Recently Viewed
Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Small-Group Tour
4.5
82 Ratings
Fatih
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Istanbul's iconic landmarks on a small-group tour of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Explore the rich history and culture of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires with a knowledgeable guide.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
-
Sultanahmet Square - Check out Istanbul’s greatest monuments on this small walking tour. Meet your dedicated guide at a hot spot for traditional Turkish delicacies, where there are restroom facilities and you can purchase water or snacks.
Enjoy a scenic stroll around Sultanahmet and witness the local life with a professional guide. - Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque is the most visited monument in Istanbul. Your tour will start in the Sultanahmet neighborhood which takes its name from the mosque.
Marvel at this imperial Ottoman Mosque, commissioned by Sultan Ahmet the first and the last one built in this grand size. Witness the evocative power and splendor of its past as you enjoy a comprehensive guided tour of the Blue Mosque and its complementary buildings with a professional guide.
Afterwards,
Enjoy the courtyard for breathtaking views of modern Istanbulites and take a gentle stroll around the neighborhood.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - Visit the Hagia Sophia and witness the most significant site of the Greek Orthodox religion in Istanbul. Learn how it was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople.
In the Hagia Sophia, see elements of a mosque and a church standing next to each other. Admire the basilica’s stunning dome and minarets, and countless mosaics, paintings, and marble columns. Learn how the impressive
znik tiles were added over time in the Mosque, how the stunning Virgin Mary mosaic was made, and why the Ottomans chose to bury their sultans in the courtyard.
-
Hippodrome - Walk the famous hippodrome of Constantinople. Learn about the obelisks that adorn the square.
Take a break between two major monuments for the best views and learn about the significance of the hippodrome during the Byzantine times of the city. -
Arasta Bazaar - Explore the Arasta Bazaar nestled right under the shadow of the Blue Mosque to understand 17th Century architecture of public buildings. It is a well-known but modest open-air market in the heart of Sultanhamet.
Enjoy a last-minute tea break and hunt for gifts to take home.
What's Included
- 3-hour relaxing walking tour
- Small group for interactive experience
- Expert guide with insider city knowledge
What's Not Included
- Transport to the meeting spot
Additional Information
Partake in a small-group pedestrian exploration of Istanbul’s most celebrated landmarks: the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Saunter around Sultanahmet with a well-informed guide, observing the local lifestyle. Absorb the grandeur and allure of Islamic design in the Blue Mosque. Unearth the rich past and culture of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires. Receive advice from your tour guide at the culmination of the tour to extend your independent exploration of Istanbul.
- Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are functioning mosques and they can be closed to visitors for any reason, even without pre-notice (for a high-level state visit, for example)
- Nobody can skip the line at either of the mosques although our guides make it easier and more efficient because they do it every day.
- Istanbul has notoriously bad traffic. Give more time to get to the meeting spot than you may have planned
- Tickets are timed and expire within 5 to 10 minutes.
- Please be advised that it is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
Location
Ersoy Bufe
At Meydanı Caddesi
We meet at Ersoy Bufe. This is a small food kiosk just by the side of the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet Square. It is across the German Fountain. Your guide will be in front of the Ersoy Bufe with a sign that says, “Walks in Europe.”
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(82 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Catherine_m
May 26, 2024
Turkeys main tourist attractions - Good informative tour. Not too long but took in two of the major tourist sites and was thorough. Guide was very knowledgeable and also a little humorous at times. We enjoyed it.
Review provided by Viator
Mark_k
May 24, 2024
Excellent guide who gave... - Excellent guide who gave us a great history on what we were seeing. It made the experience so memorable.
Review provided by Viator
Iman_n
May 20, 2024
Amazing Experience! - Mert was amazing! He had so much knowledge and answered every question our group had. He went at the perfect pace. Even though he does the tour multiple times in a day, you could tell he was listening to the needs of the group and tailoring the tour, accordingly. He was also so funny; such a great sense of humour which added even more fun to the tour!
Review provided by Viator
Nathan_s
May 19, 2024
Highly recommended - Our tour guide was so friendly and guided our group of just under a dozen people perfectly. She was very knowledgeable - educated us and answered our questions. She showed us hidden gems within the buildings and best spots to take pictures. Such a great experience!
Review provided by Viator
Mandi_l
May 13, 2024
A good introduction to Istanbul - Great tour to get an introduction to some of the popular spots in Istanbul and to understand a bit more about the history of the city and it's culture since the country is largely Muslim. Or guide, Emre, was also wonderful and showed us to the entrance to Basilica Cistern and have us a bit of information about that too. He was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions which ranged from the sites to the city to the history of Turkey itself.
Review provided by Viator
Nicola_g
May 13, 2024
Good tour with excellent guide - I have booked the combined Aya Sophia and Blue Mosque tour. Easy to book and plenty of information provided and the online helpline was always quick in answering all inquiries.
Our tour guide Emre was brilliant, providing valuable information and plenty of interesting facts on the venues and Turkey in general. He helped us during the queues and he answered all our questions.
Definitely a positive experience.
Review provided by Viator
Theodore_m
May 12, 2024
Great Tours - The tour was fantastic! Our guide was very knowledgeable about both the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. He even made sure we had time to take pictures from all of the best angles!
Review provided by Viator
Jay_r
May 7, 2024
Solid - Informative tour and a great guide that was efficient. He cut through the crowds and helped against unnecessary delays. If you are interested in the history of Istanbul this is a good tour
Review provided by Viator
Graham_s
May 23, 2024
Quite interesting history but a little dull in reality - Blue mosque very impressive. Hagia Sofia a bit meh. Here are some more characters to meet the minimum because I have to reach 100 at least.
Review provided by Viator
R_b
May 8, 2024
Too Pedantic - Our tour guide was informative but too pedantic. The opening of our tour was a quiz on what we knew about Istanbul history to which he gave D and F grades. Really? Then he tolds us lesbian should be pronounced lesvian because of a mistake the romans made reading the greek alphabet. What does that have to do withthe Hagia Sophia or Blue Mosque?
Review provided by Viator
More activities from this operator
