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Activity Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul Half Day Private Old City Tour with Optional Tickets

5.0 (25 reviews) 3–4 hours Free cancellation Private tour
Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Istanbul Half Day Private Old City Tour with Optional Tickets

About this activity

*Since Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays, the visit will be switched to Spice Bazaar.

Explore best of Istanbul’s Old City on a half-day private tour including Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Discover the heart of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires with your licensed guide.

Begin in Sultanahmet Square and step inside the iconic Blue Mosque, famed for its six minarets and stunning blue tiles, then explore the magnificent Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture that has stood as cathedral, mosque, and museum through the ages.

(On Fridays, Blue Mosque is closed until 13:45 because of Friday prayers. Tours departing at 09:00, the mosque will be explained by your guide from the outside.)

Visit unique Basilica Cistern and continue to the bustling Grand Bazaar, where your guide will introduce you to Turkish trade traditions and local artisans.

Your tour ends in Eminonu Square, with a view of the Galata Tower, leaving you with lasting impressions of Istanbul’s vibrant history.

Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Ports of Call Tours Archaeology Tours

At a glance

Duration
3–4 hours
Confirmation
Instant confirmation
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group
Your group only
People per booking
1–12
Guide
English, Spanish
Operated by
Guided Istanbul Tours

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–7 years) · Adults (8–99 years)

What is included

Included

  • Included: Skip-the-Line Tickets: Your guide will arrange priority tickets (If option is selected)
  • Included: Private Tour with a Licensed Professional Tour Guide

Not included

  • Not included: Entrance Tickets (If option is not selected)
  • Not included: Gratuities (Suggested)

Itinerary

  1. Hippodrome

    30 min

    Begin your journey at the legendary Hippodrome of Constantinople, once the vibrant center of Byzantine public life. Discover how this grand arena served as both a cultural stage and a political battleground for centuries.

    Marvel at the ancient Obelisk and the mysterious Serpent Column, two iconic relics of the past. As you explore their rich histories—from sacred rituals to imperial symbolism—uncover the timeless stories that continue to shape the soul of Istanbul’s historic heart.

  2. Blue Mosque

    45 min

    Take in the breathtaking beauty of the Blue Mosque, renowned for its six soaring minarets and the mesmerizing blue İznik tiles that adorn its interior. This architectural masterpiece blends grandeur and serenity, offering a glimpse into the artistic and spiritual legacy of Ottoman Istanbul.

  3. The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Istanbul

    45 min Admission not included

    Step into the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture that has stood at the crossroads of empires for over 1,500 years. With your guide, explore its magnificent domes, mosaics, and rich layers of history that reflect its transformation from cathedral to mosque to museum—and now, once again, a place of worship.

  4. Basilica Cistern

    45 min Admission not included

    The Basilica Cistern is an atmospheric underground reservoir from Byzantine Constantinople, famous for its forest of marble columns, dim lighting, and haunting reflections in shallow water.

  5. Grand Bazaar

    one hour

    Wander through the vibrant maze of the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, as you uncover the rich tapestry of Turkish trade, craftsmanship, and centuries-old traditions woven into every corner.

  6. Eminonu Square

    Passing by

    End the tour in Eminönü meydanı with a view of the distinctive Galata Tower.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

  • Your guide will contact you beforehand to introduce him/her.

    He/she will have a nameboard to meet you.

End point

  • The tour concludes in Eminonu Square unless private van option is selected.

Pickup points

  • Harbour Suites Old City
  • Atlantis Royal Hotel
  • Vardar Palace Hotel
  • Gulseda Otel Apart
  • Imagine Istanbul - Sultanahmet
  • Hotel Inter Istanbul
  • Union Hotel Port
  • Xenia Hotel Istanbul
  • AHC Ayasofya Hotel - Special Class
  • Meddusa Hotel
  • Gulhane Corner Hotel
  • Chambers of the Boheme

and 1,862 more pickup points

*If van service is not booked your guide will pick you up ONLY at centrally located hotels or Galataport ON FOOT. The meeting point will be the German Fountain if the hotel is not centrally located.

*If private van service is booked, we pick up from all central hotels, please note that there will be a surcharge if your hotel is outside the city center or on the Asian Side.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel You get back
At least one day before 100%
Less than a day before 0%

Good to know

  • Wheelchair accessible

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

  • Service animals allowed

  • Public transportation options are available nearby

  • Specialized infant seats are available

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Options

  • Tour en Español con Entradas

    Tour a pie por el casco antigu: El itinerario sugerido no requiere transporte.

    Requiere información del hotel: El guía le esperará en Galataport, su hotel o Airbnb si está ubicado en el centro. (Transporte no incluido.)

    Entradas Santa Sofía y Cistern

    Pickup included

  • Private Tour ENGLISH GUIDE

    Walking Tour In Old Town: The suggested itinerary does not require transportation.

    Hotel/port information needed: Guide will meet you at Galataport, your hotel or Airbnb if they are centrally located. (No transportation included.)

    Pickup included

  • ENG Tour with Tickets Included

    Walking Tour In Old Town: The suggested itinerary does not require transportation.

    Hotel/port information needed: Guide will meet you at Galataport, your hotel or Airbnb if they are centrally located. (No transportation included.)

    Hagia Sophia & Cistern Tickets

    Pickup included

  • Tour Privado GUIA EN ESPANOL

    Tour a pie por el casco antigu: El itinerario sugerido no requiere transporte.

    Requiere información del hotel: El guía le esperará en Galataport, su hotel o Airbnb si está ubicado en el centro. (Transporte no incluido.)

    Pickup included

Traveller ratings

5.0 out of 5 · 25 reviews
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Activities, prices and reviews are from Viator. Booking and payment happen on Viator; Vacantier may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Istanbul Half Day Private Old City Tour with Optional Tickets

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