1 min walk · Fatih
Basilica Cistern
- Must see
- Historic site
Historic site · Fatih, Istanbul
The Stone of Million
Milyon Taşı
- Today
- Open today, 00:00 – 23:59
- Visit duration
- 10 min Editorial visit time estimate
- Accessibility
- Step-free
- Price
- Not recorded
- Standing
- Must see
- Rank
- Rank 70 of 8,221
Plan your visit.
Opening hours
| Monday | 00:00 – 23:59 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 00:00 – 23:59 |
| Wednesday | 00:00 – 23:59 |
| Thursday | 00:00 – 23:59 |
| Friday | 00:00 – 23:59 |
| Saturday | 00:00 – 23:59 |
| Sunday | 00:00 – 23:59 |
Checked 2026-08-31 · Source
Admission
Not recorded
Access and facilities
- Accessible toilets · Available
- Pushchair access · Available
- Step-free access · Available
- Toilets · Available
Source · Checked 2026-08-31
About The Stone of Million
What survives is a single weathered pillar fragment standing in a sunken plot beside the street, and it is the remnant of the Milion — the point from which the Eastern Roman Empire measured itself. The monument was erected by Septimius Severus in the third century AD in the city of Byzantium, and after Constantinople was founded in 330 it became the reference from which the distances of every road running to the cities of the Eastern Roman Empire were reckoned. That makes it Constantinople's answer to the Golden Milestone of Rome.
Checked 2026-08-31 · Source
What's inside
There is nothing to enter — but there was. The Milion was a tetrapylon, a four-arched structure crowned with a dome, and successive emperors loaded it with sculpture until it functioned as a public monument as much as a measuring point. It carried statues of Constantine and his mother Helena holding a cross, and a statue of the Tyche of the City. Justinian I added a sundial. Equestrian sculptures of Trajan, Hadrian and Theodosius II stood on it, along with a bronze quadriga of Helios. All of that is gone.
Checked 2026-08-31 · Source
How long to spend
Ten minutes, and that includes reading the panel twice. This is a passing stop rather than a visit: there is no enclosure to walk round, no interior, no route through anything. Five minutes covers looking at the stone, understanding what it was, and turning to face the direction the roads once ran. The value here is entirely in knowing what the object is — a visitor who arrives without that context sees a broken block and leaves in thirty seconds.
Checked 2026-08-31 · Source
Season and crowds
The surviving Milion fragment stands outdoors beside Yerebatan Caddesi and is visible 24 hours daily; public works can temporarily fence it. Dated event, worship, restoration, weather or security notices from the responsible operator take priority over the ordinary schedule.
Checked 2026-08-31 · Source
Tickets
Viewing is free. The base admission does not include independently priced tours, events, transport or restricted sections unless the operator explicitly lists them. Carry the identity or concession document required by the published tariff.
Checked 2026-08-31 · Source
Getting there
T1 Sultanahmet is about three minutes away; the fragment is at the start of Yerebatan Caddesi opposite Hagia Sophia's southwest corner. Use the named stop and entrance because steep streets, controlled compounds and separate exits can change the practical route. Allow extra time for the final walk and security where applicable.
Checked 2026-08-31 · Source
What to watch out for
Level pavement and curb ramps reach the protective barrier; the stone is viewed rather than entered. Historic surfaces, crowds and security remain relevant.
Checked 2026-08-31 · Source
Photography
This is one of the harder subjects in the old city, because the stone is grey, low, weathered and surrounded by railings, parked vehicles and street furniture that all photograph better than it does. A straight eye-level shot produces an image nobody can identify. Two approaches work. Get low, close to the railings, and shoot slightly upwards so the fragment gains height against the sky rather than being lost in pavement clutter.
Checked 2026-08-31 · Source
Place details and sources
- Type of place
- Monument OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Common questions
Is it free?
Yes, viewing is free.
Does it close?
No. The fragment stands outdoors beside Yerebatan Caddesi and is visible 24 hours daily, although public works can temporarily fence it.
Is it step-free?
Yes. Level pavement and curb ramps reach the protective barrier; the stone is viewed rather than entered.
Can visitors touch it?
No. A barrier protects the fragment.
What did it mark?
The Milion was Constantinople's ceremonial road-distance origin.
Which tram stop is closest?
The closest stop is Sultanahmet on the T1 tram line, about three minutes away.
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Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·