Historic Istanbul Old City Tour: Visit Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

Immerse yourself in the rich history of Istanbul’s old town on this guided tour. Explore iconic landmarks, indulge in Turkish delights, and marvel at the breathtaking views from the Blue Mosque.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Basilica Cistern - Largest of several hundred ancient Byzantine cisterns built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527-565). Huge underground Roman water source held up with 336 marble columns covering 9,800 sq. meters.
What's Included
  • Professional Guide
  • Small Group
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a journey to Istanbul’s lively ‘old town’ steeped in history. Get your camera ready for the remarkable religious landmarks in Sultanahmet – the Underground Basilica Cistern and Blue Mosque. Immerse yourself in the fragrant spice bazaars following your exploration of the Hippodrome’s Byzantine past. Experience the convergence of Roman,…

Location
Foodie-ist Cafe and Brasserie
Muhterem Efendi Sokak
Meet your guide in front (outside) of FOODIE-IST CAFE AND BRASSERIE. It is approximately 2 minutes walking distance from (T1) Sultanahmet tram stop. Your guide will wear a tour guide badge and will be easy to spot.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(82 Ratings)
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Liliahelen_d
Nov 19, 2024
Our guide was fantastic!... - Our guide was fantastic! Mohammed is very knowledgeable and made sure we had a great experience during our tour. Loved it!
Review provided by Viator
Ludo_v
Nov 19, 2024
The right tour with the right guide - We really liked this tour around the blue mosque. Our tour guide Tolga was very good and adapted to our level of knowledge and interest. The group was small and the pace was well adapted and timely. We LOVED the cistern which the guide had “cut the line” access to. The grand bazar was closed on Sunday but we were taken (by tram!) to the Egyptian bazar instead. We also liked that there were no unnecessary “sales pitches” from unwanted stores. All in all a great experience. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Alexey_s
Nov 9, 2024
Great experience - Very interesting. Loved the stone columns, especially the Medusa heads. Worth the visit. The line was long but the wait was not too long
Review provided by Viator
Kate_b
Nov 7, 2024
History and Charm: A Delightful Tour of Istanbul’s Old City - I had a wonderful afternoon exploring the Old City of Istanbul, guided by Erol, who was a wealth of knowledge and charm. He was punctual, friendly, and full of fascinating insights about Istanbul, its history, and the many sights we visited. Having Erol all to myself felt like a personalized experience, and the tour was perfectly timed—not too long, not too short, which was ideal for someone who typically finds tours a bit confining. I highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Materroma
Oct 28, 2024
Beautiful and majestic , must see - Absolutely not to be missed, exciting and imposing.very nice idea to enrich it with glass artworks and beautiful to see both the jellyfish head at the base of a column and the satyr who suddenly appears at the end of the cave with a play of light and shadow.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jane_c
Oct 25, 2024
Awesome guide Gamze - The most memorable part of this tour was our guide Gamze - she was terrific! Entertaining, informative, full of energy, and so nice. Highly recommend her. The tour was awesome, and Viator should rename it the Sultanahmet Mosque - because that is its name!
Review provided by Viator
Robson1804
Nov 13, 2024
Not necessary to make it with a guide - It is not necessary to take this tour with a guide. Blue Mosque is free and you have to pay extra for the sunken palace anyway. So if you are self-employed, you can do it without a guide and save yourself money.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Misael_m
Nov 6, 2024
Nice tour but pay close attention to small print. - Nice small tour with very helpful tour guide. Unfortunately, tickets for the Cistern complex was not included and you have to fork out 25 Euro extra PP. Despite that, the information we got out of it was very helpful and made us understand Istanbul even more.
Review provided by Viator
Sevil_b
Oct 24, 2024
Tour - The guide was excellent, however the tour included the grand bazar, but was closed on Sunday. This is something that should be considered and communicated when tour is organized.
Review provided by Viator
Trail297790
Nov 24, 2024
Adventure in the Basilica Cistern: Mysteries and Underground Magic. - The Basilica Cistern is about 100 meters from Hagia Sophia, so you can visit both in one day. We crossed the street and voilà!, there it was, like a portal to another world. When you go down to the Cistern, you enter a mega-subsoil with twelve rows of 28 colonnades, totaling 336 in total, separated by about five meters or so between them. It's like being in an underground cathedral, but with a touch of mystery. Two of those columns have Medusa's heads as their base, and yes, the other way around! Who would think Medusa would be making the pine tree in Istanbul? And beware, there is the “column of tears”, which they say brings good luck. To make a wish, you stick your thumb in the hole and give it a complete twist, and boom!, it's supposed to fulfill what you asked for. It's like an old version of throwing a coin into a fountain, but in more style! In case you dare to visit the “Submerged Palace”, the entrance for outsiders comes from 16 euros and opens from 9 to 7 every day of the week. Take a look and immerse yourself in the story!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 8 guests
1 Adult
December 2024
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