Istanbul Tour: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern Tour

Discover Istanbul's gems on our Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern Tour. Skip-the-line access and expert guides await!

Istanbul Tour: Explore the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Basilica Cistern

Experience the best of Istanbul on this guided tour, featuring skip-the-line access to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Basilica Cistern. Uncover the rich history and architectural wonders of these iconic landmarks with the insights of an expert guide.

Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern Tour Itinerary

Join us on an enriching tour through Istanbul's most iconic landmarks. Enjoy a stress-free experience with skip-the-line access and expert guide insights as you explore the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Basilica Cistern.

Meeting Point: Meet your guide at the heart of the Old City, right in front of the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts at Sultanahmet Hippodrome Square. Your guide will be there to greet you.

Blue Mosque: Begin your journey at the Blue Mosque. Marvel at its stunning architecture and iconic blue Iznik tiles. Learn about the rich history of Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, as well as the significance of Islam in Istanbul.

Basilica Cistern: Skip the ticket lines and venture into the subterranean world of the Basilica Cistern. Discover the ancient water reservoir, admire its architectural beauty, and encounter the famous Medusa heads from Greek mythology.

Istanbul's Old City: Stroll through the historic streets of Istanbul's Old City. Visit the Million Stone, marking the starting point of all roads in the Byzantine Empire, and explore the Hippodrome, once the center of social and sporting life in Constantinople.

Hagia Sophia: Admire the exterior of the Hagia Sophia and learn about its 2,000-year-old history. Your guide will provide skip-the-line tickets and an audio guide, allowing you to explore the interior at your own pace.

Conclusion: Finish your tour with the freedom to delve deeper into the history and significance of Hagia Sophia using the provided audio guide.

Tour Days and Times:

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM
  • Tuesday: 10:00 AM
  • Friday: 1:00 PM

Important Notes:

  • Guides are not allowed inside the Hagia Sophia. You will learn the history from outside, then enter with your ticket and audio guide app.
  • Skip-the-line tickets for Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern are included, but security checks cannot be bypassed. Security lines can take up to 60 minutes at Hagia Sophia and 30 minutes at Basilica Cistern during high season.
  • Access to Hagia Sophia includes the Visiting Area and Upper Gallery, but not the prayer area.
  • Men and women must cover their knees. Body covers are available for purchase for 100 TRY if needed.

Inclusions of Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern Tour

  • English-speaking guide
  • Blue Mosque tour
  • Skip-the-line entry and tour of Basilica Cistern
  • Old City highlights tour
  • Skip-the-line ticket and audio guide for Hagia Sophia

Exclusions of Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern Tour

  • Skip-the-line entry to the Blue Mosque
  • Scarf and body cover at the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia

Highlights of Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern Tour

  • Travel through time and uncover the secrets of Istanbul's greatest landmarks.
  • Learn about the city's heritage and Islam at the Blue Mosque.
  • Enjoy fast-track entry to the Basilica Cistern and encounter the Medusa heads.
  • Explore Hagia Sophia at your own pace with an informative audio guide.
  • Be awed by the architectural feats reflecting Istanbul's ever-changing history.
Available Days:Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Tags:Istanbul Daily Tours, Istanbul Museums Skip the Line Tickets, Istanbul Tours, Turkey Daily Tours

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Starting PricePer Person$89.66$103.06
13% Discount
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Customer Reviews

Discover what our customers have to say about Istanbul Tour: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern Tour with our customer reviews.

Nicole 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Nicole left a review, saying:

Fantastic—Haluk was an entertaining guide who ensured that “his” group had the best possible experience at the hotspots! I would have liked to stay longer in the cistern, but Haluk was also trying to save us from the incoming crowds. Anytime again: a fun guide with no lines and incredibly rich background knowledge!

Kate 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Kate left a review, saying:

Samet, our guide, was very knowledgeable. Looked after the group very well and always willing to answer follow up questions. A great day.

John 5.0 / 5 Excellent

John left a review, saying:

I loved this tour because it was focused on the amazing architecture and history of these 3 incredible buildings without any typical tourist distractions like shopping or performance. Ali was knowledgeable and kind. The tour company was organized and got us on our way on time.

Veerle 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Veerle left a review, saying:

The guide shared so much interesting background! A very pleasant and friendly guide who paid attention to the entire group!

Jaroslaw 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Jaroslaw left a review, saying:

Arda is an excellent guide. Very informative and well educated, not just about the specific attractions we were seeing. We'd highly recommend using him as a guide and it was a great way to see some of Istanbul's greatest attractions.

Andrew 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Andrew left a review, saying:

Fantastic tour guide with a lot of historical knowledge and very well explained. Overall a great tour experience!

Nekane 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Nekane left a review, saying:

The guide was very knowledgeable and helpful.

Sharon 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Sharon left a review, saying:

Very good, spoke clearly and was very good with all the history.

Samantha 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Samantha left a review, saying:

Our guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable of the history and took the time to answer questions thoroughly.

Andrew 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Andrew left a review, saying:

The trip was excellent. Guide Ahmed was knowledgeable. The tour was run efficiently.

Simon 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Simon left a review, saying:

We really enjoyed our tour and our guide, Buse, was really knowledgeable about the various destinations and the history behind them all. A must do if Istanbul.

Angelica 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Angelica left a review, saying:

Great tour! The guide knew a lot and he was very nice and willing to answer any questions. It was a bit hard to find the tour guide initially but super happy with the overall experience.

Constantina 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Constantina left a review, saying:

Its a tour that everyone must do to meet the some of the most important sights in Constantinoupoli. The tour would be more relaxing if less than 4hours. Especially now in summer it was too hot. You need a hat or umbrella for sure a ventalia especially inside basilica cistern and blue mosque I have to say that is so sad to see hagia Sophia full of islamic signs and erased most of the christianism painting and transformed it to a Mosque The history behind Hagia Sophia is huge and valuable and should stay as it was. So pity Our guide explained in detail and answers questions The only annoying thing in the whole narrative is that the guide talk about religious issues, mentioning that Jesus is a prophet like Muhammad. For orthodox Christians, Jesus is the son of God and part of the holy trinity. And because there are different nationalities on the tour, it is wrong for the guide to mention anything about everyone's religion as he see it or believe it.

Dennis 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Dennis left a review, saying:

Very good, exciting! The history is fascinating and well explained by the guide.

Giulia 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Giulia left a review, saying:

A value for money tour where our guide took care of us! We recommend it.

Nicoleta 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Nicoleta left a review, saying:

Very pleasant, though long.

Ciela 5.0 / 5 Excellent

Ciela left a review, saying:

It was a lot of fun. We went as a family of four but had separate readings done.

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