Istanbul Highlights Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica & Nakkas Cisterns, Grand Bazaar 7-8 Hours
by Oguzhan Ceylan
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$330Overview
This cultural bus and walking tour in Istanbul begins at the German Fountain, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm. The group then visits the Blue Mosque, a major Ottoman-era mosque known for its architecture. Afterward, the tour moves to the Basilica Cistern, the largest ancient water reservoir in Istanbul dating from the 6th century, now functioning as a museum with entry included. Next is Hagia Sophia, originally a 6th-century church and now a museum that also functions partly as a mosque. The guide explains its historical significance during the visit. The tour continues to Hippodrome Square, where Roman horse chariot races were held, and its remaining monuments: the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Only on this tour does the guide take visitors to the Nakkas Cistern, which supplied water to the Boucheleon Palace, featuring an exhibition depicting Constantinople in 1200 AD. Here, a Turkish handicraft demonstration takes place with admission included. A 3-course lunch is provided, offering soup, mezes, salad, a mixed kebab platter or vegetarian alternatives, dessert, Turkish tea, and water. After lunch, the tour walks along Divanyolu Street, Istanbul's historic Imperial Council Road, before heading to the Grand Bazaar, the world's largest covered market with over 4,000 shops spread across 66 streets. On Sundays, the alternative is Arasta Bazaar. The tour ends with visits to the Column of Constantine and the exterior of Nuruosmaniye Mosque, Istanbul's first baroque mosque. The small group size is limited to ten participants, and the tour includes all entry fees, taxes, lunch, tea, coffee, and a professional English-speaking guide.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
German Fountain
This is going to be start point of the tour!
15 min
Blue Mosque
Blue mosque (Sultanahmet mosque)
40 min
Basilica Cistern
Explore the Basilica Cistern, Istanbul's largest ancient water reservoir built in the 6th century, now operating as a museum with entry tickets included.
45 min
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Tour Hagia Sophia, originally a 6th-century church called the Church of Divine Wisdom, now serving as a museum and partial mosque.
60 min
Hippodrome
Visit the Hippodrome, once one of the largest horse chariot racing arenas in the world with a capacity of 100,000 spectators.
15 min
Obelisk of Theodosius
See the Egyptian Obelisk, brought to the Hippodrome of Constantinople in the 4th century.
15 min
Serpent Column
View the Serpent Column, a monument commemorating the Greek victory in the Persian War.
10 min
Walled Obelisk
Observe the Walled Obelisk, the tallest obelisk in the Roman Hippodrome square, standing 32 meters high.
10 min
Cistern Art Gallery
Visit the Nakkas Cistern, which supplied water to Boucheleon Palace, featuring an exhibition illustrating Constantinople in 1200 AD; admission included.
30 min
Nakkas Oriental Rugs & Textiles
Attend a carpet demonstration at Nakkas, with admission included.
30 min
3-Course Lunch
Enjoy a 3-course lunch including soup of the day, mezes, salad, a mixed kebab platter with five types of kebabs or vegetarian options, dessert, Turkish tea, and water.
60 min
Divanyolu Street
Walk along Divanyolu Street, known as the Imperial Council Road.
10 min
Grand Bazaar
Explore the Grand Bazaar, the world's largest covered market with 4,000 shops on 66 streets; on Sundays, the tour visits Arasta Bazaar as an alternative.
60 min
Column of Constantine
See the Column of Constantine, a historic monument in Istanbul.
10 min
Nuruosmaniye Camii
Visit the exterior of Nuruosmaniye Mosque, the first baroque style mosque in Istanbul.
10 min
Meeting point
We will meet in front of German fauntain at 09.00am (next to Blue Mosque and Sultahahmet Tram station)
End point
We will meet in front of German fauntain at 09.00am (next to Blue Mosque and Sultahahmet Tram station)
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Istanbul Highlights Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica & Nakkas Cisterns, Grand Bazaar 7-8 Hours
by Oguzhan Ceylan
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$330Overview
This cultural bus and walking tour in Istanbul begins at the German Fountain, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm. The group then visits the Blue Mosque, a major Ottoman-era mosque known for its architecture. Afterward, the tour moves to the Basilica Cistern, the largest ancient water reservoir in Istanbul dating from the 6th century, now functioning as a museum with entry included. Next is Hagia Sophia, originally a 6th-century church and now a museum that also functions partly as a mosque. The guide explains its historical significance during the visit. The tour continues to Hippodrome Square, where Roman horse chariot races were held, and its remaining monuments: the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Only on this tour does the guide take visitors to the Nakkas Cistern, which supplied water to the Boucheleon Palace, featuring an exhibition depicting Constantinople in 1200 AD. Here, a Turkish handicraft demonstration takes place with admission included. A 3-course lunch is provided, offering soup, mezes, salad, a mixed kebab platter or vegetarian alternatives, dessert, Turkish tea, and water. After lunch, the tour walks along Divanyolu Street, Istanbul's historic Imperial Council Road, before heading to the Grand Bazaar, the world's largest covered market with over 4,000 shops spread across 66 streets. On Sundays, the alternative is Arasta Bazaar. The tour ends with visits to the Column of Constantine and the exterior of Nuruosmaniye Mosque, Istanbul's first baroque mosque. The small group size is limited to ten participants, and the tour includes all entry fees, taxes, lunch, tea, coffee, and a professional English-speaking guide.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
German Fountain
This is going to be start point of the tour!
15 min
Blue Mosque
Blue mosque (Sultanahmet mosque)
40 min
Basilica Cistern
Explore the Basilica Cistern, Istanbul's largest ancient water reservoir built in the 6th century, now operating as a museum with entry tickets included.
45 min
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Tour Hagia Sophia, originally a 6th-century church called the Church of Divine Wisdom, now serving as a museum and partial mosque.
60 min
Hippodrome
Visit the Hippodrome, once one of the largest horse chariot racing arenas in the world with a capacity of 100,000 spectators.
15 min
Obelisk of Theodosius
See the Egyptian Obelisk, brought to the Hippodrome of Constantinople in the 4th century.
15 min
Serpent Column
View the Serpent Column, a monument commemorating the Greek victory in the Persian War.
10 min
Walled Obelisk
Observe the Walled Obelisk, the tallest obelisk in the Roman Hippodrome square, standing 32 meters high.
10 min
Cistern Art Gallery
Visit the Nakkas Cistern, which supplied water to Boucheleon Palace, featuring an exhibition illustrating Constantinople in 1200 AD; admission included.
30 min
Nakkas Oriental Rugs & Textiles
Attend a carpet demonstration at Nakkas, with admission included.
30 min
3-Course Lunch
Enjoy a 3-course lunch including soup of the day, mezes, salad, a mixed kebab platter with five types of kebabs or vegetarian options, dessert, Turkish tea, and water.
60 min
Divanyolu Street
Walk along Divanyolu Street, known as the Imperial Council Road.
10 min
Grand Bazaar
Explore the Grand Bazaar, the world's largest covered market with 4,000 shops on 66 streets; on Sundays, the tour visits Arasta Bazaar as an alternative.
60 min
Column of Constantine
See the Column of Constantine, a historic monument in Istanbul.
10 min
Nuruosmaniye Camii
Visit the exterior of Nuruosmaniye Mosque, the first baroque style mosque in Istanbul.
10 min
Meeting point
We will meet in front of German fauntain at 09.00am (next to Blue Mosque and Sultahahmet Tram station)
End point
We will meet in front of German fauntain at 09.00am (next to Blue Mosque and Sultahahmet Tram station)
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.