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Istanbul Old City: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque & Bazaar Tour
4.2
20 Ratings
Fatih
Immerse yourself in Istanbul’s rich heritage on this half-day guided tour. Visit iconic landmarks like Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and explore the bustling Grand Bazaar for a unique shopping experience.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Blue Mosque - Blue Mosque, The Sultan Ahmet Mosque known as Blue Mosque because of its blue 20,000 Iznık Ceramic Tiles. It was built for Sultan Ahmet I by the architect Mehmet, has 6 towering minarets and last great mosque of the Classical period. Due to the renovation in the Blue Mosque, the mosque is only visited from outside until March 31.
- Hippodrome - Hippodrome, It was the sporting and social center of ancient Constantinople for 1000 years, with its monuments, German Fountain of Wilhelm II, Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III, Bronze Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius and Column Constantine.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, (Hagia Sophia Museum) It was built in the 6th century by the emperor Justinian as a Greek Orthodox Church also called the church of Divine Wisdom. It was converted into a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II The Conqueror and in to a museum by Ataturk in 1935 and it was converted into a mosque in 2020 by by Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It was largest church in the world for 1000 years.
- Basilica Cistern - Basilica Cistern, avoid the hassle of waiting in lengthy ticket lines and uncover the wonders of the Basilica Cistern beneath the enchanting streets of Istanbul. Immerse yourself in the ancient beauty of this subterranean marvel as you stroll through its intriguing chambers, marveling at the impressive architecture and encountering the legendary Medusa heads from Greek mythology.
- Kapali Carsi - Grand Covered Bazaar, Visit the oldest and biggest covered market in the world and discover 65 streets and more than 4000 shops containing all kinds of everything. Every customer has a different expectation from the grand bazaar tour, so the grand bazaar is toured without a guide. We also visit the leather shop
What's Included
- English-speaking tour guide
- Grand Covered Bazaar visit & free time
- Basilica Cistern guided visit
- Hippodrome guided visit
- Hotel pickup (if option selected)
- Blue Mosque guided visit
What's Not Included
- Basilica Cistern entry ticket (800TL, cash, per person)
- Entry to Hagia Sophia
- Food and drinks
- Hotel Drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Discover UNESCO-listed attractions, the world-famous Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and most popular sites on this half-day guided tour of the city with a licensed professional tour guide then experience shopping at the Grand Bazaar.
PICK UP POINT FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS
FRONT OF THE PORT BOSPHORUS HOTEL. OPPOSITE THE MAIN EXIT FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS
• Step back in time as you learn about the 6th-century Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
• See the splendor and charm of Islamic architecture in the Blue Mosque
• Explore Byzantian and Ottoman heritage in historical sites of Istanbul Old City
• Look for a bargain as you pass by hundreds of stalls in the Grand Covered Bazaar
- Since Januar 2024, the Hagia Sophia Mosque main Saloon is closed for the visit of tourists. Following the tour, you can visit mosque for an additional fee of 25 Euros.
- Please dress appropriately when entering sacred sites. Participants are advised to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt. Please bring a scarf to cover head.
- You will be granted the privilege to bypass the ticket line after paying your entrance fee to your guide in Turkish Lira and cash
- The Grand Bazaar is closed on religious holidays and Sundays.
Location
Buhara 93 Restaurant
Nakilbent Sokak
Front of Buhara 93 Restaurant
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.2
(20 Ratings)
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Peterpk4557ai
Jul 31, 2024
An excellent introduction to the best known sites - I can thoroughly recommend this tour for a quick (approx 3 hour) introduction to the most well known sites. Our guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. A small group meant we were all able to hear his explanations which included the history and context of what we were seeing. We came away with greater knowledge and a desire to go back and enjoy these sights even more.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Greg_w
Jun 28, 2024
Great Detail and Information - Great information and explanation of historical sites with time allowed for coffee/drinks and toilet breaks.
Very much appreciated the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Andrew_s
Jun 23, 2024
Excellent Introduction to Istanbul’s History - Friendly tour guide who was very knowledgeable. This half day tour introduced us to Istanbul’s history, focusing on the Faith District. The tour guide was open to questions and gave us planned breaks while walking in the summer heat. Children or those who tire of historical detail might be bored at times but if you love the history, this is a perfect introduction to Istanbul!
Review provided by Viator
David_b
Apr 17, 2024
Great tour - Very interesting tour the architecture was beautifull. The guide was full of information and made the tour interesting and enjoyable. I would not hesitate to praise this tour and the guide we had.he was very knowledgible
Review provided by Viator
Saddle_and_throttle
Mar 15, 2024
Great guide - Great guide and private transfers, good at communication, kind and knowledgeable. Covered a lot of places, well planned, showing different faces of the city
Recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kiran_j
Mar 6, 2024
The tourist guide had a... - The tourist guide had a lot of insight into the monuments we visited. Had fun exploring the city. There was a point in the tour with a random fashion show which was a bit weird but a funny story to tell. All in all, had fun!
Review provided by Viator
Flyer01922275536
Nov 14, 2023
First time travel - Thank you, we found the tour very informative and interesting, the fact that we were a small group was also good, the walking tour also gave us confidence to explore more of the city on our own, The tour guide was a true gentleman who was enthusiastic about his subject ,thank you and will never forget the experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ryan_e
Jul 17, 2024
Good experience/Excludes Cistern Tickets - Wonderful tour guide. I did not realize that the tickets for the cisterns was not included in the price.
Review provided by Viator
Anna_o
Jul 4, 2024
Mixed bag - We had a worthwhile experience around basilica. Blue mosque and hippodrome. He made time for toilet and drink break. His knowledge of historic areas was acceptable. Disappointed we did not have time to go inside haggia Sophia. The most disappointing thing was being told we could go to a store and take photos of the city from the roof. Little did we know that we were being taken to look at luxury items and had to sit through afashion show. No pressure to buy we were told but it used about 20-30 mins of ourfourhourtrip and then the guide appeared at the end and told us trip is over you can access the grand bazaar around the corner. Trip only lasted 3 hours we lost a good chunk of time. If you choose this trip my advice is to pay a bit more for another provider or leave before the dodgy fashion show.
Review provided by Viator
Alidaron
May 5, 2024
No show guide - Our guide never showed up and did not even respond to my chat message asking when he would arrive. . At least the money was refunded without any hassle.
Review provided by Viator
