Half Day Old City Your at a glance

Includes: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Old Hippodrome and the Basilica Cisterns (Underground Cisterns).
Duration: Half day tour (3 hours)
Price: USD20 per person
Excludes: Entry fee for museums, lunch and any refreshments
Notes: This tour operates for a minimum of 4 people. If your group is between 1 and 3 people, please contact to make special arrangements.

Tour description: This is another of my most popular tours. In just half a day, it takes in the most iconic sights of the old city (Sultanahmet) district of Istanbul, including the Hagia Sofia musuem (also known as the Aya Sofya, or Church of the Holy Wisdom), the Blue Mosque (formally the Sultanahmet Mosque), the old Hippodrome and the Basilica Cisterns. This is the perfect option for those who don’t have a full day to spare or don’t fancy the full day Istanbul Highlights Tour. 

During our tour, I will explain all of the key historical, architectural and religious details of each sight we visit, and will of course be happy to answer all of your questions. My aim is to help you to learn about the history of Istanbul, but I’ll also help you to understand a bit more about modern Turkey and the diverse culture of this country. Because this tour is half a day tour if you need some suggestion what to do i will be happy to organise the rest of your day, such as where to go ,what to do ?

Things to note

  1. Walking: All of the sights included in this tour are located close to one another. However, as it’s a full day your, a lot of walking is involved so please make sure to wear comfortable shoes. If you have mobility requirements, please don’t hesitate to get in touch so that we can develop an itinerary that suits your specific needs.
  2. Queuing: During high season, many sights can get very crowded and lines at museums can be long. One of the (many) benefits of taking a licensed guide is that you won’t have to wait in line for entry. The only place where this is not the case is the Blue Mosque, as guides do not get priority there.
  3. Food and drink: Lunch and refreshments are not included in the price of this tour. We will stop as and when required by the group. I’m more than happy to suggest places for lunch, or to take your suggestions.
  4.   Clothing: Although Turkey is a Muslim country, Istanbul is just like many large European cities, so you can wear whatever clothing you feel comfortable in. If the tour includes a mosque, it can be useful for women to bring along a scarf. However, almost all big mosques provide scarves and any other necessary clothing for guests wishing to enter.

Availability: This tour is available all year round, 7 days per week.