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Istanbul Highlights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar
5.0
125 Ratings
Fatih
Explore Istanbul’s iconic landmarks, hidden cisterns, and vibrant Grand Bazaar. Enjoy a 3-course Turkish lunch and expert insights in a small group tour.
Explore Istanbul’s iconic landmarks, hidden cisterns, and vibrant Grand Bazaar. Enjoy a 3-course Turkish lunch and expert insights in a small group tour.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- German Fountain - This will be the starting point of the tour!
- Blue Mosque - Also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque.
- Basilica Cistern - The largest water cistern in Istanbul, dating back to the 6th century A.D. It currently operates as a museum, with entry fees included.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - Known as the Church of Divine Wisdom, it…
- German Fountain - This will be the starting point of the tour!
- Blue Mosque - Also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque.
- Basilica Cistern - The largest water cistern in Istanbul, dating back to the 6th century A.D. It currently operates as a museum, with entry fees included.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque - Known as the Church of Divine Wisdom, it was the largest church of the 6th century A.D. It now functions as both a museum and a mosque.
- Hippodrome - One of the largest horse chariot arenas in the world, with a capacity of 100,000 spectators.
- Obelisk of Theodosius - An Egyptian obelisk brought to the Hippodrome of Constantinople in the 4th century.
- Serpent Column - A monument celebrating the victory in the Greek-Persian war.
- Walled Obelisk - The central obelisk of the Roman Hippodrome square, standing at a height of 32 meters.
- Cistern Art Gallery - Nakkas Cistern, which used to supply water to the Boukoleon Palace, features an exhibition of Constantinople from 1200 A.D. (admission included).
- Nakkas Oriental Rugs & Textiles - Carpet demonstration with admission included.
- Tamara Restaurant - Enjoy a 3-course lunch, including soup of the day with mezes and salad, a mixed kebab platter featuring five different Turkish kebabs, or four vegetarian options. Dessert, Turkish tea, and water are all included.
- Divanyolu Street - Known as the Imperial Council Road.
- Kapali Carsi - The world’s largest covered bazaar, with 4,000 shops spread across 66 streets. It was a historical transfer hub for the silk and spice road, a living marvel of Istanbul. (On Sundays, the Arasta Bazaar serves as an alternative.)
- Cemberlitas Sutunu - The Column of Constantine.
- Nuruosmaniye Camii - View from the outside, as it is the first baroque mosque in Istanbul.
What's Included
- Small group guarantee
- Hagia Sophia Museum tickets
- Basilica Cistern Museum tickets
- All fees and/or taxes
- Lunch
- Tea and coffee
- Small group guarantee
- Hagia Sophia Museum tickets
- Basilica Cistern Museum tickets
- All fees and/or taxes
- Lunch
- Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Gratitudes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Gratitudes
Additional Information
In this tour you will start the tour with German Fauntain, gift of Kaiser Wilhelm. Blue Mosque, magnicifent marvel of Ottoman period. Hagia Sophia the church of Divine Wisdom recently operating as a mosque. Hippodrome Square where Romans used to hold horse chariot races and monuments remaining; Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column and Column of…
In this tour you will start the tour with German Fauntain, gift of Kaiser Wilhelm. Blue Mosque, magnicifent marvel of Ottoman period. Hagia Sophia the church of Divine Wisdom recently operating as a mosque. Hippodrome Square where Romans used to hold horse chariot races and monuments remaining; Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column and Column of Constantine. Only for this tour! Your guide will welcome you to two Cisterns: Basilica Cistern & Nakkas Cistern; give details of Romans’ hidden gems and how Constantinople used to look in 1200 AD and get a demonstration of Turkish Handicrafts. Enjoy your included 3 course lunch with best choices from Turkish cuisine: mixed kebab or vegetarian options. Your tour will come to an end in world’s most famous historical Grand Bazaar, with over 4000 shops. Join and indulge in Istanbul, with a small group of max ten travellers per tour. Ask away your questions about Istanbul’s culture, way of living and learn much more with professional tour guides!
Location
German Fountain
At Meydanı Caddesi
We will meet in front of German fauntain at 09.00am (next to Blue Mosque and Sultahahmet Tram station)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(125 Ratings)
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Sung_s
Jul 28, 2025
The guide, Tunc. was very... - The guide, Tunc. was very knowledgeable and friendly. It was obvious that he knows a great deal about the subjects. It was pleasure to have him as our guide. My only concern was the lunch. We were taken to one of the cheapest place in town. Th food was bad. I would give a top rating to the guide and the lowest rating to food.
