Istanbul Tour: Explore Byzantine and Ottoman Sites

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Istanbul’s iconic landmarks on a small-group tour of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Explore the rich history and culture of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires with a knowledgeable guide.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Sultanahmet Square - Discover Istanbul’s most renowned landmarks on this small-group walking tour. Join an expert guide in Sultanahmet Square, the historic center of the Old Town, where the tour kicks off with an overview of the city’s rich history.
    This experience includes skip-the-line tickets and knowledgeable guides, making it a perfect way to…
What's Included
  • 2.5 hours walking tour at a relaxed pace
  • Starting from Galata Port (optional)
  • Small group tour for interactive experience
  • Expert guide with insider knowledge
  • Pre-reserved tickets for Hagia Sophia
  • Guided tour of Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
What's Not Included
  • Transport to the meeting spot
Additional Information

This tour offers a comprehensive introduction to Istanbul, blending the city’s key landmarks with insightful historical context. Beginning at Sultanahmet Square, the guide links Byzantine and Ottoman histories, illustrating Istanbul’s transformation from Constantinople to its present form.
Enjoy skip-the-line access and guided tours of Hagia Sophia and…

Location
Galataport Saat Kulesi Meydanı
Gümrük Muhafaza Kısım Amirliği
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(485 Ratings)
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S9145qravab
Jun 4, 2026
10/10 recommend - Our guide Umut was so knowledgeable about the city, its history, how it was influenced, the blue mosque and the Hagia Sophia. 10/10 recommend. We paid €73per person for 2.5hrs and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bring water and a head scarf to enter the buildings.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Niallc106
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend - Great walking tour. Umut was excellent!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rachel_n
May 27, 2026
Forcan provided an... - Forcan provided an interesting and entertaining tour. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend this tour highly.
Review provided by Viator
Chris_r
May 25, 2026
Our guide was very... - Our guide was very knowledgeable. He did a great job of navigating us through the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
Review provided by Viator
Mindy_t
May 19, 2026
Excellent Tour - wonderful guide! - We loved this tour and learned so much. Our guide, Mert made everything interesting and his English was outstanding. My husband doesn’t like “tours”, but he really enjoyed this one.
Review provided by Viator
Leighton_w
May 12, 2026
Mosque experience - Melissa is a history enthusiast and this comes through in her knowledge and relaying of historical events. Top shelf!
Review provided by Viator
Jay_d
May 11, 2026
We had a great experience... - We had a great experience with Melissa exploring the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. We only had a short layover in Istanbul, so this was a great way to see these sights. Melissa was very knowledgeable and she did a very good job setting the pace for our small group during the excursion.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_w
May 11, 2026
An in-depth guided tour... - An in-depth guided tour with Melissa. She was very passionate and knowledgeable. We learnt a lot and highly recommend. Very happy with the tour co who kept me informed along the way.
Review provided by Viator
Linda_m
May 6, 2026
We Loved this tour - This was a wonderful tour. Emerson was our tour guide. He is very knowledgeable about the country and the Mosques. We truly enjoyed the tour. He was excellent guide!
Review provided by Viator
Slavicai2017
May 26, 2026
Very Disappointing Experience Despite Paying Full Price - I was unfortunately 15 minutes late due to heavy traffic and difficulty finding the meeting point. I contacted the tour guide asking for the exact location so I could meet the group, however I was told quite bluntly that the guide had only waited 10 minutes and that I was no longer able to join the tour. This was extremely disappointing, especially considering the amount paid for the tour, including the entry tickets. A little more understanding or assistance in helping me locate the group would have been appreciated rather than essentially being told “too late.” Overall, the experience and customer service were very disappointing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $45
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).