Best of Istanbul: Basilica Cistern - Blue Mosque - Grand Bazaar
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Istanbul, Turkey
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
First-time travelers can discover the best of Istanbul with this small-group highlights tour, perfect for getting your bearings in this picturesque city. Explore the city's top landmarks with your guide, find a few hidden gems, and learn about the city's diverse cultural and architectural achievements. Along the way, you will visit the underground Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque, and even stop at Ottoman-era Grand Bazaar to get a taste of the time-honored marketplace experience. Be inspired by the local art and craft scene, and discover the secrets of traditional carpet weaving during a visit to a historic carpet workshop.
- Uncover the best of Istanbul on this small-group guided walking tour
- Marvel at top sights including the Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, and Hippodrome
- Visit Grand Bazaar to see the colorful displays and vendors and visit a carpet weaving workshop
- Get a more personal tour experience on this small-group tour
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Small Group
- Basilica Cistern entrance ticket (*if all-inclusive option selected)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Entrance fee - Basilica CisternTRY1,500.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Foodie-ist Cafe and BrasserieAlemdar, Muhterem Efendi Sk. No:13 Zemin kat, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
In front (outside) of FOODIE-IST CAFE AND BRASSERIE. It is approximately 2 minutes walking distance from (T1) Sultanahmet tram stop. Your guide will wear a tour guide badge and will be easy to spot.
End point
- Tahtakale, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Itinerary
1
Basilica Cistern
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Blue Mosque
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Hippodrome
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Grand Bazaar
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Sultanahmet District
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque (Pass By)
6
Sultanahmet Square
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Modest clothing should be preferred when visiting the Sultanahmet Blue Mosque. Shorts for men or women should be below the knee. Women cover their heads and exposed shoulders with a scarf or shawl, skirt should be below the knee.
- It may be challenging to do the tour with a stroller, not recommended
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
- IF “All Inclusive Option” not selected: Basilica Cistern (1.500TL per person) is not included in the tour price. Once you pay your entrance fee to your tour guide, you will have the privilege of skipping the ticket queue. You can pay the tour guide preferably cash in TRY (or in equivalent to USD or EURO).
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 54 reviews
Vanessa_F, Jun 2025
Our guide Kim was friendly and informative. We enjoyed the overview of Istanbul. Unfortunately the line to get into the Blue
Mosque was so long that we opted out….next time. I highly recommend this highlights tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear that Kim’s friendly and informative guidance made your highlights tour enjoyable. We completely understand how long lines can be frustrating, and we hope next time you’ll have the chance to experience the Blue Mosque as well. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we’d love to welcome you back for another wonderful Istanbul adventure!
Christine_B, May 2025
A fantastic experience one we will never forget. Our Guide was fantastic and very informative. It was a little challenging with all the walking would not suggest this for someone with any soreness that managed to make it through the day.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic and unforgettable experience on our Istanbul tour, and that our guide was so informative.
Your feedback about the amount of walking is very valuable. We appreciate you mentioning this for future guests. We will be sure to add more detailed information about the walking intensity to our tour descriptions to help guests with mobility issues or soreness plan accordingly.
We are so glad you managed to make it through and had such a memorable day. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Barb_C, May 2025
Very informative and interesting history. Our small group tour turned out to be a private tour and our guide was a Turkish historian and really knew his stuff. The Blue Mosque was easy to get in and around and the history of the hippodrome was interesting. Basilca Cistern was really cool!!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for this excellent review! We are so glad to hear that you had an informative and interesting Istanbul tour and that your small group turned into a private one.
It sounds like our guide's expertise as a Turkish historian truly made the experience special. We're thrilled that you enjoyed the Blue Mosque, learned about the Hippodrome, and found the Basilica Cistern to be so cool. Our goal is to provide deep, meaningful experiences, and your feedback shows we succeeded. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon!
Ruth_B, Jan 2025
This turned out to be a private tour for just my husband and me. Our guide seemed very knowledgeable and we enjoyed our time with him.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad that you had a private Istanbul tour and that your guide's knowledge made the experience so enjoyable for you and your husband. It sounds like a fantastic way to explore the city! We hope to welcome you back again soon.
Jenni_S, Dec 2024
A very informative introduction to some of the most beautiful iconic sites. Erol’s commentary was full of detail about the history and he also gave us a sense of life as a modern day Turk. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so glad you had such a great experience and found the tour to be a very informative introduction to **Istanbul's** iconic sites.
It's fantastic to hear that **Erol**'s commentary was not only rich with historical detail but also gave you a sense of what life is like for a modern-day Turk. We believe that blend of past and present is what makes a tour truly special.
Your high recommendation means a lot to us!
Jasdeep_S, Oct 2024
Wish there was better audio with tour hard to keep with with him or find him if he had mike would have neen better
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you had a chance to explore some of the best sites in **Istanbul**, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We are always looking for ways to improve our tours, and your comments about the audio and staying with the guide are very helpful. We will take your suggestions into consideration to ensure a better experience for all our guests.
