Istanbul Old City Tour: Basilica Cistern & Blue Mosque

336 marble columns hold up an underground city most visitors never see

This guided tour of Istanbul's old town covers the Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Sultanahmet Square and Grand Bazaar with a live English-speaking guide and small group. The tour runs about three hours with frequent stops and covers roughly 3–4 km on foot, including stairs and uneven surfaces. You can book it with or without Basilica Cistern entry. The all-inclusive option includes the cistern ticket, while the tour-only option lets you skip that stop or pay separately at the gate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Basilica Cistern30m · entry included
2. Blue Mosque30m
3. Hippodrome20m
4. Sultanahmet Square10m
5. Hagia Sophiapass by
6. Grand Bazaar15m

Explore Istanbul Old City Highlights

• Visit Basilica Cistern
• See Blue Mosque exterior and interior
• Walk through Hippodrome
• Stop at Sultanahmet Square
• Pass by Hagia Sophia
• Shop at Grand Bazaar
• Visit local carpet workshop

The experience

The Basilica Cistern is where the tour begins: a Byzantine water tank built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, now a cavernous underground chamber with 336 marble columns rising out of still water. Your guide walks you through the history as you move between them, explaining how Roman and Byzantine engineers solved the problem of supplying a city of a million people. The cistern covers 9,800 square meters and sits directly beneath the old town, a fact that makes the ground above feel different once you know what's underneath.

From there, the route moves to the Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet Square, where you'll see the hand-painted blue tiles that give the mosque its name and the five main domes that mark it as the last great mosque of the classical Ottoman period. The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 and still functions as a place of worship, so modest dress is required: knees covered, shoulders covered with a scarf. Sultanahmet Square itself is a stopping point for photos and rest, with views of both the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia across the way. The Hippodrome, once the sporting center of Constantinople, is now a square with fragments of the original structure and monuments including a 3,500-year-old Egyptian obelisk.

The Grand Bazaar closes the tour. It's a covered market where you'll wander through aromatic spice stalls and stop at a local carpet workshop. The guide handles the route and the timing. You handle the walking and the browsing. The total distance is roughly 3–4 km with frequent stops, and the pace is built for a small group, which means the guide can adjust if someone needs to linger or move faster. Note that the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays, and the Basilica Cistern has stairs and uneven surfaces underfoot.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• small group tour.
• entry to the Basilica Cistern (all-inclusive option only).
• access to the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Sultanahmet Square, Hagia Sophia views, and Grand Bazaar.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour excluding entrance ticketsGuide in English · 09:00 and 13:30Basilica Cistern entry fee (45 EUR per person) is not included in this option; you pay it during the tour.

All Inclusive OptionGuide in English · 09:00 and 13:30Entry fees and mosque donations are all covered in this option. Priority access to the Basilica Cistern saves you time.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Infant (under 7): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 52

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Local Tour Guide Istanbul

Is this one for you?Book the all-inclusive option if you want the Basilica Cistern as part of the package without deciding at the gate. Choose tour-only if you'd rather keep that choice open or skip the cistern entirely. The small group and frequent stops work well if you want to linger at photo spots or ask the guide questions without holding up a larger crowd.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (under 7): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Basilica Cistern and why is it underground?

The Basilica Cistern is a massive Byzantine water tank built by Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century to supply Constantinople with fresh water. It's an underground chamber held up by 336 marble columns and covers 9,800 square meters: the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns built beneath the city.

Can I visit the Blue Mosque if I'm not Muslim?

Yes, the Blue Mosque is open to visitors and continues to function as a mosque today. You'll need to dress modestly: knees and shoulders covered, and women should bring or wear a scarf to cover their head. The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 and is named for the hand-painted blue tiles that line its interior walls.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour covers roughly 3–4 km on foot with frequent stops, so the pace is manageable but not sedentary. The Basilica Cistern includes stairs, and Sultanahmet has uneven surfaces, so wear comfortable shoes. The small group size means the guide can adjust the rhythm if needed.

Is the Grand Bazaar included, and what will I do there?

Yes, the Grand Bazaar is the final stop on the tour. You'll wander through the covered market, browse the spice stalls, and visit a local carpet workshop. Note that the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays, so this tour won't include it if you book for that day.

Does the tour price include entry to the Basilica Cistern?

It depends on which option you choose at checkout. The all-inclusive option includes the Basilica Cistern entry ticket. The tour-only option does not. If you book without entry, you can pay separately at the gate (€45 per person) or skip the cistern and stay with the group at the other stops.

What's the difference between the two booking options?

The all-inclusive option includes entry to the Basilica Cistern. The tour-only option does not. Both include the guide, the small group, and all the other stops. Choose all-inclusive if you want the cistern as part of the package, or tour-only if you'd rather decide about the cistern when you arrive or skip it altogether.