Istanbul Private Sightseeing Tour: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace
by Neon Tours
Choose from 1 available option
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.$530Overview
This private 8-hour sightseeing tour of Istanbul covers the city’s main landmarks with a personal guide and private vehicle transport. The tour starts with a visit to the Blue Mosque, located near the Hippodrome, where visitors can admire its six minarets and over 20,000 Iznik tiles in the main hall. Next, the group spends time at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world, featuring more than 4,000 shops over 58 streets, specializing in jewelry, leather, spices, and carpets. The tour continues to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, noted for its Byzantine mosaics and architecture, followed by a visit to Topkapi Palace, the largest and oldest palace of the Ottoman Empire, including its treasury and views over the Golden Horn. If Topkapi Palace is closed, the Istanbul Archaeology Museum will be visited instead. Additional stops include the Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground water reservoir built in the 6th century; the Hagia Irene Museum, the oldest church of the Byzantine Empire; the German Fountain, a historic fountain transported from Germany; the Obelisk of Theodosius, originally from Egypt; the Byzantine Hippodrome; and Divanyolu Street, the historic imperial road to Topkapi Palace. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the entire tour uses a private vehicle. Lunch and drinks are not included, and gratuities are not covered. The guide will adjust the itinerary if any museum is closed. Shore excursion guests will not be able to visit the Basilica Cistern due to time restrictions. Children aged 4 and under are not recommended to join this tour.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Blue Mosque
Located opposite the Hippodrome, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque features six minarets and 260 windows that light its main chamber decorated with over 20,000 Iznik tiles. The stop lasts about 30 minutes.
30 min
Grand Bazaar
Operating since the 14th century, this covered market covers 58 streets with more than 4,000 shops selling jewelry, leather, pottery, spices, and carpets. The visit typically lasts 75 minutes. The bazaar is closed on Sundays; extra time will be added to other stops if so.
75 min
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
This former basilica and mosque is famous for its large scale and Byzantine mosaics. It is considered an outstanding architectural work. Visitors spend about 60 minutes here.
60 min
TopkapI Palace
The oldest and largest Ottoman palace, featuring the treasury and buildings overlooking the Golden Horn. The visit takes around 2 hours. If closed on Tuesdays, the Istanbul Archaeology Museum will be visited instead.
120 min
Basilica Cistern
The largest of several hundred ancient cisterns beneath Istanbul, built in the 6th century during Byzantine Emperor Justinian I’s reign. It is located 500 feet (150 m) southwest of Hagia Sophia on the Sarayburnu peninsula. The visit lasts about 30 minutes.
30 min
Hagia Irene Museum
The oldest church of the Byzantine Empire, situated in the outer courtyard of Topkapi Palace. Visitors spend approximately 30 minutes here.
30 min
German Fountain
A historic fountain originally built in Germany and transported by ship to Istanbul. The visit is about 10 minutes.
10 min
Obelisk of Theodosius
An obelisk originally from Egypt built for King Thutmose III and later moved to Constantinople. The stop is around 10 minutes.
10 min
Hippodrome
The site of the Byzantine Hippodrome, included with a 30-minute stop.
30 min
Divanyolu Street
Known as the 'Road to the Imperial Council,' this historic street connected Constantinople to Rome and leads to Topkapi Palace. The time spent here varies.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Istanbul Private Sightseeing Tour: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace
by Neon Tours
Choose from 1 available option
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.$530Overview
This private 8-hour sightseeing tour of Istanbul covers the city’s main landmarks with a personal guide and private vehicle transport. The tour starts with a visit to the Blue Mosque, located near the Hippodrome, where visitors can admire its six minarets and over 20,000 Iznik tiles in the main hall. Next, the group spends time at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world, featuring more than 4,000 shops over 58 streets, specializing in jewelry, leather, spices, and carpets. The tour continues to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, noted for its Byzantine mosaics and architecture, followed by a visit to Topkapi Palace, the largest and oldest palace of the Ottoman Empire, including its treasury and views over the Golden Horn. If Topkapi Palace is closed, the Istanbul Archaeology Museum will be visited instead. Additional stops include the Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground water reservoir built in the 6th century; the Hagia Irene Museum, the oldest church of the Byzantine Empire; the German Fountain, a historic fountain transported from Germany; the Obelisk of Theodosius, originally from Egypt; the Byzantine Hippodrome; and Divanyolu Street, the historic imperial road to Topkapi Palace. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the entire tour uses a private vehicle. Lunch and drinks are not included, and gratuities are not covered. The guide will adjust the itinerary if any museum is closed. Shore excursion guests will not be able to visit the Basilica Cistern due to time restrictions. Children aged 4 and under are not recommended to join this tour.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Blue Mosque
Located opposite the Hippodrome, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque features six minarets and 260 windows that light its main chamber decorated with over 20,000 Iznik tiles. The stop lasts about 30 minutes.
30 min
Grand Bazaar
Operating since the 14th century, this covered market covers 58 streets with more than 4,000 shops selling jewelry, leather, pottery, spices, and carpets. The visit typically lasts 75 minutes. The bazaar is closed on Sundays; extra time will be added to other stops if so.
75 min
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
This former basilica and mosque is famous for its large scale and Byzantine mosaics. It is considered an outstanding architectural work. Visitors spend about 60 minutes here.
60 min
TopkapI Palace
The oldest and largest Ottoman palace, featuring the treasury and buildings overlooking the Golden Horn. The visit takes around 2 hours. If closed on Tuesdays, the Istanbul Archaeology Museum will be visited instead.
120 min
Basilica Cistern
The largest of several hundred ancient cisterns beneath Istanbul, built in the 6th century during Byzantine Emperor Justinian I’s reign. It is located 500 feet (150 m) southwest of Hagia Sophia on the Sarayburnu peninsula. The visit lasts about 30 minutes.
30 min
Hagia Irene Museum
The oldest church of the Byzantine Empire, situated in the outer courtyard of Topkapi Palace. Visitors spend approximately 30 minutes here.
30 min
German Fountain
A historic fountain originally built in Germany and transported by ship to Istanbul. The visit is about 10 minutes.
10 min
Obelisk of Theodosius
An obelisk originally from Egypt built for King Thutmose III and later moved to Constantinople. The stop is around 10 minutes.
10 min
Hippodrome
The site of the Byzantine Hippodrome, included with a 30-minute stop.
30 min
Divanyolu Street
Known as the 'Road to the Imperial Council,' this historic street connected Constantinople to Rome and leads to Topkapi Palace. The time spent here varies.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.