Turkey · Castles & Palaces

Topkapı Palace with Harem & Blue Mosque Guided Tour

4 Hours Round trip from Istanbul Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Guided visit to the Blue Mosque
  • 02 Explore Topkapı Palace and its Harem
  • 03 See Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul’s old city
  • 04 Hear stories and historical insights from a professional guide
  • 05 Pass by Hagia Sophia Mosque from the outside
  • 06 Walk through the historic surroundings near Topkapı Palace
  • 07 Small-group experience for a more personal tour

Discover some of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks on this guided small-group tour through the historic heart of the city. Visit the Blue Mosque and explore the grandeur of Topkapı Palace with its remarkable courtyards, imperial halls, treasury, harem, and holy relics, while hearing the stories behind these world-famous sites.

Along the way, stop at Sultanahmet Square for views of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and pass by Sogukcesme Sokak and Hagia Sophia Mosque from the outside. This experience is ideal for travellers who want a deeper introduction to Istanbul’s Ottoman and Byzantine heritage in just a few hours.

Discover some of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks on this guided small-group tour through the historic heart of the city.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
City Istanbul
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque

Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque by many tourists because of its bluish interior decoration (blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design), is the most important mosque of Istanbul standing next to the Byzantine Hippodrome in the old city center..

Sultanahmet Square

This beautiful square and a great place to make a stop, relax and take photos of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapı Palace was the seat of Ottoman Empire more than 380 years where 24 of 36 Sultans lived and ruled their land. The palace was transformed into a museum in 1924 and now one of Turkey’s richest museums with its permanent and temporary exhibition halls. Buildings and courtyards, including a treasury, apartments, bathhouses, harems, and an armoury, holy relics section, not to mention imperial halls, kitchens and royal chambers that make a visit into Topkapi’s inner walls one of the world’s great wonders. Treasures within include 13th-century Japanese porcelain, weaponry used by the Ottoman army, 86 carat 4th biggest diamond of its kind and world famous Topkapi Dagger any many more..

Sogukcesme Sokak *

This is a small street with beautiful historic houses which are leaning against the wall of Topkapi Palace.

Hagia Sophia Mosque *

Hagia Sophia the Church of Divine Wisdom, a fifteen hundred years old splendid monument, is a must see in Istanbul, built to be the world’s largest place of worship by Emperor Justinian in 532 AD.

*️⃣↘️

* Seen from outside / Pass by

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Istanbul 1 city · 4 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Professional guide
  • Small Group

What's Not Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratitudes

Know before you go

  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • INFANTS MUST SIT ON LAPS
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Modest clothing should be preferred when visiting the Blue Mosque. Shorts for men or women should be below the knee. Women cover their heads and exposed shoulders with a scarf or shawl, skirt should be below the knee. For those who do not have suitable clothes, stands are available at the entrance. Overalls and headscarves are provided for free of charge.
  • ⚠️ Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the activity starts as finding a taxi and traffic congestion are always a problem. The tour starts on time as it is a shared tour with other participants.
  • IF ALL INCLUSIVE OPTION IS NOT SELECTED: Entrance to Topkapı Palace (55 EUR per person) is not included in the tour price. Once you pay your entrance fee (cash in Turkish Lira) to your tour guide, you will have the privilege of skipping the ticket queue. Please take this into consideration and have the entrance fee ready.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Istanbul, TR
Tour start
Istanbul, TR
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 4 hours finish where they began, in Istanbul.

Watch the tourHQ film Watch the film

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