Guaranteed Old City Tour
Explore Istanbul's historical highlights with a licensed English-speaking guide.
Meeting point: German Fountain in Sultanahmet Square. Start time: 09:30. Lunch: Described as optional in the introduction; confirm the services of your selected option.
Justice Tower and the Imperial Council in Topkapı Palace. The photograph was taken in the palace's second courtyard.
Category: Daily tour in Istanbul.
Brief itinerary
- Hippodrome of Constantinople — Sultanahmet Square.
- Blue Mosque.
- Hagia Sophia.
- Sultans' tombs.
- Lunch.
- Topkapı Palace.
- Grand Bazaar.
Tour days and visits
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays. A Basilica Cistern visit may be arranged as a substitute. The Grand Bazaar has Sunday and holiday closures. Hagia Sophia is now a mosque; confirm visiting arrangements for your date. The visit order may change to suit current access.
Group and private tour options are available. The inherited programme also lists lunch and hotel transfers among its included services; confirm these with us when selecting your option.
Included & Not Included
Included services
- Tour specified in the itinerary.
- Museum admission tickets.
- Professional tour guide.
- Lunch.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
Not included
- Additional visits.
- Optional tours.
- Meals not specified in the itinerary.
- Drinks with lunch.
Detailed Tour Program
Meet your guide at the German Fountain in Sultanahmet Square at 09:30. Visit the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and Grand Bazaar. Confirm any hotel transfer arrangements when choosing your tour option.
Blue Mosque: Also known as Sultanahmet Mosque, this Ottoman monument was built between 1609 and 1616. Its six minarets and approximately 21,000 blue tiles make it distinctive. Floral designs, especially tulips associated with the Ottoman Empire, decorate the interior. Discover a beautiful example of classical Ottoman mosque architecture.
Hippodrome of Constantinople: The Roman Empire used this great racecourse for chariot racing and public entertainment for centuries. Although the complete structure no longer survives, its Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, Column of Constantine and German Fountain remain as witnesses to its history.
Hagia Sophia: Ayasofya, meaning Holy Wisdom, is a major Byzantine monument and an outstanding achievement of art and architecture. Built in five years between 532 and 537 under Emperor Justinian, it served successively as a church and a mosque, then as a museum from 1935 to 2020, before reopening as a mosque. It was regarded as the world's largest cathedral until the sixteenth century and combines Byzantine and Ottoman art.
Topkapı Palace: Built for Fatih Sultan Mehmet between 1460 and 1478 after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul, the palace was home to 24 sultans, including Süleyman the Magnificent and Sultan Ahmet. Its name means Cannon Gate. Walk through its courtyards to see Ottoman treasures, weapons, council rooms, clocks, sacred relics and ceramic collections, and imagine the world of the sultans.
Sultans' tombs: Part of the Hagia Sophia complex, these less well-known tombs contain fine examples of Ottoman tilework and calligraphy. Sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Ottoman sultans are buried here.
Lunch: Included at a typical restaurant near Sultanahmet Square.
Grand Bazaar: Enjoy free time to explore its long passages and shop. Open since 1461, it is one of the world's oldest shopping complexes, with traditional and modern products and souvenirs for different tastes.
Return to your hotel after the tour.
Additional Information
After you send an inquiry or request a booking, we contact you within 24 hours to discuss your preferences, hotel location and other trip details. Some areas of the places in the itinerary may be under restoration.
