Guided Hagia Sofia, Blue mosque, Basilica Cistern- Grand Bazaar
Description
Skip the long lines to get inside the Hagia Sofia and Basilica Cistern. Att! Tickets provided but are extra to be paid to the guide while on tour. Please check the exclusions for the ticket prices. Tick most of the top sites of old Istanbul off your travel bucket list with our specialized small group tour. It is a fully-guided tour inside Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya), Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome and Grand bazar. ( on Sundays Grand bazaar is closed it will be substituted with Spice bazaar). Along the way stop to hear the stories of the Roman Hippodrome (including Egyptian Obelisk, and Serpent Column German Fountain ), Million stone,
Tour Options
Itinerary
This is a 17 century active mosque and the most visited one in Turkey. Original name is Sultanahmet mosque. Blue is the name give because of the blue tiles used inside. * it was closed due to renovation for last 6 years but it is open now since April 21st.
This is the base of the Roman hippodrome which was built in 4 century AD for chariot races. The monuments survived to present are Egyptian obelisk ( 1500 BC ) Serpent column ( 5th century BC ) , Constantine column ( 10 century AD).
This is a water reservoir which looks like an underground palace. Basilica Cistern one of the most impressive example of Roman architecture. Don't miss to walk to the end to see the gigantic Medusa heads turned upside down.
We visit this 6 century AD world heritage from inside. It is a unique building embrace two religion ( Islam and Christianity ) inside. You will see an unusual architecture, mosaics, chirography art, and your guide will give you information about its 1500 history, architecture and religion symbols.
We will have a tea/coffee break at this local cafe where the locals get socialize with tea and coffee drinking and smoking shisha/hookah. This was a former religious school until 1930s. Drinks are included to the tour price.
We will visit the Grand bazaar from inside where your guide will give you some tips on shopping. Tour will end nearby where you can come back for shopping. Please note that, Grand bazaar is closed on Sundays so it will be substituted with Spice bazaar. Additionally, both bazaars are closed on religious festivals twice a year and in those days it will be substituted with Arasta bazaar.
This a great way to see and learn how the handmade Turkish carpets are made. It is a shop suited in a 500 years old Caravanserai ( ancient hotel ). What makes this place different than others is that they are not pushy on selling, trustworthy on the carpets quality and shipping for those who buy. This is an optional activity at the end of the tour so only those who are interested will join.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Kids age 6 + will be charged as adults
- Kids 5 and lower years old free of charge and need have their ID or passport to prof their age.
- Ladies need to bring a scarf to cover their hair while inside the Blue mosque and Hagai Sofia
- Please wear clothes covering shoulders and knees for both women and men
- Grand bazaar is close on Sundays, it will be substitute with Spice Bazaar
- Grand Bazaar and Spice bazaars are closed on religious days, it will be substituted with Arasta Bazaar
Reviews(132)
It was a great experience! We were on a cruise and only had a day in Istanbul and they were extra flexible with our arrival and departure time. The guide was very knowledgeable and made sure we hit all the must see spots while also recommending great food! My coworker recommended this tour and I’m very grateful she did because it was totally worth it!
Omar was a terrific guide. He had a great knowledge of the history of all the sites and explained everything in detail. We especially loved stopping for coffee at the local coffee house. He even helped us get the best price at the Grand Bazaar. A great tour
The fact that you need to pay for admission to the Hagia Sophia and Cistern is buried deep in the description, and we were only informed we needed to do so at the start of the tour. On the plus side, the tour guide was very intelligent and well-spoken, and gave us all informative and in-depth information about the sites we visited.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found your guide knowledgeable, articulate, and informative. We are sorry for any frustration regarding the admission fees. The ticket costs are listed in the tour description and booking details, and we also send a pre-tour message to guests explaining that the fees are payable on the day of the tour. We understand, however, that this information can sometimes be overlooked, and we appreciate your feedback as it helps us improve how we communicate this important detail. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back to Istanbul in the future. This response acknowledges the concern without arguing, while also making it clear that the information was disclosed beforehand.
Omer was an excellent tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and respectful. We learned a lot and had a few laughs too! We highly recommend this tour.
Had a great time. Extremely knowledgeable and allowed rests for older family member. Would do again.
We had an amazing personal full day tour with Omar, who was punctual in picking us up from our hotel. He was a wealth of information concerning the history and cultural places we visited and was able to clearly articulate the information and make it interesting. He had a good sense of when we were ready to move on and when we wanted to spend longer at different locations. In other words, we never felt rushed nor that we were wasting time. He made sure that the tour was about what we wanted, not just a set agenda.
Our guide, Binnur Eren Kurtoglu, was excellent. Not only is she very personable, but the wealth of knowledge she shared with us added meaning to our experience of these historic sites. Being able to skip the line was also a huge perk.
Wonderful guide. Amazing insights. Small group We moved at just the right pace, and enjoyed the discussions
Omar, our guide was excellent. The tour company was not professional. They allowed another tour group to join us which created a group too large for the situation. It was too large for the 3 sights and hard to hear without any audio devices. It made the tour extremely slow .
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience with us. As clearly stated in the tour description, this tour operates daily with a maximum group size of 10 people, and on the day you joined, the tour was fully booked with 10 guests. We also welcome guests from several different booking platforms, so the other participants were guests who booked through those platforms, not from another company as mentioned. The tour lasted approximately 30 minutes longer than scheduled; however, all of the locations and experiences listed in the itinerary were completed. Some members of the group were slower walkers, which can occasionally happen in group tours. Rather than rushing the experience to finish exactly on time, we prefer to allow a little extra time so that all of our guests can comfortably enjoy the tour. We kindly ask for your understanding regarding this situation. While we do not believe a refund is appropriate in this case, we truly value your feedback and would be happy to offer you one of our other tours free of charge during your next visit to Istanbul, as it may suit your preferences better.
We had an absolutely incredible experience with Salih and Beyhan on our private tour of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, and the surrounding historic areas. From start to finish, they were exceptionally knowledgeable, bringing each site to life with rich history, fascinating details, and stories you simply wouldn’t get on your own. The line-skipping alone made this tour worth every penny—especially with the long queues—but what truly set this experience apart was the level of care and attention they gave us. They were incredibly friendly, patient, and took the time to answer every single question we had without ever making us feel rushed. To top it all off, the tour ended with a unique and memorable experience learning how traditional Turkish rugs are made using old-fashioned techniques. It was the perfect cultural touch to wrap up an already amazing day. If you’re considering a tour in Istanbul, don’t hesitate—this is 100% worth the investment. Salih and Beyhan made our visit unforgettable. Highly, highly recommended!
