Istanbul Guided Tour Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, Cistern with Tickets

All tickets are included on this efficiently organized tour. Benefit from priority admission to museums, allowing you to skip the lines and make the most of your time. Explore the major highlights of historical Istanbul on a guided tour that takes you to the must-see attractions. With an expert guide, step inside the magnificent Hagia Sophia and gain insights into its rich history. Visit the Basilica Cistern where you can marvel at the unique upside-down Medusa heads. Stroll through the impressive Topkapi Palace and learn about the Ottomans. Benefit from convenient pickup at Galata Port or meeting point in Sultanahmet.

1. 1

   Sultanahmet District

   20 min

   Meet your expert guide and join your small-group walking tour in the heart of Istanbul's old town Sultanahmet to visit the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace.

2. 2

   Basilica Cistern

   30 min

   Make the most of your time in Istanbul with a skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern. Explore the famous Basilica Cistern and travel back in time on a tour led by a local guide. See the underground pillars and learn about Byzantine architecture. Walk on the wooden walkways over the water until the famous upside-down Medusa head.

3. 3

   Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

   1 hour

   Visit the Hagia Sophia with pre-reserved tickets and witness the most significant site of the Greek Orthodox religion in Istanbul and learn how it was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Explore the stunning monument with elements of a mosque and a church standing next to each other. Admire the basilica’s stunning dome and minarets, and countless mosaics, paintings, and Roman columns. Learn how the impressive İznik tiles were added over time in the Mosque, how the stunning Virgin Mary mosaic was made, and why the Ottomans chose to bury their sultans in the courtyard.

4. 4

   TopkapI Palace

   2 hours

   Continue your journey to Topkapi Palace, and enter the museum with priority admission. Here you can explore the palace grounds, courtyards, and several exhibitions on a guided tour. Marvel at its opulence and mystery as you learn about this period in Istanbul’s history. Later on, choose to visit the Harem at your leisure. Tour includes admission tickets for the Harem

5. 5

   Stop 5

   15 min

   At the end of our guided tour, choose to visit the Harem, at your own leisure with your included tickets.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Topkapi Palace is a vast complex with multiple sections open for visit. During our tour, we’ll visit the most magnificent masterpieces. However, if you wish to explore all sections at your leisure, we recommend allocating the afternoon to explore the rest of the Palace grounds.
• Tickets are timed and expire within 5 to 10 minutes.
• Please be advised that it is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
• Women are required to wear a headscarf when entering the mosque.

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