Istanbul Highlights Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Cisterns and More!

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Istanbul, Turkey

High interest

Booked 2 times today.

7 to 8 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9

· MrsGraceN_T ·

May 2026

A great walking tour and our guide Oguzhan was simply the best! He was so friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about his subject that he brought the buildings and history to life and made the tour really interesting, informative and fun! The lunch stop was excellent too. Would definitely recommend.

· Michael_T ·

Jun 2026

Really informative tour. My guide, Oguzhan was extremely detailed and had a ton of info to share. Very personable. You dont stay in any one place for too long, and get to see a lot of the most popular tourist places in Old Town. I did this tour my first day and it was a great way to learn the history and see all major sites in the area.

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Overview

Discover a variety of Istanbul's highlights in one day during this small-group tour. Visit the Blue Mosque, a wonder of the Ottoman era, and the historic Hagia Sophia. Explore Hippodrome Square with its ancient monuments and then delve into two hidden Cisterns: Basilica and Nakkas. Learn about Roman history, Turkish Handicrafts, and enjoy a 3-course lunch featuring Turkish delights. Your journey concludes at the renowned Grand Bazaar.

Tour Basilica and Nakkas Cisterns and Hagia Sophia Museum with a small group
Visit the famous historic Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, with over 4000 shops
Enjoy a three-course Turkish lunch with mixed kebab and vegetarian options
Engage the professional guide and uncover Istanbul’s culture and history

What's Included

All Fees and Taxes
Hagia Sophia Museum tickets Included ‘25 Euros’ (30 USD)
Basilica Cistern Museum tickets Included ‘42 Euros’ (48 USD)
Coffee and/or Tea
Lunch

3 course meal (Soup, Mix Kebab/or Vegetarian, Dessert)
English Speaking Professional Tour Guide!
Bottled water

Air-conditioned vehicle
Gratitudes

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

German Fountain
Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
We will meet in front of German fauntain at 09.00am (next to Blue Mosque and Sultahahmet Tram station)

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.9:00 am

Itinerary

German Fountain

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Blue Mosque

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Basilica Cistern

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Hippodrome

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Obelisk of Theodosius

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Serpent Column

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Walled Obelisk

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cistern Art Gallery

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Nakkas Oriental Rugs & Textiles

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Tamara Restaurant Sultanahmet

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Divanyolu Street

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Grand Bazaar

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Column of Constantine

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Nuruosmaniye Camii

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Infant seats available
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Ladies best bring a head scarf (if not available, it can be arranged during the tour)
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9

based on 188 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Sort by: Most insightful

Terrific tour

lkeith396, Jun 2026

Our guide, Oguzhan, was extremely knowledgeable and offered very informative and clear descriptions of what we were seeing. It was a very hot day and he was always very aware of that and our limits ma king sure we were rested and hydrated. The cafe where he took us for lunch was very good and even though we were staying at a five star hotel, this cafe’s food was superior. Any time you have an opportunity to have this delightful young man as your guide, take it!

Great tour/Informative

Michael_T, Jun 2026

Amazing guide!! Fantastic sites! A real gem

Julius_H, Jun 2026

Our guide (Ozzy) was fantastic!!! Very knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions. He has a deep knowledge of history, architecture, art and culture. Izzy’s English is also perfect and the use of the earpiece listening devices made the one day tour of these amazing sites even better, especially in crowded areas I was traveling alone but would love to have Ozzy guide me and my wife when we travel through Istanbul together in a few years

Best walking tour in Istanbul!

MrsGraceN_T, May 2026

Great time! 👍

Mark_D, May 2026

Ozzy was great! This guy knows his history. Every place we went along the tour was a great time. Highly recommended. Super friendly and all around fun time. 100% recommended. 🙏👍

A Plus tour of Istanbul

steve_c, May 2026

A licensed guide takes you to the described itinerary in an intimate manner describing not only what you see, but also its’ historical context and relevance. There is no better way to experience these remarkable sites.

This is definitely one of...

ChiWai_Y, May 2026

This is definitely one of the best tour that I have ever been to. The highlight is clearly our tour guide Emre. He is very passionate and very knowledgeable. He is very friendly and we have a lot of exchange in ideas and all our questions were answered thoroughly. The pace of the tour was managed very well and we really don't have anything to complain about him.

We have traveled to over...

Kenneth_D, May 2026

We have traveled to over 30 countries and Ozzie is by far the most knowledgeable guide we have ever had. He gave us so much history and information. He knew so many facts about all the places we visited.His knowledge is incredible and admired. He is also very friendly and made the day a lot of fun.

Best tour in Istanbul

Vince_F, Apr 2026

First trip to Istanbul and it was absolutely memorable. Our guide Oguzhan, aka Ozzy, is one of the best tour guides I have ever come across. Simply put the man was a wealth of information. He was so informative, from the history to art, culture, and language it felt as though I was getting a master class led by a distinguished professor. Throughout the entire day, there was never a dull moment. He knew the best angle for picture taking, the best places to rest, and he provided some solid locations to eat at afterwards. The pace of the tour was ideal for young and old people alike. Although the day will fly by I would recommend bringing a good pair of walking shoes. Simply put this was superb service, if you’re new to Istanbul, I highly recommend this tour.

An incredible day tour

newrock, Apr 2026

A superb experience. Ozzy was perhaps the best tour guide we’ve had, anywhere in the world. He had a deep knowledge of Turkish history and each of the sites we visited. The itinerary and pace was perfect. If you’re interested in seeing many of Istanbul’s key sites in one day, take this tour.

Ayse was our tour guide...

Nadina_M, Apr 2026

Ayse was our tour guide and she is absolutely wonderful! She is so informative and kind. Would do every tour with her in Istanbul if we could!

Great tour of important monuments in Istanbul!

Sanjay_D, Feb 2026

Had a great experience with Tunç going around the important monuments in Istanbul : Hippodrome, Blue mosque, Hagia Sophia, basicila cistern, bazaars, etc. The cistern has been renovated and looks spectacular- the highlight of the tour. He was very good in explaining the history and answering all our queries. The included lunch was very good. In total it was about 7 hours. Thanks Tunç for a great tour.

Great Tour and Great...

Martin_N, Jan 2026

Great Tour and Great Guide Mr. Oguzhan. By visiting Istanbul you have to make it. Highly recommended Tour.

Fantastic Tour

Barbara_J, Jan 2026

We had a wonderful time! Our guide was VERY knowledgeable, easy to understand, insightful as to the needs of participants and accommodating.

Cool tour, great guide!

Ken_F, Nov 2025

Kamal Aslan was our tour guide, he did an excellent job of informing us about the rich history and culture of the country and city, he was well educated and funny. The walking pace was perfect, he took great pictures of us and pointed out a lot of cool stuff

Response from Host, May 2026

Hello greetings from Istanbul Türkiye! Thank you for heartwarming words about your experiences from our Istanbul tour! It was complete privilege to have been your host during your adventures! We have informed the team to make a change om the page to describe the days of visiting grand bazaar thank you for the notice! We wish you to meet again and explore more Türkiye’s wonders together! Best regards…

The right guide can make all the difference!

Bethany_D, Nov 2025

I asked our guide if she thought this was just a job or did she love history and she said that she loved history. It was evident and her ability to answer any question our group asked her. Buket was the fantastic guide because of her knowledge and enthusiasm for her culture.

Response from Host, May 2026

Great way to see the...

Nancy_W, Nov 2025

Great way to see the highlights of Istanbul in a day. Our tour guide, Tunc, was excellent. He was very knowledgeable, courteous, and made the tour fun. He also spoke excellent English. Lunch was traditional Turkish fare but very tasty and included huge portions.

Response from Host, May 2026

Very informative and...

John_D, Oct 2025

Very informative and enjoyable. We saw some of the most famous landmarks in Istanbul and learned about its history

Response from Host, May 2026

Best experience in Istanbul

Ying_C, Oct 2025

The tour guide Ozzie did a wonderful job; great communication skills and time management and fantastic photographer. We learned so much of the Istanbul history from him and lots of details about the blue mosque and Hagia Sophia that we would have missed if we went ourselves. Highly Recommend.

