Istanbul Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque & Basilica Cistern Tour

I really enjoyed it and the guide was very good at explaining things. I highly recommend it. Thank you.

Daniel Silva

On this tour of the mosques and palaces of Istanbul, we'll discover the masterpieces of Ottoman architecture and see emblematic buildings such as the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace!

Details

Duration

3 hours 30 minutes.

Language

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

Included

English–speaking guide
Admission to the Hagia Sophia
Admission to the Basilica Cistern
A headset to hear the guide better

Supporting documents

Electronic voucher. Have it on your phone.

Accessibility

Only some areas are accessible.

Minimum age

Not permitted for anyone under 6 years

Sustainability

All services meet our

Pets

Not allowed.

Frequently asked questions

If you have other questions, contact us

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts. Any cancellations after this or no-shows on the day will not be refunded.

Basilica Cistern Tickets + Audio Guide

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Turkish Bath + Massage At DoubleTree by Hilton

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Meeting point

Roots And Roasted Cafe

Reviews of our customers

8.2

Excellent 587 Travelers·32 reviews

August 9, 2026
Daniel Silva
Lisboa, Portugal
I really enjoyed it and the guide was very good at explaining things. I highly recommend it. Thank you.
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July 20, 2026
Tommy
Ireland
Excellent tour provided by Hal. Very knowledgeable and could answer every question
As a couple
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April 24, 2026
Joana
Portugal
Excellent! Guide Arthur was tireless, demonstrating a great deal of knowledge!
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March 28, 2026
Francisco Santos
Mafra, Portugal
I recomend ….. such a fantástic experience !!!!
As a couple
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October 30, 2023
Stéphanie
Plappeville, France
The guide was very interesting and friendly and we liked the visit which ended at 3 p.m. (so 6:30 a.m. and not quite the planned duration but it suite...
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August 20, 2023
Anonymous
Mannheim, Germany
Very nice walking tour in a small group to see the major highlights in one day. Our guide Emrullah did a super job in sharing so many interesting stor...
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August 5, 2025
Maria Amato
Vasto (ch), Italy
La guida, Dafne, è stata attenta, accogliente e coinvolgente. Il tour ha toccato elementi di autentica bellezza, impegnativo ma appassionante
With friends
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July 14, 2024
Maria Rosa
Gondomar, Spain
The phenomenal guide, very pleasant and informative. He provided us with a lot of very interesting historical information.
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September 18, 2022
Olivier Carocci
France
perfect guide, courteous, attentive, and very interesting
As a couple
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On this tour of the mosques and palaces of Istanbul, we'll discover the masterpieces of Ottoman architecture and see emblematic buildings such as the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace!

Tour Details

At the indicated time, we'll meet at Roots And Roasted Café to kick off our tour of the mosques and palaces of Istanbul. We'll discover all the secrets of Ottoman architecture and the city's most representative buildings!

The first stop of the tour will be the Sultan Ahmed Mosque more commonly known as the Blue Mosque. Did you know its name is due to the beautiful mosaics of this color that decorate its structure?

Then, we'll stroll around the Sultanahmet District to learn about its history. As we stroll through the neighborhood, we'll come to see the iconic Hagia Sophia. Since its construction in the 6th century, this temple has passed through both Christian and Muslim hands, being used as a basilica, Orthodox church, and mosque.

Today, Hagia Sophia is a veritable museum of the confluence of religions that have coexisted for centuries in Turkey and whose beauty amazes any visitor. We'll admire the amazing interior architecture of the Hagia Sophia, with its imposing central dome. From the exterior, you'll also see the semi-domes and impressive minarets.

Leaving this sacred icon behind, you'll enjoy 30 minutes of free time to enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Next, we'll enter the Cistern Basilica. Fun fact: it's affectionately known as the Submerged Palace.

Finally, after a total of 3.5 hours, the tour of Istanbul's mosques and palaces will come to an end in the Sultanahmet District. Görüşürüz!

Points of interest in Istanbul

Hagia Sophia Topkapi Palace Blue Mosque Basilica Cistern Galata Tower Grand Bazaar

Types of activities in Istanbul

Guided Tours and Free Tours Free Tour Boat tours Folk Event Zen Day trips

Other activities in Istanbul

Turkish Coffee Workshop Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus 6-Day Trip Stained Glass Painting Workshop Perfume Workshop in Istanbul Turkish Lamp Workshop Sapphire Tower Viewpoint Tickets Cappadocia 4-Day Tour 7-Day Turkey Classics Tour Istanbul Tourist Bus Istanbul Segway Tour

On this tour of the mosques and palaces of Istanbul, we'll discover the masterpieces of Ottoman architecture and see emblematic buildings such as the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace!

Tour Details

Leaving this sacred icon behind, you'll enjoy 30 minutes of free time to enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant.

Next, we'll enter the Cistern Basilica. Fun fact: it's affectionately known as the Submerged Palace.

Finally, after a total of 3.5 hours, the tour of Istanbul's mosques and palaces will come to an end in the Sultanahmet District. Görüşürüz!

Istanbul Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque & Basilica Cistern Tour