Small Group Tour: Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar
Description
Explore the must see places of Istanbul during this small group walking tour (limited to 10 participants). To provide you a more personalized experience number of participants is limited to 10 people. This tour covers the unmissable sights of Istanbul such as Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Sultanahmet district is the heart of historic Old Istanbul.
HAGIA SOPHIA is a 6th century church, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, welcomes you with its legends and mosaics. You will have a chance to touch the history of this church, a main attraction of the city since its construction.
Basilica Cistern is the largest underground water reservoir from the Byzantine period. This 6th century underground cistern became famous with the Medusa heads on the inside.
HIPODROME: The former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. You will be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain of Willhelm II.
BLUE MOSQUE, also known as the Sultanahment Mosque is one of the biggest mosques and principal adornments of the Istanbul skyline. It was built in the 17th century. Once inside the mosque, blue Iznik tiles and stained glass will surround you.
GRAND BAZAAR is both the oldest and the biggest covered bazaar in the world. Your guide will provide the history of the Bazaar as well as some helpful tips on navigating its more than 4000 shops.
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
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Grand Bazaar and Spice Market will be closed in 2026 in the following dates; March 20/21/22-Ramadan Celebrations. May 27/28/29/30-Eid Celebrations. October 29-Republic Day.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Spice Market will be visited instead.
Reviews(10)
Emel was fantastic. could not have asked for a better time. she was very professional and knowledgeable on the history of the area. i would recommend her to anyone looking for a guide
We had an outstanding experience with Semih G from Istanbul Local Guides during our trip in April 2026. Semih led us on a customized two-day tour of Istanbul that truly exceeded expectations. Each day was thoughtfully planned at about 6–7 hours, and Semih made the most of every moment. One of the biggest advantages was his ability to help us skip lines—he secured tickets in advance whenever possible and had special access that allowed us to move efficiently through some of the city’s busiest and most iconic sites. Over the two days, we explored an incredible range of historic landmarks, including Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, the Basilica Cistern, and Dolmabahçe Palace. Semih didn’t just guide us through these places—he brought them to life with detailed history, context, and fascinating lesser-known stories that added a whole new depth to the experience. We also enjoyed a Bosphorus cruise and took a ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side, where Semih introduced us to a more local perspective of the city. One of the highlights was an unexpected treat at the end of our tour—Turkish milk pudding made with shredded chicken breast, which was both surprising and delicious! Semih speaks excellent English, is extremely knowledgeable, and clearly has a deep passion for his country and its history. His energy, professionalism, and attention to detail made the entire experience seamless and enjoyable. We were referred to Semih by a friend who toured with him in 2025, and we’re so glad we followed that recommendation. We would absolutely recommend him to anyone visiting Istanbul and will be referring him to our own friends as well
Erkan was fantastic - clearly his luv for Istanbul and its place in the history of the world is apparent - he truly gave us not only his time and energy but his knowledge and wisdom - I would highly recommend him and his tour !
A great small group experience (that ended up being private). It included key sights in the old city plus the guide spent a few hours with us navigating the Bazaar - super helpful!
We started our Istanbul trip with a tour with Semih and it was a highlight of the whole trip. We loved having conversation with him and asking a million questions (all of which he answered in-depth). He is very knowledgeable about the history of Istanbul and all the locations we visited. When one of our destinations had a long line, he stood in it for us and let us explore the area. It was nice that he let us spend however long we needed at each stop. He also took us to local lunch and coffee spots. In the days after our tour, we were still talking about it and how much we enjoyed it. I would recommend this to anyone going to Istanbul.
The tour was well organised. Wireless ear phones worked well enough, guide (‘Jack’ in englisized) was extremely knowledgable and friendly and kept us all focussed even through periods of bad weather and even when some people wandered off. Would recommend.
Loved our half day one on one tour with Mehmet. Far more enjoyable than a large group tour. Mehmet was very informative and very personable. Would highly recommend this tour if it is your first time in Istanbul.
Ugur was a wonderful tour guide! The tour included all as described. Though lines can be long, he knew which sites to see in which order to minimize the waits. Provided a wonderful history lesson as well. We even had time for a coffee or tea break and a snack. He also provided guidance through the Grand Bazaar, which was very helpful. Would definitely recommend!
Private tour for 3 of us for a day. Excellent guide, very knowledgeable, paced the tour well and gave lots of detailed tips. Highly recommended and would love to book again.
A friend and I were planning a trip to Istanbul and decided to splurge on an all day guided tour-and we are sure glad we did! Aykut was communicative beforehand and punctual with our meeting time. He was very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions while also offering lots of information about the places we visited. He is very good at what he does and you can tell he enjoys his work. We had a great time and would definitely recommend him as a way to orient yourself to the city and get the highlights of some of the main attractions. Thank you for a great day, Aykut!
