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A person in a red hooded jacket standing in a historic building with ornate chandeliers. 1
An indoor historical site with stone columns, a central water feature, and visitors. 2
A historical building with large columns and arches, illuminated by green lighting. 3
A historical building with columns and a statue. 4
A historical building with large columns and statues. 5
By Tourmania

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
Free cancellation available
Price is P 5,277 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 3h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

  • Discover Istanbul’s rich history on a guided walking tour through Sultanahmet. Explore the iconic Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, with the option to visit the magnificent Basilica Cistern.

    Meet your professional guide in Sultanahmet Square and begin at the Blue Mosque, famous for its elegant domes, minarets, and beautiful İznik tiles. Continue through the historic Hippodrome, once the heart of Byzantine Constantinople.

    Next, visit Hagia Sophia with your included entrance ticket. Admire its remarkable architecture, impressive dome, and centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman heritage.

    If you select the extended option, explore the Basilica Cistern, an extraordinary underground reservoir featuring hundreds of marble columns and the famous Medusa heads.

    Enjoy a memorable journey through Istanbul’s history and culture with fascinating insights from your knowledgeable guide.

Activity location

  • German Fountain
    • Hippodrome Square,
    • 34122, Istanbul, Turkiye

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • German Fountain
    • At Meydanı Caddesi
    • 34122, Binbirdirek, İstanbul, Türkiye

Check availability

Excluding Basilica Cistern

  • Activity duration is 3 hours3h
    3h
  • English

Group Tour: This includes the Hagia Sophia entrance ticket. The Basilica Cistern is not included in this option.

Language options: English
Price details
P 5,277.10 x 2 AdultsP 10,554.20
Total
Price is P 10,554.20

Including Basilica Cistern

  • Activity duration is 3 hours3h
    3h
  • English

Note: This includes entrance tickets to both Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, along with a guided visit to the Blue Mosque.

Language options: English
Price details
P 9,850.58 x 2 AdultsP 19,701.16
Total
Price is P 19,701.16

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Basilica Cistern Entrance Tickets (if option selected)
  • Inclusions
    Small-group tour for a more personal experience
  • Inclusions
    Professional licensed tour guide
  • Inclusions
    Hagia Sophia Entrance Tickets
  • Inclusions
    Guided tour of Istanbul's most iconic sites
  • Inclusions
    Guided tour of Hagia Sophia
  • Exclusions
    Transfer
  • Exclusions
    Food and drinks
  • Exclusions
    Personal Expenses

Know before you book

    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • Please arrive at the meeting point on time. If you are more than 5 minutes late, the guide will not be able to wait. For the sake of the tour’s atmosphere and flow, we cannot allow late arrivals to join once the tour has started.
    • Please be aware that once the tour begins, the guide will be fully focused on leading the group and cannot answer phone calls or assist latecomers.
    • Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to welcoming you on the tour!

Activity itinerary

German Fountain

  • 15m
Situated at the northern end of the famous hippodrome known as Sultanahmet Square, the German Fountain (also known as the Kaiser William Fountain) was built in 1898 to commemorate the German Emperor’s visit to Istanbul. Designed in a Neo-Byzantine style by a team of German and Italian architects, the fountain survives today as a testament to Germany and Turkey’s longstanding friendship.

Sultanahmet District

  • 15m
With buildings dating from the early Byzantine through the late Ottoman periods, the bustling Sultanahmet District is thick with historical and religious attractions. Behold the breathtaking Hagia Sophia Museum, witness the opulent lives of sultans at Topkapi Palace, go underground to explore the Basilica Cistern, experience the active Blue Mosque and its intricate tile work, shop for the perfect souvenir at the Grand Bazaar, and imagine horse racing at the site of the ancient Hippodrome. Most guided tours of the Sultanahmet District visit all of the six main sites, and often allow you to skip the long lines. Opt for private or group tours of various lengths to suit your travel style and schedule.

Hagia Sophia Mosque

  • 45m
  • Admission ticket included
Turkey’s (officially the Republic of Türkiye) magnificent Hagia Sophia is a riot of swooping domes and mismatched minarets added throughout its long life. The lofty interior is a soaring sequence of domed and arched spaces, centering on the shell-like apse and the massive dome, which seems to float unsupported and gives the church its amazing sense of space. Work continues to uncover the golden Christian mosaics and colorful frescoes from the Byzantine era, which were plastered over by the Ottomans. Tours often allow you to skip the long lines with a guide, and many Istanbul excursions combine the Hagia Sophia Museum with other sights in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet neighborhood, including the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, and Basilica Cistern.

Blue Mosque

  • 50m
  • Admission ticket included
The Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s top attractions and offers the opportunity to visit an active place of worship in the historical Sultanahmet neighborhood. Stroll through the airy courtyard and pause to soak up the atmosphere inside the mosque’s vast and curvaceous interior under cascading domes.

Basilica Cistern

  • 50m
  • Admission ticket not included
Discover the magnificent Basilica Cistern, an ancient Byzantine underground reservoir featuring hundreds of marble columns, atmospheric lighting, and the famous Medusa heads. Explore its fascinating history and remarkable architecture. (Optional)

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    German Fountain
    • Hippodrome Square,
    • 34122, Istanbul, Turkiye

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    German Fountain
    • At Meydanı Caddesi
    • 34122, Binbirdirek, İstanbul, Türkiye

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