Istanbul Private Tour Including Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Blue Mosque
Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Type: Private Sightseeing Tours
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Enjoy this private tour and explore the Sultanahmet area. Accompanied by an expert local guide, you’ll gain skip the line access and gain a much deeper understanding of the history and culture of Istanbul.
More About This Activity All Private Sightseeing Tours →
Enjoy this private tour and explore the Sultanahmet area. Accompanied by an expert local guide, you’ll gain skip the line access and gain a much deeper understanding of the history and culture of Istanbul.Once you meet your guide at the meeting point, you can get ready to see Istanbul’s greatest wonders. At first you will see the Blue Mosque. As you wait for the doors to open, your friendly, expert guide will teach you about the history and architecture of this incredible temple. You will also get an introduction to the way that Islam has moulded Istanbul over the centuries and how it has mixed with other cultural influences in unique and beautiful ways. Once the doors open, slip off your shoes and (ladies) don your head-scarves to explore the beautiful tiled and carpeted interior of Istanbul’s foremost religious building.
Next, you and your guide will head across the ancient Hippodrome to Hagia Sophia. Once a church, then a mosque and now a museum, Hagia Sophia (also know as Ayasofya in Turkish) has many tales to tell. As one of the most-visited sites in Istanbul it also usually has a line stretching up to several hours in the heat of high season. Luckily you don’t have to worry about it as you’ll skip the line to gain express entrance. Once inside you will have all the time you want to take in the incredible mosaics, and learn from your guide how easily Christian icons became Islamic. At this site in particular you’ll gain a deeper understanding of not just Turkish history and culture, but of the startling similarities between all major world religions. Few monuments proclaim this as loudly as beautiful Hagia Sophia.
The last stop of the morning is beautiful subterranean adventure. Again availing of your guide’s skip the line access, you’ll descend beneath the streets of Istanbul to the Basilica Cistern. Once a giant cistern providing water to the city (under a period of Ancient Roman rule), it’s now a beautifully preserved underground lake full of Medusa-head columns and eerie lighting.
Few travellers get to experience Istanbul with the undivided attention of an expert local guide. We have hand-picked our guides based on their knowledge, excellent English language skills, passion, and fantastic interpersonal skills. Just relax and soak in the wonders of the city with your very own expert to lead the way.
Next, you and your guide will head across the ancient Hippodrome to Hagia Sophia. Once a church, then a mosque and now a museum, Hagia Sophia (also know as Ayasofya in Turkish) has many tales to tell. As one of the most-visited sites in Istanbul it also usually has a line stretching up to several hours in the heat of high season. Luckily you don’t have to worry about it as you’ll skip the line to gain express entrance. Once inside you will have all the time you want to take in the incredible mosaics, and learn from your guide how easily Christian icons became Islamic. At this site in particular you’ll gain a deeper understanding of not just Turkish history and culture, but of the startling similarities between all major world religions. Few monuments proclaim this as loudly as beautiful Hagia Sophia.
The last stop of the morning is beautiful subterranean adventure. Again availing of your guide’s skip the line access, you’ll descend beneath the streets of Istanbul to the Basilica Cistern. Once a giant cistern providing water to the city (under a period of Ancient Roman rule), it’s now a beautifully preserved underground lake full of Medusa-head columns and eerie lighting.
Few travellers get to experience Istanbul with the undivided attention of an expert local guide. We have hand-picked our guides based on their knowledge, excellent English language skills, passion, and fantastic interpersonal skills. Just relax and soak in the wonders of the city with your very own expert to lead the way.
« Go Back