Priyanka_J, Sep 2024
This is a scam. They only run tours as per their convenience and not as per the scheduled times shown while making the booking.
Although the money got refunded, they were extremely rude, and the entire experience left a very bad flavour. I lost the opportunity to see the sights since I had a very short time in Istanbul, and was unnecessarily made to come to the meeting point.
I had booked a tour for 8:30 in the morning. Less than 12 hours before the tour, when the tour was no longer cancellable from my end, I got a message on my phone directly from the tour operator that my tour has been postponed to 1:00 pm.
As this new time did not suit me, I asked them to allocate another guide. They said they are searching for one but never replied back. When I told them I have found something else, and to cancel my tour, the operator came back saying that the tour is operational, and if i do not show up the tour will be a no show and hence no refund.
I kept requesting for the details of the guide, which they didn't share, stating privacy, all the while messaging me directly and not through Viator.
The next day I was at the meeting point 5 mins before the tour was to start, which was the suggested time. However there was no one at the meeting point. When I reached out to the tour operator, I was told to prove that I am at the pick-up point, and then told that the tour had already started (before the start time).
They said I was free to join the tour at 1:00 since I'd missed this one.
Eventually I raised a request through viator and was refunded my booking amount, however despite not running the tour, the tour operator did not initial the cancellation from their end.
Although the money got refunded, they were extremely rude, and the entire experience left a very bad flavour. I lost the opportunity to see the sights and was unnecessarily made to come to the meeting point.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I am deeply sorry for the unacceptable experience you had. This is not the standard of service we strive for, and I want to sincerely apologize for the frustration, inconvenience, and disappointment this caused.
Your feedback highlights several serious issues that we need to address immediately with our tour operators. The behavior you described—canceling a tour on short notice, rudeness from staff, and failing to provide clear communication—is completely unacceptable. Making you come to the meeting point for a tour that had already "started" is also a breach of our trust and commitment to our customers.
I want to assure you that we are taking this matter very seriously. We will be investigating this specific incident thoroughly and working with our partners to ensure this never happens again.
We understand that a refund, while important, does not make up for a ruined experience or lost time during your short visit to Istanbul. We hope you can find it in your heart to give us another chance in the future. In the meantime, thank you for your honesty and for helping us to improve.
Jeannine_N, Jul 2024
Erol our tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. Our cruise ship was late and he kept in constant contact with me as to where to find him. There was just two other people in our tour which made it very easy to hear him and ask questions. Very good experience!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad you had such a wonderful experience on the **Best of Istanbul** tour with **Erol**.
It's fantastic to hear that he was so knowledgeable and helpful, especially with keeping in contact when your cruise ship was late. We're also happy that the small group size made it easy for you to hear and ask questions. We agree that a more personal experience is a huge plus!
Yenixa_R, Jun 2024
Such a wonderful experience! I was in Istanbul for one day and wanted to check out some places without having to plan too much on my own. The meet up spot was easy to locate and the tour group was small. Our guide was Oz (not sure I spelt that correctly) and he was amazing! He was knowledgeable and really explained the history of each location we visited. We stopped for a quick street bite and continued to the next location. Highly recommend taking the tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're so glad you chose us for your one day in **Istanbul** and that the tour exceeded your expectations.
It's fantastic to hear that the small group size and easy-to-find meeting spot made your trip so seamless. We're thrilled that our guide, **Oz** (we'll make sure to pass on your praise!), made such a positive impression. His passion for sharing the history of each location and his willingness to make a quick stop for a street bite are what make our tours special.
We appreciate your high recommendation and hope you had a fantastic rest of your time in **Turkey**!
Solveig_F, Apr 2024
Great tour with great tour guide. Istanbul is great and the people. Blue mosque so beautiful. Highly recommend
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so glad you had a great experience and enjoyed our tour. It's fantastic to hear that you found **Istanbul** and its people so great, and that you were captivated by the beauty of the **Blue Mosque**.
Your high recommendation means a lot to us. We hope you have many more great memories from your time in the city.
johan_v, Mar 2024
Elif was amazing, very friendly and knowledgeable. She kept the tour intresting despite the weather.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your positive experience! We're so glad to hear that **Elif** was amazing and that her friendly, knowledgeable approach kept the tour interesting, even with the challenging weather. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to her.
Aderonke_P, Mar 2024
Basillca Cistern was incredible.
Excellent tour guide. So friendly snd knowledgeable. Made the tour really interesting.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the fantastic review! We are so glad to hear that you found the **Basilica Cistern** to be incredible and that our guide made your **Istanbul tour** so interesting.
We pride ourselves on having friendly and knowledgeable guides, and it's wonderful to know that they made your experience so memorable. We hope to see you on another tour soon!
CHRISTOS_T, Aug 2023
Erol was the perfect guide! He is very polite and provided many interesting details that helped us know better the monunents and the turkish culture! Bacilica is definitely a must see in Istanbul! So is the Blue Mosque! Thank you very much Erol!!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review! 🌟 We’re thrilled that our Best of Istanbul: Basilica Cistern – Blue Mosque – Grand Bazaar Tour provided such a memorable experience. Erol will be delighted to hear that his knowledge, politeness, and detailed explanations helped you connect with Istanbul’s monuments and culture.
