Private Guided Istanbul Historical Tour is a half-day guided tour. See the sights of Istanbul on a half-day tour that takes in the city’s famous historical top landmarks of Istanbul Sultanahmet. You’ll have the opportunity to see Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar.
Hotel, Airport or Cruise Port
4 Hours (Approx.)
Officially licensed tour guide
English, German, Portuguese, Italian, French, Spanish and more
- Pick-Up / Drop-Off with VIP transfer
- Certified Local Tour Guide
- Private Istanbul Tour
- Personal expenses
- Museum/Attraction Tickets
- Gratuities (optional)
- Lunch, Drinks
Note: According to your request, all activities (food and beverage and museum entrance tickets) can be included in the tour package.
What to Expect
Meet with a local guide and start your Istanbul tour.
Visit Hagia Sophia:
6th century of the magnificent Hagia Sophia museum, the historical peninsula's most famous and most visited. Mozaik and our day and age the work's structure where you can admire the dome in size which amazed even human, Blue Mosque and is located a few steps from the Basilica Cistern.
Visit the Blue Mosque :
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Sultan Ahmet Mosque is a historic mosque located in İstanbul. Turkey's Historic Centre. A popular tourist site. Sultan Ahmed Mosque continues as a mosque today with men kneeling in prayer on the mosque's lush red carpet after the call to prayer. Construction of the Blue Mosque, as it is popularly known, was built between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. Its Külliye contains Ahmed's tomb, a madrasah, and a hospice. Magnificent hand-painted blue tiles adorn the mosque's interior walls and at night the mosque is bathed in blue as lights frame the mosque's five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes.
Next stop Hippodrome and Obelisks :
Hippodrome means square for horses. The Hippodrome was built by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus towards the end of the 2nc century and it was extended to an immense size by Constantine the Great. Some historians claim that it could seat thirty thousand spectators, while others put the figure at sixty thousand. The main attraction was the two or four-horse chariot races. In Roman and Byzantine times, the Hippodrome served as the city's main meeting, entertainment, and sports center until the 10th century. Also you will see Obelisk of Theodosius, German Fountain at Hippodrome
Shopping opportunity in Grand Covered Bazaar:
The Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı, meaning ‘Covered Market’ also Buyuk Carsi meaning Grand Market’ in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. In 2014 it was listed among world's most-visited tourist attractions with 91,250,000 annual visitors. The Grand Bazar at Istanbul is often regarded as one of the first shopping malls of the world. You can buy Carpets and Kilims, Food and Spices, Meerschaum, Antiques, Textiles, Boutique Wares, Pottery, Jewelry
Highlights
- Istanbul sightseeing tour
- Marvel at the Byzantine architecture of Hagia Sophia
- See the tiles that give the 17th-century Blue Mosque its name
- Visit the Grand Bazaar, a winding covered market
- Learn about the history of the Hippodrome
Sightseeing Places & Activities
Hagia Sophia: Hagia Sophia, 8th Wonders of the World. Hagia Sophia, the largest church built by the Eastern Roman Empire in Istanbul, was built three times in the same place. Hagia Sophia is the capital's largest church, where rulers were crowned throughout the Eastern Roman Empire. After the Ottoman Empire conquered Istanbul in 1453, it was converted into a mosque.
Topkapi Palace: Topkapı Palace, the glorious witness of the history of Istanbul… Topkapı Palace, which hosted the Ottoman sultans who ruled the world for a period, is now a museum that keeps the glorious memories of that period alive. Topkapı Palace, built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet after the conquest of Istanbul, which opened a new era in world history, rises proudly, in a position overlooking the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus since 1478.
Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque): It is known as the Blue Mosque by tourists because of the blue Iznik tiles adorning its interior. In addition to containing some Byzantine influences from its neighbor, Hagia Sophia, traditional Islamic architecture also prevails and is seen as the last great mosque of the classical period.
Obelisks: 3 Obelisks from the Byzantine period. The most famous of the three steeped monuments, the Obelisk was brought from Egypt in 390. The Serpent Column: The Serpent Column that adorns the square is a talisman brought from the Delphi Temple in Apollo to protect the city from pest infestation, and the Knitted Obelisk: The Woven Obelisk, the last monument in the square. It is extremely impressive with its height of 32 meters.
- Dress Code: Comfortable athletic clothing.
- Confirmation for this tour will be received at time of booking
- 5-8 yrs %30 discount / 0-4 yrs Free
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays
- Hagia Sophia museum is closed on Monday
- January 1 – New Year
- May 13/14/15 – Ramadan Celebrations
- July 20/21/22/23 – Eid Celebrations
- October 29 – Republic Day
Annual Closing Dates of all museums and bazaars in Istanbul as follows;
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Learn more about cancellations.
Q: What are the top Tourist Activities in Istanbul?
A: The most popular activity for tourists in Istanbul is the Bosphorus Boat Tours. Another popular activity is the Istanbul historical tour with the Local Guides.