Response from Host, May 2026

Very good tour, lots if...

Marisela_V, Oct 2025

Very good tour, lots if history information and time to explore / take pictures. Our guide made all the difference

Response from Host, May 2026

Wonderful experience in Istanbul!

Kelly_L, Oct 2025

Kadir was an amazing tour guide in Istanbul! He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared the city’s rich history in such an engaging and enjoyable way. His passion for Istanbul made every stop more meaningful, and his warm personality made the tour even more memorable. Highly recommend Kadir for anyone wanting to truly experience the beauty and history of Istanbul.

Response from Host, May 2026

Saw the great sites and...

Tim_K, Oct 2025

Saw the great sites and Ozzy was really informative and kept it fun at the same time. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, May 2026

Great tour with Mustafa

George_R, Oct 2025

Couldn’t have been a better experience. Mustafa reached out the night before to confirm the meeting spot. Promptly at 9:00 the tour started and we visited the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Bascilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Hippodrome, AND he introduced my wife to a ceramic shop that (without a hard sell) helped her choose a beautiful memory of out visit to Istanbul

Response from Host, May 2026

Oguzhan great guide. Very...

Arthur_W, Oct 2025

Oguzhan great guide. Very knowledgeable about places visited and turkiye. Good pace and fast entry to sites. Would have rated 6 except for visit to carpet shop. Had to wait around while some selected a carpet. If do, do at end of tour so others can leave.

Response from Host, May 2026

The best tour of Istanbul's historic places.

Mark_S, Oct 2025

Our guide Emreyy was outstanding. We've taken many guided tours/excursions over the years and this ranks as the best. He new the history and context of each site and was great at communicating. The tour highlights were Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern plus many other interesting stops. The ability to navigate and avoid long lines, Emreyy's friendliness, flexibility and ease of answering questions made this the best guided tour ever. We are very grateful we booked this tour. Well worth it.

Response from Host, May 2026

Super

Lan_L, Oct 2025

Great experience and knowledgeable tour guy. Love our small tour group. Prepare for good shoes cause alot of walk.

Response from Host, May 2026

Beautiful Istanbul

RichardandRhonda_K, Oct 2025

Our best excursion of our cruise so far! Our guide, Emre, is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He made us feel special and was very helpful by giving us an excellent history of Istanbul. We recommend him highly to anyone planning to visit this city!

Response from Host, May 2026

Helpful and knowledgable...

lynne_n, Oct 2025

Helpful and knowledgable guide. Saw all the major highlights with a good lunch. Highly recommend. Great for the price.

Response from Host, May 2026

We did not have time to...

Megan_Q, Oct 2025

We did not have time to see the blue Masque because we where taken to a rug store and a pottery store that wasted almost two hours of time. We also spent two and a half hours in Santa Sofia Masque. This excursion needs to be better organized to fit what was promised in the time frame that was given. Not everyone that visits Istanbul stays the night or has unlimited time.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

After reading the review we requested a report from our guide for the day! And we also read the reviews from other participants of the day and while reading 5 star ratings with heartwarming words about the day! We are surprised to read that your words with ‘not time to see blue mosque’ how ever our guide informed details about your visit to the mosque with spending time both in the praying area and outer praying courtyard! Hagia Sophia visits may take some time with questions about how facilitated visitors are from 1.500 years of an upstanding UNESCO word heritage site! Thank you for taking your time to give a rating!

Emre was a fantastic...

Iain_C, Oct 2025

Emre was a fantastic guide during our tour. He was really knowledgeable, was always happy to answer all of our questions with very detailed answers. He even showed my mother in law where the nice jewellery shops were near the grand bazaar. Overall the tour was fantastic, goes to all the main places you must visit when visiting Istanbul, but the addition of the guide is ensure you get the most out of your visit. The small group also makes it fell more of a personal and means it’s easier to ask questions about anything you see. This is a tour I would highly recommend.