Istanbul Walking Tour: Sultanahmet, Blue Mosque & Hippodrome

Four centuries of empire in one square: the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome's chariot-racing past, and a German emperor's fountain.

A guided walking tour of Istanbul's Sultanahmet district covers the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, German Fountain and surrounding landmarks in 90 minutes. The tour runs in English, Spanish, Italian, French and additional languages, and you can book it as a private tour or a shared group. Wheelchair accessibility is available. Moderate fitness is needed for the walking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. German Fountain15m · entry included
2. Hippodrome25m · entry included
3. Blue Mosque30m · entry included

Explore Sultanahmet Square landmarks

• Visit the German Fountain
• Explore the Hippodrome
• Walk around Sultanahmet Square
• Tour the Blue Mosque

The experience

The Blue Mosque anchors this walk through Sultanahmet Square. Built between 1609 and 1617 under Sultan Ahmed I, it stands as one of the most recognizable examples of Ottoman architecture and draws visitors from across the world. The guide walks you through the square itself, which sits on the footprint of the ancient Hippodrome: a chariot-racing arena that predates Constantinople's rise to imperial power. When Emperor Septimius Severus rebuilt the city in AD 203, he expanded its walls and built the original hippodrome. What you see now is the square that replaced it, but the layout and some of the original monuments remain.

The German Fountain rises at the northern edge of the square, an octagonal gazebo-style structure with eight marble columns and a dome covered in golden mosaics inside. It was built in Germany and shipped piece by piece to Istanbul, assembled on-site in 1900 to mark the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit. It is one of the few Ottoman-era monuments built by a foreign power, and its neo-Byzantine style sits distinctly among the square's other landmarks. The guide explains how these three sites (the mosque, the ancient arena, and the fountain) tell the story of Istanbul's layers: imperial Rome, Ottoman grandeur, and European influence all in one place.

The walk takes 90 minutes and covers moderate ground. You'll need a reasonable level of fitness for the pace. If you book a private tour, you can choose your guide's language from English, Spanish, Italian, French or several others. Shared tours run in English only. The route is wheelchair accessible, and infants can join if held by an adult.

What’s included

• A live guide in your choice of language (English, Spanish, Italian, French or others on private tours.
• English on shared tours).

Options for this experience

2 options

English-language shared tour10:30 and 13:30

Private TourGuide in 7 languages · 10:30 and 13:30

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except FridayDepartures at 10:30 and 13:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (under 7)

GroupUp to 35

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tourmania

Is this one for you?Choose a private tour if you want to set the language and move at your own pace through the square. Pick a shared tour if you prefer the company of other travelers and a fixed English-language schedule. Either way, 90 minutes is enough to see all four landmarks without rushing, but not so long that the walk becomes tiring.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 7).

What is the Blue Mosque and why is it so famous?

The Blue Mosque, also called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is an Ottoman imperial mosque built between 1609 and 1617. It is one of the most iconic monuments of Ottoman architecture and draws large numbers of visitors because of its distinctive design and historical significance as a working mosque in the heart of Istanbul's Old Town.

What was the Hippodrome used for?

The Hippodrome was an arena for chariot races and entertainment built by Emperor Septimius Severus in AD 203 when he rebuilt and expanded the city of Byzantium. It served that purpose through Constantinople's imperial era. Today the site is Sultanahmet Square, though some original monuments from the ancient arena remain.

Is this tour accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes, the walking tour is wheelchair accessible. Infants can also join the tour if held by an adult, though you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the 90-minute walk.

What is the German Fountain and why is it in Istanbul?

The German Fountain is an octagonal gazebo-style fountain with eight marble columns and a dome interior covered in golden mosaics. It was built in Germany and transported piece by piece to Istanbul, where it was assembled in 1900 to commemorate the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to the city in 1898.

How long does this tour take?

The walking tour lasts 90 minutes and covers Sultanahmet Square, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, German Fountain and the surrounding landmarks in Istanbul's Old Town.