Istanbul Old City: Basilica Cistern - Blue Mosque - Grand Bazaar
Active
3h
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Instant confirmation
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
About this experience
Visit the historic ‘old town’ of bustling Istanbul on this tour. Photo opportunities await at Sultanahmet’s notable religious sites including the Underground Basilica Cistern and Blue Mosque. Wander through aromatic spice markets after exploring the Byzantine heritage of the Hippodrome. Witness the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire influences in this part of Turkey's great metropolis.
⦿ Tour the historic reference points of the old town with an English speaking tour guide
⦿ Benefit from a smaller tour group that can be customised to your interests
⦿ Sample Turkish delights in the Grand Bazaar and visit a local carpet workshop
⦿ Enjoy the best scenery of Istanbul from Blue Mosque
Available options
Tour Without Entry Tickets
Pay on the Tour : Basilica Cistern Entry Fee (25 EUR pp) is not included in this option.
All Inclusive Option
(Entry Tickets Included): All the entry fees and mosque donations are included in this option. Save time with priority access to Basilica Cistern.
What's included
Basilica Cistern entry ticket (*if all-inclusive option selected)
Professional Guide
Small Group
Detailed itinerary
1
Stop 1
Largest of several hundred ancient Byzantine cisterns built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527-565). Huge underground Roman water source held up with 336 marble columns covering 9,800 sq. meters.
2
Stop 2
A popular tourist site, sits next to the Hagia Sophia, and continues to function as a mosque today. The Blue Mosque, as it is popularly known, was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the mosque’s interior walls.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes with traditional Ottoman architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period.
3
Stop 3
The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social center of Constantinople. Today it is a square with a few fragments of the original structure surviving. Monuments decorating the Hippodrome include the 3500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column...
4
Stop 4
This beautiful square and a great place to make a stop, relax and take photos of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
5
Stop 5
Pass by
The Church of Divine Wisdom, a fifteen hundred years old splendid monument, is a must see in Istanbul, built to be the world’s largest place of worship by Emperor Justinian in 532 AD.
6
Stop 6
Grand Covered Bazaar
7
The historical city of Istanbul, the only city in the world located on two continents, was the capital of three great empires; Roman, Byzantine and the Ottoman Empire.
What's not included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Basilica Cistern
Available languages
Guide guide
EN
Reviews breakdown
Viator
4.8
52 reviews
5★
47
4★
2
3★
2
2★
1
1★
0
Tripadvisor
4.8
57 reviews
5★
49
4★
5
3★
1
2★
2
1★
0
Important information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Modest clothing should be preferred when visiting the Sultanahmet Blue Mosque. Shorts for men or women should be below the knee. Women cover their heads and exposed shoulders with a scarf or shawl, skirt should be below the knee.
It may be challenging to do the tour with a stroller, not recommended.
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday
It is a walking tour, so there is a moderate amount of walking involved
IF ALL INCLUSIVE OPTION IS NOT SELECTED: Entrance to Basilica Cistern (900TL per person) is not included in the tour price. Once you pay your entrance fee to your tour guide, you will have the privilege of skipping the ticket queue. You can pay the tour guide preferably cash in TRY (or in equivalent to USD or EURO).
Meeting point
Meet your guide outside 'FOODIE-IST CAFE AND BRASSERIE,' just a 2-minute walk from the (T1) Sultanahmet tram stop. Your guide, easily identifiable by their tour guide badge, will be waiting for you at the cafe entrance.
Important notes
⚠️ Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time, as finding a taxi and navigating traffic can sometimes be challenging. The tour will begin promptly, as it is a shared experience with other participants
From $25
per person
Price varies by option
Secure booking
Free cancellation available
Instant confirmation
