Istanbul City Tour from Hotels
Morning Pickup & Start of the Tour
According to your tour pickup time, meet your expert guide and begin your journey through Istanbul’s ancient heart — Sultanahmet, the city’s historic quarter filled with world-renowned monuments.
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)
Begin your tour with one of the most remarkable landmarks in the world.
Built by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD, Hagia Sophia was once the largest building on Earth after the Great Pyramid of Giza. Serving as a cathedral for 916 years, a mosque for 481 years, and now a museum-turned-mosque again, it represents the deep layers of Istanbul’s spiritual and architectural heritage.
Admire its magnificent Byzantine mosaics, massive dome, and marble columns — a masterpiece of engineering and faith.
Topkapi Palace
Next, explore the opulent Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans and their royal courts for nearly four centuries.
Built in 1459, the palace served as both a residence and the administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire.
Wander through its grand courtyards, visit the Imperial Treasury, view the sacred relics, and marvel at the Harem section (optional entrance).
Every room tells a story of empire, power, and splendor.
Hippodrome of Constantinople
Continue to the ancient Hippodrome, once the sporting and social hub of Byzantine Constantinople.
Imagine the roaring chariot races and crowds of over 100,000 spectators that once filled this vast arena.
Today, you’ll see important monuments like:
Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
Opposite Hagia Sophia stands the elegant Blue Mosque, commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I in 1616.
With its six slender minarets, graceful domes, and interior decorated with over 20,000 blue İznik tiles, it remains one of the most beautiful mosques in the world.
Learn about its historical significance and why visitors still call it the “Blue Mosque.”
Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)
End your day with a colorful visit to the Grand Bazaar, a living piece of Ottoman history.
With over 4,000 shops, 18 entrances, and a maze of narrow lanes, it’s one of the oldest covered markets in the world.
Browse for handmade carpets, jewelry, ceramics, spices, and souvenirs, and enjoy the traditional art of bargaining!
Return to Hotel
After a day of discovery, your guide will escort you back to your hotel or the original departure point — leaving you with unforgettable memories of Istanbul’s grandeur.
