Istanbul Old City Full-Day Guided Tour

About this tour

This full-day tour covers the main sights of Istanbul's historic peninsula in one go. You'll see Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the ancient Hippodrome, then walk through the Grand Bazaar and tour Topkapi Palace, the seat of the Ottoman sultans. A licensed guide leads the day and lunch is included, so you get both the Byzantine and Ottoman sides of the old city without piecing it together yourself.

Guide Languages

English

Highlights

• Hagia Sophia, the great Byzantine church turned mosque
• The Blue Mosque and its cascade of domes
• The Hippodrome of Constantinople, the old chariot-racing ground
• The German Fountain on the Hippodrome square
• The Obelisk of Theodosius, an ancient Egyptian obelisk
• The bronze Serpentine Column
• The Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest covered markets
• Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans

Included / Excluded

How the Day Runs: Old City Highlights, Start to Finish

Your guide picks you up from your hotel around 08:00 and stays with you through the afternoon. You'll cover the historic peninsula on foot and by vehicle: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Hippodrome square with its German Fountain, Obelisk of Theodosius, and Serpentine Column, plus the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace. Lunch comes partway through the day, and you're dropped back at your hotel at the end.

A few timing notes worth knowing before you book. The Blue Mosque closes to visitors during Friday midday prayers, so the order of stops may shift slightly that day. As a working mosque, it also asks for modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, and a scarf for women to cover the hair. Entrance fees are optional and only included if you add them at the booking step.

Pickup Location

Fatih, Beyoglu

Available Days / Times

• Monday : 08:00
• Tuesday
• Wednesday : 08:00
• Thursday : 08:00
• Friday
• Saturday : 08:00
• Sunday : 08:00