Istanbul Half Day Morning Historical City Tour
Half Day Morning Istanbul Tour (Byzantium Relics)
Explore the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Grand Bazaar on a guided half-day morning tour. Includes hotel pick-up and expert local guide.
Tour Overview
Begin your day in Istanbul with a walk through centuries of history on our Istanbul Half Day Morning Historical City Tour. Led by a professional guide, you’ll explore the heart of the Old City, visiting iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the Hippodrome, and the colorful Grand Bazaar. This short but rich tour is perfect for travelers with limited time who still want to soak in the city’s fascinating culture and architecture.
- Hotel pick-up included from central areas in Istanbul
- Professional licensed English-speaking guide
- Explore Old City landmarks on foot
- Tour ends at Grand Bazaar for free time
- Ideal for short-stay travelers or cruise visitors
Tour Itinerary
08:00 – 08:30 ─ Our travel team will pick you up from centrally located hotels in Istanbul.
Transfer to the meeting point to meet your guide and other participants.
- Hippodrome Square: Start your morning in the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople. See the Serpent Column, Egyptian Obelisk, Column of Constantine, and the German Fountain. Learn about the races and celebrations once held here during the Byzantine Empire.
- Blue Mosque: Visit the magnificent Sultan Ahmet Mosque, known for its six minarets and thousands of hand-painted Iznik tiles. This 17th-century architectural gem is one of Istanbul’s most beloved landmarks.
- Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque: Marvel at this iconic former basilica turned mosque, reflecting the city’s unique religious and architectural heritage. Admire its stunning dome, preserved mosaics, and massive marble columns.
- Grand Bazaar: Conclude the tour inside the world’s oldest covered market. Walk through centuries-old corridors lined with stalls offering Turkish carpets, leather, ceramics, souvenirs, and more. You’ll have free time to shop or continue exploring independently.
12:30 ─ Tour ends inside the Grand Bazaar.
You may spend more time here and return to your hotel on your own.
What's Included
Included
- Pick up from the hotel
- English Speaking Licenced Tour guide
- Entrance Fees to the mentioned sights
- All necessary land transportation by A/C Touristical Buses
- Drop off at Grand Bazaar
- Local Taxes
Not Included
- Personal Expenses
- Drop off at the hotel
- Any meal or drinks
- Any extra fees for transportation if your hotel is not central
Important Remarks
Please read the following important information carefully before booking. These remarks contain essential details about your tour experience.
- Hotel pick-up is available from central locations (Sultanahmet, Fatih, Sirkeci, Beyoğlu, Taksim).
- Hotel drop-off is not included. The tour ends in Grand Bazaar.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. It will be replaced with Arasta Bazaar if necessary.
- Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque is closed on Friday due to Friday Prayer. This tour is not operated on Friday.
More Details
As the city begins to wake, your day starts with a short transfer into the heart of Old Istanbul. Your guide welcomes you in Sultanahmet Square, where ancient stones hold centuries of stories.
The tour begins in the Hippodrome, where crowds once gathered for chariot races. You stroll past timeworn columns and the grand German Fountain, feeling the echoes of Byzantine splendor.
Next is the majestic Blue Mosque, its interior glowing with the soft blue hue of hand-painted tiles. Your guide shares its fascinating symbolism and architectural marvels. Then you step into the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia, where history’s layers come alive beneath soaring domes and fading mosaics.
Finally, the Grand Bazaar welcomes you with color, energy, and irresistible treasures. As the guided tour ends, you’re free to lose yourself in the maze of tradition and trade, with memories of the city etched into every step.
To toursce.com Team,
On behalf of my family and me, I would like to express our sincere thanks for the superb tour in turkey. From the time of my family's arrival at Istanbul airport, during the entire tour itinerary, and to the time we were dropped off at Istanbul airport for our flight back to Los Angeles, your arrangement was immaculate and meticulous. Our special thanks to Mr. Erkan that he organized all our special requests in the program and made it perfect. The location of the hotels was a good choice because it was close to everything downtown. We have recommended your tour and travel company to many of our friends who will contact you when they are ready to travel to Turkey. Keep up the good work guys. Best Regards...
This half-day morning tour that we have joined with our 7 groups of friends. we love history and wanted to have all the details from the professional local guide in a short period. It was covering what we wanted to visit. The Hagia Sophia Museum is a historical and cultural center and architectural monument of the first Byzantine Empire and then the Ottoman Empire. Now it is a state museum in the old city of Istanbul that attracts many visitors every year. We recommend you to visit and this place is definitely worth a visit with a local tour guide. One appreciates these buildings when visited especially when you learn about the history of both people and buildings. The Blue Mosque is a very beautiful architecture. It is one of the important mosques for Muslim people. Need to observe attire. Suggest to check it out on the website. It is a very mystic building and has beautiful tiles. Hippodrome, the ancient square. That is a public square for many kinds of activities during Roman times. We cannot miss the obelisks, serpentine column and the German fountain in the square. Grand Bazaar is stunning and amazing. One of the craziest bazaars we’ve ever seen and apparently the biggest in the world! This place must list to be visited. You can find many things in this bazaar. You will love shopping. Our tour finished in the covered bazaar.
The purpose of our trip was to attend a conference in Istanbul so we didn't have alot of time for additional tours. We selected the right company and tour for our needs. Two of our group went for a a side trip to Ephesus and they were happy with that decision. Hope to see you next time.
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