Istanbul Old City Tour: Topkapi, Hagia Sophia & Basilica Cistern
Istanbul7 hours and 30 minutes
- Free cancellation
- Hotel pickup
About this experience
Discover Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman heritage on a full-day private tour of the historic Old City, with entrance tickets, lunch and private hotel transfers included.
Visit Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the ancient Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar with your own licensed local guide. Learn how Constantinople became the capital of empires while exploring palaces, mosques, underground structures and historic market streets.
Private pickup and drop-off are available from hotels and confirmed addresses throughout Istanbul. Your private vehicle will provide the transfers to and from the Old City, while the historical district is explored mainly on foot because most attractions are located close together and several streets are closed to regular traffic.
Standard admission to Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia visitor area and Basilica Cistern is included. Topkapi Palace Harem admission is not included.
Next available dates
What’s included
- Food and drinks
- All Fees and Taxes
- Licensed Professional Tour Guide
- Private transportation
- Lunch
Not included
- All Personal Expenses
- Alcoholic Beverages
Itinerary
- 1
Topkapı Palace is located on Sarayburnu and reflects the Ottoman Empires glory. While your guide gives you interesting informations about the palace life you can also enjoy the terrific view of Bosphorus and Golden Horn. Your visit will be enhanced with Harem section and holly treasures exibition hall. P.S. Topkapı Palace is closed on Thuesdays. We will visit Dolmabahce Palace instead.
- 2
Hagia Sophia is one of the most visited place in Turkey. Its significance is hard to explain with simple words. Hagia Sophia standed as the largest interior construction for almost thousand year. It is accepted as a sacred place both for Muslims and Christians. You will enjoy the every detail of this gorgeous place.
- 3
Sultanahmet Square or the Hippodrome of Constantinople is a square in Istanbul, Turkey. Previously, it was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Horse racing and chariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world and hippodromes were common features of Greek cities in the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras. The hippodrome was filled with statues of gods, emperors, animals, and heroes, among them some famous works which can be seen today, such as Serpent Column, Obelisk of Thutmose III and Walled Obelisk.
- 4
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, also known by its official name, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque. The Blue Mosque was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1985 under the name of "Historic Areas of Istanbul". Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the mosque’s interior walls, and at night the mosque is bathed in blue as lights frame the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets and eight secondary domes.
- 5
Galata Tower is symbol of Beyoglu and located at Galata quarter. Today it is an exhibition place and a museum. After Mehmed the Conqueror this watch tower gifted to him by the Genovians. It has a great view of Golden Horn and Sarayburnu.
Good to know
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Languages
- British English, Italian, Spanish
- Start times
- 09:00
Know before you go
- Stroller / pram accessible
- Public transportation nearby
- Infants must sit on laps
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts.
- Cancel within 24h of the start time: 100% charge.
Standard Viator policy
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From AED 4,492 per person
