Private Hagia Sophia Sultanahmet Blue Mosque Cistern Grand Bazaar
At a glance
Private Hagia Sophia Sultanahmet Blue Mosque Cistern Grand Bazaar is a 6h – 7h private experience in Istanbul, Turkey, operated by DESTINOLOGY TOUR. Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 44 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $148 per person, and free cancellation is available. Included: Walking tour, Our guides will help you to purchase museum tickets as quickly as possible., Coffee and/or Tea.
Highlights
- Private experience — just you and your group
- Free cancellation for flexible planning
- 6 stops in one well-planned itinerary
- Wheelchair accessible
Quick facts
- Duration
- 6h – 7h
- Group
- Private tour — only your group
- Languages
- Chinese, Japanese, English, Spanish
- Pickup
- Hotel pickup or meet at the start point
- Confirmation
- Instant confirmation
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation (see policy)
Overview
Experience walking tour, the best of your destination with a professional licensed tour guide. With extensive knowledge and insider tips, our guides will take you on a journey like no other. We meet at meeting point or central located hotel to old town of istanbul to start our walking tour. We like to make our guest enjoy city with culture, history and local foods. Book your walking private guide request today and make unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. This guiding service ideal for family, sole traveler and friends trip who want to learn Istanbul with its insides and culture of royal city without loosing time on ques. Long queues can slow Istanbul sightseeing. This private walking tour with a licensed guide visits the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar in Istanbul's Old City, with a flexible program and help purchasing museum tickets. Add an optional Ottoman-style lunch at Deraliye, or focus on Istanbul's history and culture.
What's included
Included
- Walking tour
- Our guides will help you to purchase museum tickets as quickly as possible.
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Private Professional Licensed Tour Guide
- Flexible tour programme
Not included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- museum entrance tickets Ayasofya 25 Euro Basalica cistern 41 Euro
- Transportation fee if it is needed
Itinerary
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Stop 1 · 35m
The Hippodrome is often associated with the glory days of Constantinople as an imperial capital. However, it was actually built before that era when the city was known as Byzantium, a provincial town of moderate significance. In AD 203, Emperor Septimius Severus rebuilt the city and expanded its walls, constructing a hippodrome for chariot races and other entertainment.
In AD 324, Emperor Constantine the Great decided to reestablish Byzantium as Nova Roma (New Rome) after his victory at the nearby Battle of Chrysopolis. However, this name failed to impress and the city was soon renamed Constantinople, the City of Constantine. Constantine expanded the city significantly, and one of his major projects was the renovation of the Hippodrome. Estimates suggest that Constantine's Hippodrome was approximately 450 m (1,476 ft) long and 130 m (427 ft) wide. -
Stop 2 · 55m
Our professional licensed tour guide is the best way to experience the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii). Meet our friendly self-guided and licensed tour guide at gate C and discover the hidden gems of this magnificent site.
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Stop 3 · 1h
The Basilica Cistern Museum is one of the most important cultural assets where we can trace the traces of glorious Istanbul's history. This grand underground cistern, built by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I (527-565), is nicknamed “Yerebatan Sarayı” (Sunken Palace) among the public due to its numerous marble columns rising from the water. It is also known as “Bazilika Sarnıcı” (Basilica Cistern) by some, as it was built on the site of the former Stoa Basilica, which was a basilica.
With its 80,000-ton water storage capacity, Yerebatan Cistern is the largest covered cistern in the city and stands out with more reclaimed supporting elements compared to other covered cisterns. Covering an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, this colossal structure has a rectangular shape with a length of 140 meters and a width of 70 meters. Ticket fee 40 usd is not included. -
Stop 4 · 1h
Engaging the services of a licensed professional tour guide is the most optimal way to gain access to the Hagia Sophia museum complex while avoiding lengthy queues and uncovering the hidden treasures of this exceptional Byzantine structure. Ticket fee 31 USD is not included.
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Stop 5 · 1h 30m
Since the middle of the 15th century, the Grand Bazaar is the most famous in Istanbul and a shopping paradise par excellence.
Part of the Historical Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, the bazaar is like a hidden city full of wonders and treasures. Visitors can enjoy an incomparable shopping experience and a unique atmosphere that reflects Istanbul’s spirit. No wonder that the Grand Bazaar is one of the must-see attractions of Istanbul and attracts over half a million visitors every day.
Around the bazaar great opportunities for buying the best local carpets jewelery iznik tiles and leather jacket furs.
Sunday bazaar close. it will replace with around bazaar craft centers. -
Stop 6 · 1h
In the heart of Old Istanbul, next to Hagia Sophia and a few steps from Blue Mosque, we will have a lunch break at Deraliye Restaurant which offers a selection of dishes that used to be served at the court of the Ottoman Empire.
we will experience the exclusive delight of a menu fit for a Sultan. Optional lunch extra
Meeting point
The main Entrance of the Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate is the meeting point with the guide.
The guide will hold a sign with the guest's name.
The main entrance of the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum is the meeting point with the guide.
The guide will hold a sign with the guest's name.
Galataport Passenger terminal exit is the meeting point with the guide.
The guide will hold a sign with the guest's name.
Sultan 3 Ahmet Fountain is the meeting point with the guide.
The guide will hold a sign with the guest's name.
Taksim Square Statue is the meeting point with the guide.
The guide will hold a sign with the guest's name.
The Egyptian obelisk is the meeting point with the guide.
The guide will hold a sign with the guest's name.
Good to know
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Private Hagia Sophia Sultanahmet Blue Mosque Cistern Grand Bazaar take?
The experience lasts about 6h – 7h.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from $148 per person. The final price depends on the date, time and number of travellers, and is confirmed on Viator before you pay.
What's included?
Walking tour; Our guides will help you to purchase museum tickets as quickly as possible.; Coffee and/or Tea; Private Professional Licensed Tour Guide; Flexible tour programme.
Where does it start?
The main Entrance of the Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate is the meeting point with the guide. The guide will hold a sign with the guest's name. The main entrance of the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum is the meeting point with the guide. The guide will hold…
Can I cancel?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Which languages is it offered in?
It is guided in Chinese, Japanese, English, Spanish.
Is it worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 44 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor, which places it among the top-rated experiences in Istanbul.
