Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar with Guide & Express Ticket - Half-Day Small Group Tour - Istanbul

Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from centrally-located hotels in Istanbul.

Begin your tour with a visit to the magnificent Blue Mosque, renowned for its 20,000 hand-painted blue Iznik tiles and six elegant minarets. Learn how this architectural masterpiece was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I and stands as the last great mosque of the Classical Ottoman period.

Next, step into the heart of ancient Constantinople at the Hippodrome, once the city’s vibrant social and sporting center. Admire historical monuments including the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, the Bronze Serpentine Column, the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Column of Constantine.

Visit the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia, a 6th-century marvel built by Emperor Justinian as a Greek Orthodox church. Discover the building’s rich history as it transitioned from church to mosque and later into a museum—standing as the world’s largest church for nearly a millennium.

Before reaching the Grand Bazaar, enjoy a brief stop at a local shop—an ideal opportunity to pick up authentic souvenirs and handcrafted goods. Then, gather in front of the Grand Bazaar’s main gate to hear fascinating insights about its rich history. Afterward, explore the Grand Bazaar at your own pace. Lose yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the world’s oldest and largest covered market, with 65 bustling streets and over 4,000 shops offering everything from carpets and jewelry to spices, ceramics and more.

Important information

• Please dress appropriately when entering sacred sites. Participants are advised to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt. Please bring a scarf to cover head.

• Even though you'll skip the ticket lines, the security checks at the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque are mandatory and cannot be bypassed.

• The Grand Bazaar is closed on religious holidays and Sundays.