11/09/2026
In Istanbul the way you start the morning shapes the rest of the day. Early hours in Sultanahmet are particularly precious: the square in front of Hagia Sophia is still quiet, the tram is half empty and the air is cool. To make the most of those hours, though, you need a proper breakfast — sightseeing in the Old City means hours of walking, most of it uphill.
Fortunately the Turkish breakfast seems designed for exactly this purpose: varied, filling and impossible to rush. At Byzantium Hotel breakfast is included with every room type and served as an open buffet in the hotel's breakfast hall. This guide explains what a Turkish breakfast is, what you will typically find on the buffet, the difference between tea and Turkish coffee, and how to fit breakfast into your Sultanahmet itinerary.