Istanbul Old City Tour: Skip Lines, Lunch Included
Five landmarks, one guide, one day: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and Topkapı Palace
A full-day guided tour of Istanbul's Old City visiting Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and Topkapı Palace, with hotel pickup, all entrance tickets, lunch and a professional English-speaking guide included. The tour runs seven hours and covers the major Byzantine and Ottoman sites in a small group. On Fridays, the Blue Mosque is visited from the courtyard only due to prayer times. Dress code applies at religious sites: shoulders and knees must be covered.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Istanbul Old City Highlights
- Pick up from hotel
- Visit Hagia Sophia Museum
- Visit Blue Mosque (exterior on Fridays)
- Explore Hippodrome Square
- Attend Handicrafts Presentation or explore Grand Bazaar
- Enjoy 3-course lunch
- Visit Topkapı Palace (excluding Harem)
- Visit Hagia Eirene Church
- Return to hotel
- Hagia Sophia Entry included 45m
- Blue Mosque 30m
- Hippodrome 15m
- Grand Bazaar 1h
- Viaport Marina 1h 15m
- Topkapi Palace Entry included 1h 45m
- Hagia Irene Entry included 15m
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located hotels on the European side.
- all entrance tickets to Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and Hippodrome.
- skip-the-line access at each museum.
- three-course lunch.
- professional English-speaking guide.
- air-conditioned vehicle.
- all fees and taxes.
- Every day except Tuesday 08:30
Information
Small group tour of Istanbul's Old City with skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and Hippodrome. Hotel pickup.
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The experience
The day starts with pickup from your centrally located hotel on Istanbul's European side, then heads straight to Hagia Sophia. Built as a Byzantine church and later converted to a mosque, it stands as one of the architectural wonders of the world. The guide handles all ticket lines so you walk directly inside to see the massive dome and the layers of history layered into its walls. From there, the group moves to the Blue Mosque, named for the hand-painted Iznik tiles covering its interior. It's the only imperial mosque ever built with six minarets. On Fridays, when the mosque closes for prayer, you'll see it from the courtyard instead.
Next comes the Hippodrome, the ancient sporting center that once held 100,000 spectators and still displays the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpent Column brought from across the empire. A brief optional handicraft presentation happens near the Grand Bazaar. You can attend or skip it to explore the bazaar on your own (note: the bazaar closes on Sundays). Then the group gathers for a three-course lunch at a set location. Drinks are on your own tab.
The final stop is Topkapı Palace, the residence of Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th century. You'll see the Imperial Treasury, the Baghdad Kiosk, the Holy Relics chamber and the palace kitchens, which hold one of the world's finest collections of Chinese celadon ceramics. The Harem section is not included on this tour. The itinerary also includes a stop at Hagia Eirene, one of the few churches in Istanbul never converted to a mosque, before the drive back to your hotel.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What's the dress code for visiting the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia?
Shoulders and knees must be covered at both religious sites. A light scarf is sufficient, and scarves can be purchased at the mosques if you don't have one with you.
Does the tour visit the Grand Bazaar?
Yes, the tour stops near the Grand Bazaar with a brief optional handicraft presentation. You can attend the presentation or skip it to explore the bazaar on your own. The bazaar is closed on Sundays, so the tour adjusts on those days.
Is lunch included, and what about drinks?
A three-course lunch is included in the tour price. Beverages are not included and are at your own expense.
What time does the tour start and how long does it run?
Hotel pickup begins up to one hour before the tour officially starts. The full tour runs seven hours from start to finish, including all stops, lunch and the drive back to your hotel.
Are all museum tickets included in the price?
Yes, all entrance tickets to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Topkapı Palace are included. You skip the ticket queues at each site with your guide.
What happens on Fridays at the Blue Mosque?
On Fridays, the Blue Mosque closes to tourist visits during prayer times. On those days, the tour visits the mosque from the courtyard and exterior only.
Operated by Popular Travel. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 7 days ago
Istanbul Old City Tour: Skip Lines, Lunch Included
7h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 157 per person
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