Turkey · Architecture

6-Hour Istanbul Shore Excursion with Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia

6 Hours Round trip from Sultan Ahmet Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore the ancient Hippodrome, once the Greek sporting and social centre of Constantinople
02 Admire the 17th-century Blue Mosque and its hand-painted blue tiles
03 Visit Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine masterpiece said to have changed architectural history
04 Discover the most important public chambers of the vast Topkapı Palace complex

Discover the remarkably rich and enticing heritage of Istanbul on this 6-hour shore excursion through the city's most iconic landmarks. Explore the ancient Hippodrome, admire the 17th-century Blue Mosque, and visit Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture said to have changed the history of architecture. Your tour concludes at Topkapı Palace, where the most important rooms and chambers of the vast palace complex are open to the public.

This extraordinary structure is said to have "changed the history of architecture".

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

City Istanbul

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Istanbul's Historic Landmarks

Meet your Istanbul tour guide and begin the tour with a visit to the Hippodrome. Once the ancient Greek sporting and social centre, it now serves as a city square, with only a few remains of the original site still visible.
Proceed to the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque). This 17th-century mosque is still in use and is revered for the hand-painted blue tiles that adorn its walls.
Continue to Hagia Sophia Museum, the epitome of Byzantine architecture. This extraordinary structure is said to have "changed the history of architecture".
End your tour with a visit to Topkapı Palace Museum. The palace complex contains hundreds of rooms and chambers, though only the most important are accessible to the public today.