4 hours
Daily Tour
22 people
English
We commence our exploration of the Sultanahmet district, the historic core of Istanbul, at Hagia Sophia. Constructed by Emperor Justinian in the early 6th century AD and designed by Anthemius of Tralles and Isodore of Miletus, this church stands as a marvel of global architecture. In 1453, it was transformed into a mosque and currently serves as a museum. The imposing dome continues to dominate the skyline of old Istanbul, and the site is renowned for its captivating mosaics, featuring luminous portraits of emperors, empresses, and a touching representation of the Virgin and Child. Explore the final resting place of five Sultans and 142 members of the Ottoman dynasty.
Our next destination is the Blue Mosque (viewed from outside on Fridays during private tours), named for the exquisite tiles embellishing its interior. Commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I in the early 17th century and designed by a disciple of Sinan, the preeminent Ottoman architect, this imperial mosque stands out with its six minarets and a particularly grand courtyard. The Hippodrome, once the stadium of ancient Byzantium, boasted a seating capacity of 100,000 spectators and showcased artifacts from every corner of the empire. Among the surviving relics are an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture depicting three entwined serpents from Delphi.
The Grand Bazaar, formerly the bustling commercial hub of the old city, hosts 4,000 shops brimming with treasures, including carpets, kilims, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons, and leather goods. As you stroll through the Grand Bazaar, relish a bout of Ottoman-style shopping. Note that the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays, with Arasta Bazaar or Spice Bazaar serving as an alternative. Standard tours conclude in the old city area, and please be aware that there is no drop-off service to hotels.
This tour not include drop of back to the hotel. Tour finishes at Grand Bazaar at noon time.
The primary language for group tour guidance is English or multilingual available. Tours in languages other than English are available exclusively as private tours. Please note that there might be a price variation for different languages. Kindly specify your preferred language for the tour if it's not English!
Tour fees include professional English guide service or assistant service. In half-day tours, meals are not included, but in full-day tours, a set menu or open buffet meal is generally included. Kindly refer to the tour description for a detailed breakdown of included and excluded services.
In group tours, hotel pick-up and drop-off are generally included. Rarely, some tours do not include hotel pick-up and drop-off or just drop-off. All private tours include hotel pickup and drop-off. Please read the description carefully to find out.
