Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia & Sultanahmet Tour
Description
Begin your journey in the lively Sultanah met district, where you'll meet your expert guide at a convenient starting point. Your first stop is the famed Blue Mosque, renowned for stunning blue tiles. As your guide leads you through its fascinating history, you'll be immersed in the mosque's captivating atmosphere. Pause to admire the panoramic views of modern Istanbul from the mosque's courtyard before meandering through the ancient streets. Discover the Hippodrome, once the vibrant social and political center of the city. Explore the remarkable evolution of this site from a Greek Orthodox cathedral to a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Be awed by the harmonious blend of mosque and church architecture, featuring grand domes, towering minarets, exquisite mosaics. Continue your journey through the Hagia Sophia, where you'll learn about its ornate Iznik tiles, the iconic Virgin Mary mosaic, and the intriguing tradition of sultans being buried in its courtyard.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Situated at the northern end of the famous hippodrome known as Sultanahmet Square, the German Fountain (also known as the Kaiser William Fountain) was built in 1898 to commemorate the German Emperor’s visit to Istanbul. Designed in a Neo-Byzantine style by a team of German and Italian architects, the fountain survives today as a testament to Germany and Turkey’s longstanding friendship.
With buildings dating from the early Byzantine through the late Ottoman periods, the bustling Sultanahmet District is thick with historical and religious attractions. Behold the breathtaking Hagia Sophia Museum, witness the opulent lives of sultans at Topkapi Palace, go underground to explore the Basilica Cistern, experience the active Blue Mosque and its intricate tile work, shop for the perfect souvenir at the Grand Bazaar, and imagine horse racing at the site of the ancient Hippodrome. Most guided tours of the Sultanahmet District visit all of the six main sites, and often allow you to skip the long lines. Opt for private or group tours of various lengths to suit your travel style and schedule.
Turkey’s (officially the Republic of Türkiye) magnificent Hagia Sophia is a riot of swooping domes and mismatched minarets added throughout its long life. The lofty interior is a soaring sequence of domed and arched spaces, centering on the shell-like apse and the massive dome, which seems to float unsupported and gives the church its amazing sense of space. Work continues to uncover the golden Christian mosaics and colorful frescoes from the Byzantine era, which were plastered over by the Ottomans. Tours often allow you to skip the long lines with a guide, and many Istanbul excursions combine the Hagia Sophia Museum with other sights in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet neighborhood, including the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, and Basilica Cistern.
The Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s top attractions and offers the opportunity to visit an active place of worship in the historical Sultanahmet neighborhood. Stroll through the airy courtyard and pause to soak up the atmosphere inside the mosque’s vast and curvaceous interior under cascading domes.
Home to some of Istanbul’s most recognizable attractions, the Sultanahmet District is an ideal place to explore the city’s complex history. With the rose-colored Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) sitting across from the six minarets of the Blue Mosque and down the street from the energetic Grand Bazaar, this neighborhood packs in a wealth of culture.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please arrive at the meeting point on time. If you are more than 5 minutes late, the guide will not be able to wait. For the sake of the tour’s atmosphere and flow, we cannot allow late arrivals to join once the tour has started.
- Please be aware that once the tour begins, the guide will be fully focused on leading the group and cannot answer phone calls or assist latecomers.
- Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to welcoming you on the tour!
Reviews(617)
I was very disappointed in this tour. It was listed as 3 hours and it was barely 2 hours. The guide was very nice and good at offering to take photos, help with directions and local recommendations. But from a tour expert perspective it was lacking. The guide did not seem to know anything beyond what was listed on the signs and plaques. He knew nothing about Islam despite two of the sites being mosques. I could have walked around myself and learned more. I’ve never had a bad tour experience in my life - but this was truly a disappointment. The small group was nice but that’s about it.
Dear Guest, thank you for your honest feedback. We're sorry the tour fell short of your expectations. Regarding the duration, visit times can vary depending on queues at each location. Your comments on the depth of knowledge shared are taken seriously and will be passed directly to our team to ensure improvements are made. We hope to welcome you back for a better experience! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Wonderful itinerary and lovely informative guide who was polite, respectful, knowledgeable and sensitive to the needs of the people in his group!! Lovely young man!
Dear Guest, thank you for this heartwarming review! 😊 A guide who is not only knowledgeable but also attentive to the needs of every guest is truly something special. We're so proud to have him on our team. Hope to welcome you back for another wonderful experience very soon! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
The tour was excellent with a knowledgeable guide who was able to adjust the pace of the tour to the needs of the clients.
Dear Guest, thank you for the kind words! 😊 A guide who reads the group and adjusts accordingly makes all the difference and we're glad that came through on your tour. Hope to welcome you back for another great experience very soon! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Knowledgeable and kind guide
Dear Guest, thank you for the kind words! 😊 Knowledge and kindness are exactly what we look for in our guides. Hope to welcome you back for another great experience very soon! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Defne was a fantastic guide with a wealth of information! We leaned so much about the mosques and the cistern.
Dear Guest, thank you for the wonderful feedback! 🌟 It's great to hear Defne's knowledge made the mosques and cistern come alive with such depth and detail. That kind of insight is what transforms a visit into a truly enriching experience. We'll pass on your kind words to her. Hope to see you back soon! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Went were well! I would recommend!
Dear Guest, Thank you! Really glad it all went well and we appreciate the recommendation. Hope to welcome you back again someday! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Egemen was very informative, and friendly. He gave us a fantastic tour around the Sultanhamet, blue mosque, and the Hagia Sophia. He showed us lots of hidden gems, such as the Varangian graffiti
Dear Guest, Thank you for the wonderful review! Egemen really does have a talent for uncovering those hidden gems that most visitors walk straight past and the Varangian graffiti is such a fascinating find. He will be really happy to hear this. Hope to welcome you back again someday! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Great tour, highly recommend- Egemen is very knowledgeable!!
Dear Guest, Thank you! Egemen will be really happy to hear this and we'll make sure he does. Hope to welcome you back again someday! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Eçe was a fantastic guide and answered all of our questions. She kept the group together in some pretty chaotic lines and made sure we had enough time to enjoy each location. I would recommend this tour. It was a smaller group size too- approximately 8-10 people.
Dear Guest, Thank you for the wonderful review! Ece's ability to keep everyone together and on track in busy crowds while still giving enough time at each spot is truly a skill. Really glad the small group size added to the experience too. Hope to welcome you back again someday! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Egemen , the tour guide was excellent and provided detailed explanations about the church’s history and fascinating stories. The tour was both informative and engaging, making the visit much more meaningful. I learned a lot and truly appreciated the guide’s knowledge and passion. Highly recommended!
Dear Guest, Thank you for the wonderful review! Egemen's passion for history and his ability to make every story so engaging really do set him apart. He will be thrilled to read this and we'll make sure he does. Really appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back again someday! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
