Istanbul Treasure Tour With Official Guide

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Santa Sophia is one of the most important symbols of Istanbul and one of the most impressive monuments in the city. During the Roman period, Hagia Sophia was a Christian church and has approximately 1,500 years of history. For almost 800 years it was considered the largest church in the world. Its impressive architecture, with Greek and Roman influences, along with its magnificent Christian-themed mosaics, make Hagia Sophia a truly spectacular and unique place.

   1 h

2. The Blue Mosque is one of the symbols of Istanbul, it was also built by the Ottomans, the building is 400 years old with 6 minarets (towers) inside the mosque with the ceramics, painted, stained glass a big story in the Ottoman period

   1 h

3. The Basilica Cistern is another of the great treasures of Istanbul and an impressive construction from the Roman era. It was originally built as a cistern to store water and has approximately 1,500 years of history. It is one of the largest and most impressive underground cisterns in the world. Its numerous columns and capitals reflect the influence of Greek and Roman architecture. Furthermore, the cistern especially attracts the attention of visitors thanks to its two large marble Medusa heads, which are among the most fascinating elements of the monument.

   45 min

4. The Hippodrome of Istanbul was a huge construction where, during the Greek and Roman periods, horse races, spectacles, parties, and great celebrations took place. During the Ottoman period, it was also used as an important space for celebrations, entertainment, and public shows. With over 2,000 years of history, the Hippodrome was destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout the centuries. During the Roman period, it was considered one of the largest hippodromes in the world. Nowadays, we can still see three important historical monuments: the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column, and the Obelisk of Constantine.

   40 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Istanbul

• Its from-price is 14% above the median of the 3649 experiences we list in Istanbul.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Istanbul

Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus, with Byzantine and Ottoman monuments, busy bazaars and ferries crossing between continents.

The historic peninsula holds the greatest landmarks. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome face each other in Sultanahmet, the Basilica Cistern lies beneath the streets, and Topkapı Palace spreads across the hill above the Golden Horn. A short walk away, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar have traded for centuries, and Süleymaniye Mosque, built by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, crowns one of the city's seven hills.

Top-ranked sights in Istanbul: Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi), Bosphorus, Bosphorus Bridge (Bogazici Koprusu).

See all 3649 experiences in Istanbul