Review provided by Viator
Pdpretorius
Jul 27, 2025
Walking Istanbul main sites - They guide Oguzhan (Ozzy) was very knowledgeable and friendly. We where a small group of 5 and he took the time to explain everything. We never felt rushed and the pace of the tour was perfect. There where frequent culture stops for chai (tee) and or to experience some local cuisine. This was well worth the day spen in Istanbul. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as it is a lot of walking.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adele_d
Jul 22, 2025
Very informative and... - Very informative and enjoyable experience. Had the time to ask a lot of questions and were not rushed. Very good lunch included in this excursion. Our guide - Ozzie - were very good and knowledgeable and a lot of fun.
Review provided by Viator
Diane_g
Jul 21, 2025
The experience was... - The experience was exactly as described. Far exceeded my expectations. Everything was beautiful although it was very hot. The underground cisterns were beautiful. Our tour guide Tounc was great, very knowledgeable and a lot of fun. Prepare for lots of walking.
Review provided by Viator
John_h
Jul 19, 2025
Sights of Istanbul with Oğuzhan - An absolutely phenomenal experience! The Istanbul Highlights: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Cisterns and More Tour with Oğuzhan was everything we hoped for and more. From the moment the tour began, Oğuzhan’s warmth, friendliness, and deep knowledge of Istanbul’s rich history and culture stood out. He brought each site to life with fascinating stories, insightful facts, and a genuine passion for sharing the beauty of his city.
Exploring iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern was breathtaking – each more stunning than the last. Oğuzhan answered every question with enthusiasm and made the experience engaging, personal, and meaningful.
The food included on the tour was absolutely delicious – a perfect sampling of Turkish cuisine that gave us a true taste of the local flavors. From beginning to end, everything was well-organized, thoughtfully paced, and full of unforgettable sights and experiences.
If you want to see Istanbul 🇹🇷 through the eyes of someone who truly loves and understands it, this is the tour to take. Thank you, Oğuzhan, for an incredible and memorable day in one of the world’s most beautiful cities! Highly, highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator
Ryan_t
Jul 16, 2025
See and learn about Istanbul from a knowledgeable guide! - Emre is a fantastic guide and does a great job explaining local history, customs, and the sights on the tour. All sites are within walking distance of each other and paced comfortably while allowing time for plenty of questions and answers.
Review provided by Viator
Marlene_m
Jul 16, 2025
An Excellent Tour – Well Worth Every Step! - This tour exceeded all expectations! Although there were quite a few steps involved, every moment was worth it. Our guide, Mustafa, was incredibly knowledgeable and did a fantastic job managing our small group with care and attention. We visited amazing landmarks like the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, and several other unforgettable spots — each more impressive than the last.
Lunch was delicious and authentically Turkish, adding a special touch to the day. We visited during the summer when it was quite warm, but the itinerary was adjusted thoughtfully. Just a tip: be sure to dress appropriately for the season and wear comfortable shoes.
Highly recommend this tour — an excellent, excellent experience from start to finish!
Review provided by Viator
Mary_t
Jul 13, 2025
An unforgettable tour - Unforgettable Day in Istanbul with Oguzhan (Ozy)
I booked this tour very last minute (just the night before), and I’m so glad I did! There were only four of us on the tour, plus our incredible guide Ozy — and honestly, it felt more like spending eight hours with friends than being on a typical tour.
Ozy was warm, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable. His enthusiasm, deep historical knowledge, and passion for everything Istanbul was truly infectious — you couldn’t help but be drawn in. We saw so much of the city in just one day, and every stop on the tour was memorable. There wasn’t a single dull moment and I was sad when it came to an end.
Lunch was also fantastic — a perfect pause with delicious food and great company.
I’d absolutely book with Ozy again next time I come to Istanbul. Highly, highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Sonia_a
Jul 13, 2025
Awesome tour - The tour is superb. Highly recommendable.
The tour guide Ozzy knows perfectly what and when to visit to take advantage of each place, avoiding long queues and waiting times.
Ozzy knows a lot about the history of the city and the archaeology. He answered all the questions that the travelers posed to him.
Review provided by Viator
Baltpaula
Jul 13, 2025
Wonderful and Informative - Fantastic guide!!! I highly recommend this tour. It might seem like a long day but totally worth it. Maybe it doesn’t always happen, but I was glad that the tour ended with the Grand Bazaar because we could spend as little or as much time we wanted before heading back to our hotel.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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