Istanbul Shore Excursion: Explore Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia

Embark on an extraordinary shore excursion in Istanbul, exploring the heart of the city with a small group. Discover the treasures of Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the vibrant Grand Bazaar, immersing yourself in the rich history and vibrant present of this ancient city.

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Galataport Istanbul - Meet your tour guide outside the cruise ship terminal’s second-floor exit at the designated time. Use the elevator or escalators to reach the second floor after following signs for the city center. Your guide will be awaiting your arrival, holding a sign displaying your name for easy recognition.
  • Hagia Sophia Mosque -…
What's Included
  • Local taxes included
  • Licensed English-speaking local guide
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Tips
  • Entrance Fee: Hagia Sophia 25 Euro Per Person
  • Entrance Fee: Basilica Cistern 900 Turkish Lira Per Person
  • Public Transportation (Tram Passes)
Additional Information

Experience the heart of Istanbul like never before with our extraordinary shore excursion. By utilizing the efficient tram system in Istanbul, you’ll save at least an hour of travel time, allowing for more in-depth exploration of the city’s wonders. Embark on a journey that unveils the treasures of this ancient city, from the splendid Blue Mosque and…

Location
Galataport Istanbul
KIlIc Ali Pasa Mahallesi Meclis-i Mebusan Caddesi, No: 8 Karaköy Beyoğlu
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(27 Ratings)
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Traveloctopusco
Sep 2, 2024
Wonderful and Easy Day avoiding crowds! - We booked with Duygu so we could see the highlights of the city on a short port day. Definitely not enough time to do this marvelous city justice but she was so knowledgeable and passionate about the sites that we were able to navigate around the crowds and really maximize our time! We learned so much from her perspective as a local and as a cultural scholar. (and the lunch spot she took us to, AMAZING!) We will definitely plan a longer more indepth trip back to Turkey and can't wait to work with her on those deatils too! Definitely a good sampler day if you're on a cruise!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Zsolt_s
Jul 14, 2024
Istanbul with Burak - Burak is a great tourist guide. In spite of the heat he was very active, communicative. He has got a high level knowledge, we learned a lot. We highly recommend him, thanks for the short friendship once again!
Review provided by Viator
Jonathan_m
Jul 5, 2024
Excellent and perfect for 5 hours - Duygu was a pleasure as a guide and very knowledgeable. She was on time and efficient and made sure we had a great feel for the city. Walking is clearly the answer in Istanbul and taking the tram. Would definitely recommend her as a guide and the family
Review provided by Viator
Jonne_b
Jun 29, 2024
Amazing - Our tour guide Ozge was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable regarding the history of the mosques but also showed us things that were not on the itinerary. She helped with our shopping needs and even bought our small party a Turkish treat.
Review provided by Viator
Adam_a
Jun 27, 2024
Personalised experience with no lines - We got to experience the rich culture that has shaped Istanbul. Emre was a fantastic host, great clear communication even when we suffered a delay due to cruise terminal administration errors. These monuments are a must, the cistern being my favourite from the day. Having priority to cut the lines is a must. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Las_worldtraveler
Jun 15, 2024
Great Tour for Cruise Ship Passengers - Ugur was amazing! We were able to get off the ship early and beat the lines. You can tell that he genuinely cares and was very flexible. We love visiting local supermarkets when traveling and he happily obliged making suggestions on local products.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
91katw
Jun 15, 2024
We definitely lucked out when we were able to book our full day tour with Duyugu! - Seeing the highlights of Istanbul with Duyugu was everything I expected and more! All eight of us in our group enjoyed spending the day with Duyugu. She is very knowledgeable but more importantly, her bright personality and attentiveness is what sets her above the other guides I’ve met. I would highly recommend Duyugu to any friends and family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
V3147lfaprild
Jun 10, 2024
A 26-hour layover in Istanbul ended up being the highlight of our Europe trip, Thanks to Semih our tour guide. - Finding ourselves with a 26-hour layover in Istanbul, due to a cancelled flight, we opted to make the most out of the delay. We hired Semih who was flexible in our tour time frame and provided us with an alternative schedule so we could experience the culture and history in our limited availability. We provided ideas of what we wanted to see and experience, and he proposed an itinerary that far surpassed our desires and expectations. He navigated us through streets and public transportation with such expertise, we wasted no precious time. He was aware of high visitor lines to the Haggi Sophia and by skillful planning had us arrive before the cruise ship tours arrived. This ended up being one of my most treasured stops. His knowledge of the history of Istanbul and its various landmarks we visited made each stop become "alive" to our little group. His enthusiasm spread over all of us. When we returned home and relayed the trip to friends, they had more of a desire to see Istanbul than the other parts of our European trip. I am grateful to Semih for his enthusiasm, knowledge and ability to listen to our time constraints and plan such a beautiful memory filled experience for us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Camper12331559199
May 28, 2024
Great time with Semih - Semih was a top notch, well spoken, knowledgeable and funny guide. My family loved him, highly recommended. If your in Istanbul a tour with Semih is a must.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andrew_f
Jul 29, 2024
Well worth doing - Tour was great, particularly the Cistern. Only disappointing bit was being taken to an outrageously overpriced cafe for a drink.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
November 2024
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