Full-Day Istanbul Highlights Walking Tour with Hagia Sophia

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century AD as the world's largest cathedral of its time
• 02 Visit the 17th-century Blue Mosque, famed for its Iznik tiles and six minarets
• 03 Discover the Basilica Cistern, the largest water storage site of the Byzantine period
• 04 Walk through the Roman-era Hippodrome in Istanbul's historic heart
• 05 Browse the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest covered markets with 61 streets and over 4,000 shops

Visit the most important historical places in Turkey's most populous city on this walking tour and gain thorough insight into the history of the city, Turkish culture, Turkish and Byzantine arts, and architecture. Explore a city that has been home to three empires - Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman - and discover its unique blend of Christian and Islamic sites. See the Iznik tiles at the world-famous Blue Mosque, enjoy the majesty of Hagia Sophia, and wander through the maze-like streets of the Grand Bazaar. Along the way, you can rub shoulders with locals as they visit weekly markets and local shops for Turkish specialties.

Explore a city that has been home to three empires - Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman - and discover its unique blend of Christian and Islamic sites.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Istanbul Old City Walking Tour

The sights to be covered during this tour are:

• Hagia Sophia, which was built in the 6th century AD as a church and was the largest cathedral in the world.

• Topkapı Palace, the first Ottoman palace from the 15th century.

• Blue Mosque from the 17th century, decorated with great Iznik tiles and the first mosque in the world with six minarets.

• Basilica Cistern from the 6th century, which was the largest water storage site in the Byzantine period.

• Hippodrome from the Roman period.

• Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Full-day Turkish guiding service

What's Not Included

• Entrance fees for all museums

• Lunch

• Transportation (if needed)

Know before you go

• The first city of Istanbul was founded in the 7th century BC. At that time, all citizens were located in the Old City, the historical peninsula, or Sultanahmet Square.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

Tour start

Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.