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Istanbul Old City Tour
Description
It was a fantastic day exploring this amazing city's stunning highlights. This city was once called 'Constantinople' and served as the capital of the Byzantium and Ottoman Empires, making it steeped in history. As you travel around the city with the tour, you will visit cultural icons that have undergone various changes throughout history. For instance, you will see the Hagia Sophia, which initially began as a church, then became a mosque, and later a museum. Since 2020, it has been a functional mosque, but the upper gallery has been used as a museum since the beginning of 2024. You will also come across ruins showcasing ancient icons and even some monuments in the parks.
Destinations Visited
- Blue Mosque
- Hippodrome and Obelisks
- Hagia Sophia Mosque
- Topkapi Palace
- Grand Bazaar
Tour Details
Schedule
08:30 – 17:00 GMT+3
Starting From
Istanbul
Ending At
Istanbul
Languages
EN
Departure Days
Every Day
Tour Details
Blue Mosque
A magnificent series of domes and semi-domes, six slender minarets sprouting from the corners of the mosque, a spacious courtyard, and finally, its grand yet elegant proportions make the Blue Mosque one of the world's architectural marvels.
Hippodrome and Obelisks
The ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life, stands in the open space before the Blue Mosque.
Hagia Sophia Mosque
Hagia Sophia was built at the command of Emperor Justinian from 532 to 537. The courtyard contains several minor but fascinating Ottoman structures.
Topkapi Palace
As the administrative center for nearly 400 years of the Ottoman Empire and one of the world's greatest empires, Topkapi Palace is undoubtedly Istanbul's most important historical site. It is also one of Europe's most frequently visited museums, with more than 2.5 million visitors annually. In 1461, less than ten years after the Conquest, Fatih Mehmet ordered the construction of Topkapi Sarayi, a palace known as Dar-us Saadet, the "House of Felicity." Topkapi Sarayi remained the seat of the Ottoman Sultans until 1868, when Abdülmecit I moved to the European-style Dolmabahçe Palace farther up the Bosphorus. (Closed on Tuesdays)
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar was built at the command of Fatih Mehmet shortly after the Conquest. It contains 4399 shops, 2195 workshops, 497 stalls, and 18 fountains (Closed on Sundays)
Our recommendation:
After the day's tour ends and you have free time, we recommend visiting the Spice Bazaar to enjoy the sights and smells of Turkish tea, spices, and candies. You will be alone here as it's not part of your tour package, but you will have plenty of time and can return to your hotel.
Important Notes:
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
Blue Mosque: due to prayers on Fridays, we are unable to enter
Hagia Sophia Mosque: due to prayers on Fridays, we are unable to enter
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays
-We provide pickups from hotels in central areas in the following vicinities: Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Laleli, Aksaray, and Taksim area. Pickup from anywhere outside these areas may incur an extra charge. Speak to our crew if you have any questions.
Includes & Excludes
Professional Tour Guide
Lunch
Entrance Fees
Hotel transfers (pick-up & drop-off) from central Istanbul hotels
Tour Vehicle
Tips
Personal Expenses
Drinks
All services not mentioned in the Included section are excluded.
Provider Details
Farout Turkey
Official Travel Partner · Turkey
Tour Details
Blue Mosque
A magnificent series of domes and semi-domes, six slender minarets sprouting from the corners of the mosque, a spacious courtyard, and finally, its grand yet elegant proportions make the Blue Mosque one of the world's architectural marvels.
Hippodrome and Obelisks
The ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life, stands in the open space before the Blue Mosque.
Hagia Sophia Mosque
Hagia Sophia was built at the command of Emperor Justinian from 532 to 537. The courtyard contains several minor but fascinating Ottoman structures.
Topkapi Palace
As the administrative center for nearly 400 years of the Ottoman Empire and one of the world's greatest empires, Topkapi Palace is undoubtedly Istanbul's most important historical site. It is also one of Europe's most frequently visited museums, with more than 2.5 million visitors annually. In 1461, less than ten years after the Conquest, Fatih Mehmet ordered the construction of Topkapi Sarayi, a palace known as Dar-us Saadet, the "House of Felicity." Topkapi Sarayi remained the seat of the Ottoman Sultans until 1868, when Abdülmecit I moved to the European-style Dolmabahçe Palace farther up the Bosphorus. (Closed on Tuesdays)
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar was built at the command of Fatih Mehmet shortly after the Conquest. It contains 4399 shops, 2195 workshops, 497 stalls, and 18 fountains (Closed on Sundays)
Our recommendation:
After the day's tour ends and you have free time, we recommend visiting the Spice Bazaar to enjoy the sights and smells of Turkish tea, spices, and candies. You will be alone here as it's not part of your tour package, but you will have plenty of time and can return to your hotel.
Important Notes:
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
Blue Mosque: due to prayers on Fridays, we are unable to enter
Hagia Sophia Mosque: due to prayers on Fridays, we are unable to enter
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays
-We provide pickups from hotels in central areas in the following vicinities: Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Laleli, Aksaray, and Taksim area. Pickup from anywhere outside these areas may incur an extra charge. Speak to our crew if you have any questions.
Tour Details
Schedule
08:30 – 17:00 GMT+3
Starting From
Istanbul
Ending At
Istanbul
Languages
EN
Departure Days
Every Day
Provider Details
Farout Turkey
Official Travel Partner · Turkey