Istanbul Old City Tour: Sultanahmet in One Day

Fifteen centuries of Istanbul in one walk

Sultanahmet, the historic peninsula between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara, was the heart of the city for both the Byzantine and the Ottoman empires. Almost everything first-time visitors want to see is here, a few minutes' walk apart, and this full-day tour visits all of it with a licensed guide who brings the stories to life.

You start at the Hippodrome, where chariots once raced, then visit the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, stop for lunch at a local restaurant, and spend the afternoon at Topkapı Palace and in the lanes of the Grand Bazaar. Hotel pickup, lunch and the entrance fees are included, so there are no queues to buy tickets and nothing to organise. Prefer your own guide and car? Book a private Istanbul tour.

Old City tour highlights

• Hagia SophiaThe 6th-century masterpiece that was a church, a mosque, a museum and a mosque again.
• The Blue MosqueSix minarets and 20,000 Iznik tiles, built for Sultan Ahmed I.
• The HippodromeThe Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpent Column on the old racecourse.
• Topkapı PalaceCourtyards, pavilions and treasures of the Ottoman sultans.
• The Grand BazaarTime to explore one of the oldest covered markets in the world.
• Lunch and tickets includedA Turkish lunch and all entrance fees on the itinerary.

Old City tour itinerary

1. 08:00 to 09:00 Hotel pickup
   We collect you from your hotel by air-conditioned coach.
2. The Hippodrome
   The heart of Byzantine Constantinople, with its obelisks and the German Fountain.
3. The Blue Mosque
   See why the Sultan Ahmed Mosque became known for the colour of its tiles.
4. Hagia Sophia
   The great dome, the mosaics and the history of one of the most important buildings in the world.
5. Lunch
   A Turkish lunch at a local restaurant in Sultanahmet.
6. Topkapı Palace
   The palace of the sultans for almost 400 years, with views over the Bosphorus.
7. Little Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar
   A Byzantine church turned mosque, then free time in the bazaar before the drive back.

What is included in the old city tour

Good to know before you go

• Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays; on those days we replace them with another sight, such as the Basilica Cistern, the Archaeology Museums or the Spice Bazaar.
• Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are working mosques. Visits pause during prayer times, and women should cover their hair; men and women should cover shoulders and knees.
• Museums and bazaars close on some national and religious holidays, such as 1 January, 29 October and the first days of the Eid holidays. We adjust the plan if your date falls on one.
• Wear comfortable shoes; the tour is mostly on foot.
• Children up to 4 years join for free; children from 5 to 8 years get 30% off.

What our guests say about our cruises

Booking, payment and cancellation

1. BookingReserve here, on WhatsApp or by email. No prepayment.
2. ConfirmationWe confirm your seats and meeting time, usually within the hour.
3. On the dayPay in cash in euro, US dollar or Turkish lira.
4. 24+ hours beforeCancel or change your date free of charge.
5. Under 24 hoursLate cancellations and no-shows cannot be refunded.

If a cruise is cancelled because of bad weather or an official warning, you choose a new date or cancel at no cost. These terms are for guided tours and shared cruises; private yachts have their own private tour terms.

Old City tour FAQ