Istanbul Small-Group Guided Walking Tour of Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar
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.$310Overview
Istanbul offers a rich collection of historic sites concentrated in the Sultanahmet neighborhood, including mosques, palaces, and markets that reflect the city’s heritage. This small-group walking tour lasts about eight hours and covers six major attractions in the heart of Istanbul. The day begins at the Hippodrome where the guide explains its former role as the city’s sporting and political center while showing the Egyptian obelisk. Next, the group visits the Blue Mosque, known for its six minarets and thousands of blue Iznik tiles inside. Afterward, travelers tour Topkapi Palace, a former royal residence now housing artifacts from the Ottoman sultans and their harems. The tour continues to the Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground water reservoir featured in a James Bond film, or alternatively the Museum of Great Palace Mosaics. Following that, the guide leads the group through the Grand Bazaar, a vast market with nearly 60 streets filled with shops selling jewelry, leather goods, pottery, and spices. There is also an optional stop at Hagia Sophia, which guests can enter on their own by purchasing tickets separately. The entire tour is on foot with a maximum of 14 participants. Included are entrance fees to the sites visited, hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional English-speaking guide, and skip-the-line access. Lunch and gratuities are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Hippodrome
Visit Istanbul Hippodrome, where the guide describes its role as the center of sporting and political life. See the granite Egyptian obelisk gifted to the city. The stop includes time for photos and lasts about 25 minutes.
25 min
Blue Mosque
See the Blue Mosque with its six minarets and interior covered in thousands of blue Iznik tiles. Built by Sultan Ahmet I, it is a leading example of classical Ottoman architecture. The visit lasts approximately 30 minutes.
30 min
TopkapI Palace
Tour Topkapi Palace, now a museum that holds collections from 15th-century Ottoman sultans and their harems. The visit takes about one hour.
60 min
Basilica Cistern
Visit Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground water reservoir known as Istanbul’s 'sunken palace' and featured in the James Bond film From Russia with Love. This stop lasts about 30 minutes and may be replaced by the Museum of Great Palace Mosaics.
30 min
Grand Bazaar
Explore the Grand Bazaar, a large market with nearly 60 streets and thousands of shops. The guide highlights areas selling jewelry, leather, pottery, spices, and more. The group spends about 30 minutes here.
30 min
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Optional visit to Hagia Sophia, now a mosque. Entrance tickets must be purchased by guests. The suggested visit time is about one hour.
60 min
Obelisk of Theodosius
View the 3,500-year-old Obelisk of Theodosius located between Ibrahim Pasha Palace and the Blue Mosque. The guide provides detailed history. This stop takes about 15 minutes.
15 min
German Fountain
See the German Fountain in Hippodrome Square, built during the late Ottoman period and gifted by German Emperor Wilhelm II. Visit duration is about 15 minutes.
15 min
Hagia Irene Museum
Visit the 6th-century Hagia Irene Church, considered a holy place. The stop lasts about 20 minutes.
20 min
Divanyolu Street
Walk along Divanyolu Street, the ceremonial road of the Ottoman Empire. This stop is about 10 minutes.
10 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Istanbul Small-Group Guided Walking Tour of Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar
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.$310Overview
Istanbul offers a rich collection of historic sites concentrated in the Sultanahmet neighborhood, including mosques, palaces, and markets that reflect the city’s heritage. This small-group walking tour lasts about eight hours and covers six major attractions in the heart of Istanbul. The day begins at the Hippodrome where the guide explains its former role as the city’s sporting and political center while showing the Egyptian obelisk. Next, the group visits the Blue Mosque, known for its six minarets and thousands of blue Iznik tiles inside. Afterward, travelers tour Topkapi Palace, a former royal residence now housing artifacts from the Ottoman sultans and their harems. The tour continues to the Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground water reservoir featured in a James Bond film, or alternatively the Museum of Great Palace Mosaics. Following that, the guide leads the group through the Grand Bazaar, a vast market with nearly 60 streets filled with shops selling jewelry, leather goods, pottery, and spices. There is also an optional stop at Hagia Sophia, which guests can enter on their own by purchasing tickets separately. The entire tour is on foot with a maximum of 14 participants. Included are entrance fees to the sites visited, hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional English-speaking guide, and skip-the-line access. Lunch and gratuities are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Hippodrome
Visit Istanbul Hippodrome, where the guide describes its role as the center of sporting and political life. See the granite Egyptian obelisk gifted to the city. The stop includes time for photos and lasts about 25 minutes.
25 min
Blue Mosque
See the Blue Mosque with its six minarets and interior covered in thousands of blue Iznik tiles. Built by Sultan Ahmet I, it is a leading example of classical Ottoman architecture. The visit lasts approximately 30 minutes.
30 min
TopkapI Palace
Tour Topkapi Palace, now a museum that holds collections from 15th-century Ottoman sultans and their harems. The visit takes about one hour.
60 min
Basilica Cistern
Visit Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground water reservoir known as Istanbul’s 'sunken palace' and featured in the James Bond film From Russia with Love. This stop lasts about 30 minutes and may be replaced by the Museum of Great Palace Mosaics.
30 min
Grand Bazaar
Explore the Grand Bazaar, a large market with nearly 60 streets and thousands of shops. The guide highlights areas selling jewelry, leather, pottery, spices, and more. The group spends about 30 minutes here.
30 min
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
Optional visit to Hagia Sophia, now a mosque. Entrance tickets must be purchased by guests. The suggested visit time is about one hour.
60 min
Obelisk of Theodosius
View the 3,500-year-old Obelisk of Theodosius located between Ibrahim Pasha Palace and the Blue Mosque. The guide provides detailed history. This stop takes about 15 minutes.
15 min
German Fountain
See the German Fountain in Hippodrome Square, built during the late Ottoman period and gifted by German Emperor Wilhelm II. Visit duration is about 15 minutes.
15 min
Hagia Irene Museum
Visit the 6th-century Hagia Irene Church, considered a holy place. The stop lasts about 20 minutes.
20 min
Divanyolu Street
Walk along Divanyolu Street, the ceremonial road of the Ottoman Empire. This stop is about 10 minutes.
10 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.