Istanbul Old City Full-Day Tour | Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque

Istanbul Old City Full-Day Tour Itinerary

Experience the highlights of Istanbul’s historic peninsula on a full-day guided tour through the heart of the former Byzantine and Ottoman capitals. Your Istanbul Old City Full-Day Tour combines world-famous monuments, imperial history and traditional Istanbul culture in one carefully planned day.

Hotel Pickup
Begin the morning with pickup from designated hotels in central Istanbul and transfer to the historic Sultanahmet district, where your guided Old City experience begins.

Hippodrome of Constantinople
Explore the historic Hippodrome, once the sporting and ceremonial center of Byzantine Constantinople. See surviving monuments including the Obelisk of Theodosius and Serpentine Column while your guide explains the importance of this ancient public square.

Blue Mosque
Visit the magnificent Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), one of Istanbul’s most recognizable landmarks. Admire its domes, minarets and famous İznik tile decoration while learning about Ottoman architecture and religious traditions.

Hagia Sophia
Discover the extraordinary history of Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul’s most important monuments. Originally constructed in the sixth century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the building has served different religious roles over its long history and today functions as a mosque.

Grand Bazaar
Walk through Istanbul’s historic Grand Bazaar, a vast covered marketplace filled with shops selling traditional goods, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, leather products, carpets and souvenirs. Enjoy time to experience one of the city’s most famous commercial landmarks.

Lunch
Take a break for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing with the afternoon program. Lunch is included in the tour.

Topkapi Palace
Continue to Topkapi Palace, the former administrative and residential center of the Ottoman court. Explore the palace complex with your guide and learn about the sultans, imperial life and the history of the Ottoman Empire.

Sultans’ Tombs
Visit the historic Sultans’ Tombs complex near Hagia Sophia, where several Ottoman sultans and members of the imperial family were laid to rest. When access or opening conditions require an itinerary change, an alternative historical site may be visited.

Return to Your Hotel
At the end of the Istanbul Old City Full-Day Tour, return transfer is provided to designated central Istanbul hotels.