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Discover the ancient ruins of Constantinople in Istanbul's Old City. Explore Sultanahmet and learn about the history and legends of Byzantine, the last era of the Roman Empire.

Highlights

• Explore Istanbul’s Old City with a 5-Star Licensed Guide
• Hear the history of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire
• See the Hippodrome of Constantinople, Bukoleon Palace, and more
• Skip-the-line tickets to Hagia Sophia Mosque (3- and 4-hour options only)
• Discover Basilica Cistern with skip-the-line tickets (5-hour option only)

Description

On this private tour you will travel back in time to the Byzantine era and explore the ancient streets of Constantinople with a History Expert-Guide! Immerse yourself in stories about the fallen empire and discover what’s left of its architecture and heritage. Enjoy an exclusive experience of Sultanahmet tailored to your needs and interests. See pre-Ottoman Istanbul! Book our 2-hour tour to discover the ancient ruins of Constantinople in the Old City (Sultanahmet District). You will see the square where the Hippodrome horse and chariot racing stadium stood, and hear amazing stories about daily life in the capital of the mighty Byzantine Empire before its conquest by the Turks. Istanbul has changed a lot during the Ottoman Empire era. The guide will tell you how the magnificent Hagia Sophia transformed from a Roman catholic church to a mosque and show you the ruins of ancient temples, fountains and obelisks. You will pass the 16th-century Blue Mosque and the site where the Great Palace of Constantinople stood. Another point of interest will be the impressive ruins of the 5th-century Bucoleon Palace and the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, which is a former Greek Eastern Orthodox church built in the 6th century. You will feel closer to Constantinople with every step! Book our 3-hour tour to discover the ancient ruins of Constantinople in the Old City and visit the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Today, this magnificent mosque is one of the most visited attractions in Istanbul, but during the Byzantine Empire it was a Christian cathedral. Inside, your Expert Guide will explain Hagia Sophia’s Christian and Islamic elements and how it has changed during the country’s transformation from the Byzantine Empire, to the Ottoman Empire, to the new Republic of Turkey. Skip-the-line tickets are included to help you save time and avoid long queues. Book our 5-hour tour to discover the ancient ruins of Constantinople in the Old City and visit the Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia Mosque. This option includes skip-the-line tickets to 2 top attractions of the Byzantine heritage. Go underground to the largest of the several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the Old City of Istanbul and discover the secrets of Byzantine engineering!

Includes

The Byzantine Empire History Private Walking Tour of Istanbul’s Old City (number of attractions depends on the option selected) History Expert-Guide who fluent in the language of your choice Free admission to Little Hagia Sophia Skip-the-line tickets to Hagia Sophia (3- and 5-hour options only) Skip-the-line tickets to Basilica Cistern (5-hour option only)

Important Information

• Check your email a day before the tour for important information. Please note that the number of attractions depends on the option selected. You will not enter Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern during a 2-hour tour. All mosque visitors must undergo security checks and follow mosque etiquette, which includes modest attire (headscarves for women). Entry during prayers is restricted. Women are allowed only in the visitors’ area. Skip-the-line tickets allow you to enter faster without purchasing tickets on the spot, but you will have to wait in line for ticket validation and mandatory security checks. For the best experience, we limit your group size to 1-25 guests per guide. We will arrange additional guides for larger groups, so the price will be higher. It is a walking tour, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes and dressing appropriately for the weather.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund