Private Guided Istanbul Old City Sultanahmet Tour - Full Day

You will meet your guide in your hotel in Istanbul around 9AM in the morning de for this unforgettable journey.

The tour will start with

Hagia Sophia; after decades in which scaffolding cluttered the interior of Emperor Justinian’s sixth-century Byzantine masterpiece, the thrill of being able to experience the extraordinary spaciousness of this famous church-turned-mosque-turned museum is hard to overstate.

Then

Blue Mosque; Sultan Ahmet I’s grand architectural gift to his capital was this beautiful mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque today. Built between 1609 and 1616, the mosque caused a furore throughout the Muslim world when it was finished as it had six minarets (the same number as the Great Mosque of Mecca). A seventh minaret was eventually gifted to Mecca to stem the dissent.

After that

Hippodrome and Obelisks which was the center of Byzantine public life and the scene of splendid games and chariot races but also factional conflicts. Today, there isn’t much of the Hippodrome left to see, except for a small section of the gallery walls on the southern side, but the At Meydanı (park) that now stands on the site is home to a variety of monuments.

We will continue with

Topkapi Palace, the subject of more colourful stories than most of the world’s museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived and worked here between the 15th and 19th centuries when it was the court of the Ottoman empire. A visit to the palace’s opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury and sprawling

Harem gives a fascinating glimpse into their lives.

Finally

Grand Bazaar is our last destination. The colourful and chaotic Grand Bazaar is the heart of İstanbul’s Old City and has been so for centuries. Starting as a small vaulted bedesten (warehouse) built by order of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461, it grew to cover a vast area as lanes between the bedesten, neighbouring shops and hans (caravanserais) were roofed and the market assumed the sprawling, labyrinthine form that it retains today.

Get ready to be thrilled by Istanbul’s breathtaking artifact, history and mesmerizing bazaars as you walk through the highlights of Sultanahmet - the Old City of Istanbul. Starting with ancient Hagia Sophia, we will head our way to Blue Mosque, a masterpiece and a very well-known building of Mimar Sinan. By learning the story we will continue with Hippodrome which was the center of Byzantine public life and the scene of splendid games and chariot races but also factional conflicts. Topkapi Palace is the subject of more colourful stories than most of the world’s museums put together, which will be our next destination. We willend ourmemorable journey with Grand Bazaar, where you’ll find everything to cherish yourself from carpets to Turkish delights.

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Please note that Hagia Sophia Museum is closed on Monday
Please note that Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays
Blue Mosque is closed until 2pm on Fridays
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
Annual closing dates of all museums and bazaars in Istanbul as follows: January 1 - New Year, October 29 - Republic Day, April 23 - National Sovereignty and Children's Day, May 19 - Youth and Sports Day
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate