Istanbul: Half-Day Guided Tour of Sultanahmet District

2 Reviews

Tours Family-friendly activities Guided tours Neighborhood tours Wheelchair accessible Landmarks & monuments Art Culture & history Private tours Educational activities Markets, bazaars, & souks Sightseeing Architecture Archaeology UNESCO sites Churches & cathedrals Religious & spiritual activities Museums & exhibitions

Explore the heart of old Istanbul on a guided tour of the Sultanahmet district. Visit the Saint Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and the Grand Bazaar.

Highlights

Discover the heart of old Istanbul on a guided tour of the Sultanahmet district
Admire the stunning mosaics of Saint Sophia, a marvel of world architecture
Visit the Blue Mosque, the only imperial mosque with six minarets
See the stadium of ancient Byzantium, the Hippodrome
Wander through the Grand Bazaar and shop for carpets, silks, and jewelry

Description

Discover the highlights of Istanbul's Sultanahmet district on a guided tour. Visit the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, and the Grand Bazaar. Learn about the history of the city from your guide. Begin your tour at the Hagia Sophia, a church built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD. Admire its massive dome and the glittering portraits of emperors and empresses in its mosaics. Next, visit the Blue Mosque, which owes its name to the exquisite tiles adorning its interior. Dating from the 17th century, it is the only imperial mosque with six minarets. See the Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, which held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire. Of these, an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi survive. Finally, visit the Grand Bazaar, the commercial heart of the old city. Wander through its 4,000 shops, full of treasures including carpets and kilims, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons, and leather goods.

Includes

Professional English-speaking guide All entrance fees to mentioned attractions Transportation in air-conditioned vehicles Pick-up and drop-off from central Istanbul hotels

Important Information

On Mondays, when Saint Sophia is closed, we visit the Chora Church, famed for its mosaics and frescoes. This tour is also available on Tuesday afternoons.