Fountain’s design incorporates the letter “W” for Wilhelm II, the German Emperor who commissioned it. The fountain also features the tughra, or calligraphic seal, of Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire at the time.

• Wondering what the German inscription says? Here’s an English translation: "German Kaiser Wilhelm II endowed this fountain, in thankful remembrance of his visit to the Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II in autumn of the year 1898.”

The German Fountain is easy to locate, right in the heart of Istanbul’s most popular tourist neighborhood, Sultanahmet. It’s just a minute or so on foot from the Blue Mosque and four minutes from the Hagia Sophia. Other nearby landmarks include the Basilica Cistern and the ancient Greek Serpent Column, just two minutes away while walking. Sultanahmet is easily explored on foot. If coming from further afield, you can take the T1 tram.

The German Fountain never closes, so you can visit from early morning to late at night. It’s a great place to stop in Istanbul year-round. That said, if you’re planning on walking within the heritage district of Sultanahmet, consider coming outside of the peak summer season when Turkish households flee for the coast, and the sticky weather can make sightseeing a sweaty, arduous task.

Originally where chariot races took place during the Byzantine Empire, the Hippodrome of Sultanahmet (now known as Sultanahmet Square) is still one of the city’s best spots to see traces of Constantinople. Highlights include a 3,500-year-old Egyptian obelisk—the Obelisk of Thutmose III—and the coiled monument dubbed the Serpent Column, built in the 5th century BC to commemorate a Greek war victory against the Persians.