Exploring iconic sites like the Basilica Cistern and Blue Mosque with a passionate local guide is one of the best ways to experience Istanbul authentically. Your recommendation will help future travelers discover our guided tours and experience the city’s rich history.
We hope to welcome you again soon — perhaps on a Hidden Streets Walking Tour, a culinary experience, or a Bosphorus cruise.
Laura_W, Jun 2023
Tolga was so informative, patient and kind! Answered all of our questions and got to see and take amazing pics of some of the most stunning parts of Istanbul. Totally worth it, and we also got to see a local ceramics demo and see one of the historical hammams and even pointed out unique local things at the Grand Bazaar. It was such a great idea to go with a local to all these sights instead of struggling by ourselves :)
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your amazing experience on the "Best of Istanbul" tour featuring the Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, and Grand Bazaar. We are delighted to hear that Tolga’s informative, patient, and kind guidance made your visit so memorable. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed unique cultural highlights such as the local ceramics demo and historical hammam, along with capturing stunning photos of Istanbul’s iconic landmarks.
Exploring Istanbul with a knowledgeable local guide truly enriches the experience, and we’re glad to know you appreciated seeing the city’s unique details without any hassle. We look forward to welcoming you again for more inspiring tours through Istanbul’s vibrant history and culture!
Dennis_N, Jun 2023
Awesome experience from a very knowledgeable tour guide. Iskandar had a lot of information for every site and the time frames associated. Looking forward to returning and doing the tour again. Front of the line at Cistern made the price well worth it, as the line was a mile long.
Luz_V, May 2022
Aron was great, very knowledgeable of city and history. Great way to start our trip, got oriented, got great pointers for visits to attractions, shopping and eating. Very much worth the money and time. Arol English is great!
Claudia_M, May 2022
Our tour guide was very friendly and told us a lot about Istanbul and its neighbourhood. We can highly recommend this tour!
Stefani_N, Apr 2022
Erol is a great guide and the tour was very interesting and informative. Me and my friend really enjoyed it.
Ciaran_O, Mar 2022
Erol was very friendly and knowledgeable. He met us as planned and for the following 3 hours gave us all information we needed on the many fantastic sites around the old city of Istanbul
Celina_M, Jul 2021
I am solo travelling so booked this tour on my first day to get an overview. Had a great tour all by myself because the other group didn’t show up. It was very informative but also with fun notes and interactive questions. I also got help with my Istanbulcard (must have travel card). I would highly recommend this walking tour!
Karina_M, May 2021
Erol is a great guide with a lot of knowledge. He immerses you to the culture and helps to feel the unique atmosphere of this city.We have really enjoyed this tour and even took another one next day. Definitely highly recommended.
Response from Host, Jun 2021
Dear Guest, We would like to thank you for your lovely comments about us. We wish to see you in our lively city again.
Christian_D, Jun 2023
Excelente tour, guía muy atento, amigable y con mucho conocimiento, además de muy abierto a dar recomendaciones sobre otros temas de interés
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Muchas gracias por su excelente reseña sobre nuestro tour "Best of Istanbul: Basilica Cistern - Blue Mosque - Grand Bazaar". Nos alegra saber que encontró al guía atento, amable y con un gran conocimiento, además de estar siempre dispuesto a ofrecer recomendaciones sobre otros temas de interés. En Tematique Tours nos esforzamos por ofrecer experiencias enriquecedoras y personales, y su opinión nos motiva a seguir mejorando.
From $71.72
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Best of Istanbul: Basilica Cistern - Blue Mosque - Grand Bazaar
54
3 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$71.72
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Istanbul, Turkey
- Panorama 1453 History Museum Tours & Tickets
- Eyüp Tours & Tickets
- Belgrad Forest (Belgrad Ormani) Tours & Tickets
- Gallipoli Peninsula (Gelibolu Yarimadasi) Tours & Tickets
- Sapanca Lake (Sapanca Gölü) Tours & Tickets
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts (Türk Islam Eserleri Müzesi Hizmete) Tours & Tickets
- Taksim Square (Taksim Meydani) Tours & Tickets
- Rustem Pasha Mosque (Rüstem Paşa Camii) Tours & Tickets
- Anadolu Kavagi Tours & Tickets
- Museum of Innocence (Masumiyet Müzesi) Tours & Tickets
- Galatasaray High School (Galatasaray Lisesi) Tours & Tickets
- Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) Tours & Tickets
- Koza Han Tours & Tickets
- Istanbul Sapphire Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Istanbul, Turkey
- Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) Tours & Tickets
- Bosphorus Tours & Tickets
- Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) Tours & Tickets
- Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi) Tours & Tickets
- Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi) Tours & Tickets
- Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Meydani) Tours & Tickets
- Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi) Tours & Tickets