Istanbul Old City Tour: A Day Exploring Historical Landmarks & Turkish Handicrafts

Explore Istanbul’s historical landmarks and immerse yourself in Turkish handicrafts on this captivating Old City tour. Visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar for an unforgettable day of discovery.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Hippodrome - The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet Meydanı in the Turkish city of Istanbul, with a few fragments of the original structure surviving.
What's Included
  • Lunch
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • All Fees and Taxes Except Hagia Sophia museum
  • Tour Guide
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fees
Additional Information

This tour is a must in Istanbul. The day begins at the Roman Hippodrome, where the Romans and Byzantines held chariot races. The next stop is the Blue Mosque, the only mosque with six minarets, and its surroundings. Following that, you will visit the German Fountain, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II, and hear stories of his connection with the Orient….

Location
Hippodrome
Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(61 Ratings)
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1 star
Amanda_k
Jun 10, 2025
Comprehensive , informative day in Istanbul - Comprehensive and informative tour - great way to experience the key historic sites in Istanbul . The tour operator communicated well with us, despite some confusion with our pickup location . Offered options for free time to take photos and explore.
Review provided by Viator
Xavier4586
Oct 18, 2024
A great time - From the iconic Blue Mosque to the mysterious Basilica Cistern, each stop was more impressive than the last. The guide was fantastic, and the lunch at a local spot was delicious. A must-do for anyone visiting Istanbul!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dylan1588
Oct 18, 2024
This tour is perfect - We visited historic places like Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, and the Grand Bazaar. The guide made everything interesting and gave us plenty of time to explore on our own.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tyler1598
Oct 18, 2024
Enriching experience - We spent the entire day visiting key sites like Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque. The guide was so knowledgeable, and the views from some of the stops were breathtaking. A truly enriching experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Harrison1587
Oct 18, 2024
Amazing experience - The full-day tour took us to incredible landmarks like the Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia. The guide brought the history to life, and the mix of cultural stops and free time made it perfect. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hudsonm5598
Oct 8, 2024
A fantastic tour of Istanbul's famous sights! - This tour was amazing! The Blue Mosque was beautiful with its large domes. The Hippodrome showed us ancient history. The Hagia Sophia was impressive, a mix of church and mosque. Topkapi Palace was huge and full of interesting stories. Turkey Tours Planners made the day easy and fun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thomasw8568
Oct 7, 2024
A fantastic tour of Istanbul - I loved this tour! The Blue Mosque was so beautiful, and the Hippodrome showed us some ancient history. Hagia Sophia was incredible with its mix of church and mosque designs. Topkapi Palace was huge and full of interesting things to see. The guide from Turkey Tours Planners made everything easy to understand!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maxb6548
Oct 7, 2024
An amazing tour of Istanbul's famous sights! - This tour was great! The Blue Mosque was beautiful with its large domes. The Hippodrome showed us ancient history. Hagia Sophia was stunning, a mix of church and mosque. Topkapi Palace was huge and full of interesting stories. Tourkey Tours Planners made the day easy and fun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Willb4594
Oct 7, 2024
A great tour to the famous places of Istanbul! - This tour was great! The Blue Mosque was beautiful with its large domes. The Hippodrome showed us the old story. Hagia Sophia was impressive, a mixture of church and mosque. The Topkapi Palace was huge and full of exciting stories. Turkey Tours Planners made the day easy and enjoyable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leila_s
Jul 3, 2025
The tour was supposed to... - The tour was supposed to be 7-8 hours. It ended up being almost 10 hours. This tour is sold as a tour by bus/walking but The only time we used the bus was to pick up and drop off from the hotel. The tour guy was walking very fast and didn’t wait for travelers walking at a slowest pace. We also went around circles around Hagia Sophia. The tour started at the blue mosque and then Hagia Sophia, and at the end, we had to go back because some people went inside Hagia Sophia to pray. We didn’t know this. They also brought us to leather market and that wasn’t part of the itinerary.
Review provided by Viator
From $200
up to 7 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).