Discover the highlights of Istanbul with a bus tour of the Old City, Bosphorus cruise and cable car ride down Pierre Loti Hill. Visit Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazar.
Tour TimingsDuration: 08 Hours
Open: The tour starts at approximately 09:00 a.m. & ends around 05:30 p.m.
Itinerary
- Marvel at views of Istanbul's skyline during a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait
- Explore Basilica Cistern with Guide & Priority admission & skip the line ticket
- Step back in time as you learn about the 6th-century Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
- Look for a bargain as you pass by hundreds of stalls in the Grand Covered Bazaar
- Capture pictures of the Golden Horn from Pierre Loti Hill and take a cable car
Find your guide at the meeting point or enjoy the convenience of being picked up from centrally-located hotels in Istanbul. Sit back and relax in an airconditioned coach with plenty of space on your way to the departure point.
Visit the Blue Mosque to admire its 20,000 blue Iznik ceramic tiles and its 6 towering minarets. Find out how it was built for Sultan Ahmet I and how it was the last great mosque of the Classical period.
Make your way to the sporting and social center of ancient Constantinople at the Hippodrome. View the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, the Bronze Serpentine Column, the Obelisk of Theodosius, and the Column of Constantine.
Stop in front of Hagia Sophia. Learn about this 6th century building that was constructed by the emperor Justinian as a Greek Orthodox Church. Hear about how the Hagia Sophia has transformed over time and how it was the largest church in the world for 1000 years.
Continue to the Basilica Cistern, avoid the hassle of waiting in lengthy ticket lines and uncover the wonders of the Basilica Cistern beneath the enchanting streets of Istanbul. Immerse yourself in the ancient beauty of this subterranean marvel as you stroll through its intriguing chambers, marveling at the impressive architecture and encountering the legendary Medusa heads from Greek mythology.
Indulge in a shopping for memorable gifts at the store we'll visit prior to reaching the Grand Bazaar. Take as stroll through the Grand Covered Bazaar, the oldest and biggest covered market in the world. Get lost in 65 streets with more than 4000 shops.
In the afternoon, hop aboard the coach for a scenic exploration of the Golden Horn by bus. Allow your guide to narrate the journey, pointing out historic wooden houses, churches, synagogues, mosques, and remnants of the Roman Wall as you traverse the captivating landscape.
Ascend the Pierre Loti Hill by bus and snap some photos of sweeping views of the Golden Horn. Marvel at city views as you descend the hill on a cable car ride.
Visit the Eyup Sultan Mosque and see the Abu Eyup Alansari Tomb (Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was the standard bearer and companion of Muhammad) The Mosque, due to its unique sacredness, it was the place where the coronation ceremonies of new Ottoman Sultans took place. Sultans came here processing along the grand Cülus Yolu (Accession Way) - to be girded with the Sword of Osman at the start of their reigns.
Take in the city sights from the sea on a Bosphorus cruise. Capture pictures of the Golden Horn, the Topkapı palace, the Dolmabahçe palace, the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Maiden’s tower, Galata tower, the Blue Mosque, Ortaköy mosque. Gaze out at the bridges connecting Europe and Asia. At the end of your tour, return to your pickup point by coach.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (If option selected)
- Blue Mosque Guided visit
- Basilica Cistern Guided visit
- Hippodrome Guided visit
- Cruise ticket
- Cable car ticket
- Guide
Exclusions:
- Basilica Cistern entry ticket (800TL cash, per person)
- Entry to Hagia Sophia
- Gratuities
- Lunch
Ticket Information
Tour without pick up:
- Adults: 08 - 99 €48.75
- Children: 04 – 07 €36.12
- Infant: 00 - 03 free
Group organization & language: English
Meeting Point: In front of Buhara 93 Restaurant
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Nakilbent Sk. 15/A, 34122 Fatih/Istanbul
Pin Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vdv6fwCrgM2i7BcU8
Tour with Pick up:
- Adults: 08 - 99 €57.75
- Children: 04 – 07 €42.75
- Infant: 00 - 03 free
Accessibility:
- Stroller accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Near public transportation
Hotel Pick Up
- Pick-up from hotels (If option selected) in the Sisli, Osmanbey, Harbiye, Taksim, Findikli, Karakoy, Tepebasi, Sirkeci, Sultanahmet, Kadirga, Beyazit, Laleli, Aksaray, Yenikapi, Findikzade, Topkapi areas
- This is a shared transfer and pick up could be early or late.
- For each hotel there is a fixed pick-up time.
- Please wait in the hotel lobby 10 minutes before your scheduled pick-up time.
- Once the booking is confirmed, we will notify the customer for the pick-up time.
- Shared transfer with Minibus or Midibus.
Important Things to know before you visit
- Operated all year round except on Friday.
- Please dress appropriately when entering sacred sites.
- Participants are advised to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt.
- Please bring a scarf to cover head.
- You will be notified of your pick-up time after we have received your booking.
- The Grand Bazaar is closed on religious holidays and Sundays.
- Since January 2024, the Hagia Sophia Mosque main Saloon is closed for the visit of tourists. After the tour is over, you can visit mosque for an additional fee of 25 Euros.
- You will be granted the privilege to bypass the ticket line after paying your entrance fee to your guide in Turkish Lira and cash
