4-Hour Istanbul Landmarks Tour with Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Admire the exquisite blue Iznik tiles of the Blue Mosque
• 02 Explore Hagia Sophia, considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World
• 03 Relive old Byzantium at the Hippodrome with the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpent Column
• 04 Stroll through the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest covered bazaars

Enjoy this imperial tour in Istanbul, Turkey's most populous city and the former Constantinople. Explore the wondrous Hagia Sophia, admire the exquisite blue Iznik tiles of the Blue Mosque, relive the sporting and social life of old Byzantium at the Hippodrome, and stroll through the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest covered markets.

Visit the Hagia Sophia Museum, considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World and holding a unique place in architectural history as one of the rare works of this size and age that still survives.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

City Istanbul

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Imperial Landmarks of Istanbul

• Pick up from your hotel and begin the tour.
• Visit the Hagia Sophia Museum, considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World and holding a unique place in architectural history as one of the rare works of this size and age that still survives.
• See the Blue Mosque, which takes its name from the world-famous exquisite blue Iznik tiles decorating its interior. It is also the only imperial mosque in the world that was originally built with six minarets.
• Continue to Hippodrome Square, the sporting and social center of old Byzantium, which once held 100,000 spectators. It features objects from all corners of the empire, such as the Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpent Column.
• Explore the Grand Bazaar, the largest and oldest covered bazaar in the world. It was the center of trade and commerce in Istanbul, with more than 4,000 shops.
• At the end of the tour, drive back to your hotel.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Museum entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
• English-speaking Istanbul tour guide
• Pick-up and drop-off service from your hotel
• Transportation in air-conditioned vehicles
• Donations to the mosques
• TURSAB insurance

What's Not Included

• Lunch
• Optional gratuities

Know before you go

• The Blue Mosque is visited from outside on Friday mornings until 13:00 because of noon prayer.
• When Saint Sophia is closed, we visit the Chora Church, famed for its mosaics.
• On Sundays, we visit Nuruosmaniye Street around the Grand Bazaar since the Grand Bazaar is closed.
• We do not recommend this tour for people who have difficulty walking.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

Tour start

Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.