Istanbul Full Day Historical City Tour
Classical Historical Istanbul Tour
Discover Istanbul’s top historical sites in one day, including Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Includes guide, tickets, lunch.
Tour Overview
Uncover the rich heritage of Istanbul with our Istanbul Full Day Historical City Tour, perfect for first-time visitors. This small-group guided experience takes you deep into the heart of the Old City (Sultanahmet), where East meets West. You’ll explore awe-inspiring sites like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace, stroll through the Grand Bazaar, and stand where chariot races once took place at the Hippodrome. A delicious lunch at a local restaurant is included.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off from central Istanbul areas
- Professional licensed English-speaking guide
- Skip-the-line entrance tickets (except Harem section)
- Small-group experience for personalized attention
- All-day immersive tour covering Istanbul’s top historical landmarks
Tour Itinerary
08:00 / 08:30 am ─ Hotel pick-up from centrally located hotels in Istanbul.
Transfer to Sultanahmet, the historical peninsula of Istanbul.
- Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque): Begin your tour with one of the most iconic structures in Istanbul, famous for its Blue Iznik Tiles and elegant architecture from the 17th century.
- Hippodrome Square: Once the social and sporting center of Constantinople, view the Serpent Column, German Fountain, and Obelisk of Theodosius as your guide explains their historical significance.
- Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque: Discover the architectural and spiritual wonder that has served as both a Christian basilica and a mosque. Learn how this majestic structure reflects the cultural layers of Istanbul.
- Grand Covered Bazaar: Stroll through one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets with over 4,000 shops. Enjoy some free time to browse handmade goods, textiles, spices, jewelry, and souvenirs.
- Lunch Break: Enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch at a local restaurant.
(Drinks are not included.) - Topkapi Palace: Explore the former residence of the Ottoman sultans, now a museum filled with imperial collections, holy relics, and treasures. Don’t miss the Spoonmaker’s Diamond (Kaşıkçı Elması).
(Harem section is optional and ticket is not included.)
17:00 ─ End of the tour.
Transfer back to your hotel in Istanbul.
What's Included
Included
- Pick up and drop off from Central Hotels. (Sultanahmet, Aksaray, Beyazit, Laleli, Taksim, Beyoglu, Karakoy)
- English Speaking Licenced Tour guide
- Entrance Fees to the mentioned sights
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- All necessary land transportation by A/C Touristical Buses
- Local Taxes
Not Included
- Personal Expenses
- Drinks at the lunch
- 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.
- Pick-up and drop-off included from hotels located in Fatih, Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Beyoğlu, and Taksim.
- Lunch is included, but drinks are extra.
- Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. It will be replaced with the Arasta Bazaar or a similar venue.
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, so this tour is not available on that day.
More Details
Your day begins as you’re picked up from your hotel and driven into the timeless streets of Istanbul’s Old City. The Blue Mosque welcomes you with its cascading domes and iconic six minarets. Inside, the glow of Iznik tiles transports you back to the 17th century.
A short walk takes you to the Hippodrome, where chariot races once roared through ancient Constantinople. Next, you step into the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia, where centuries of religious transformation whisper through its grand arches.
After a stroll through the aromatic Grand Bazaar, lunch is served at a charming Turkish restaurant. Then, the jewel of the day awaits — Topkapi Palace. You wander through the royal halls, marveling at Ottoman treasures and the glint of the Spoonmaker’s Diamond.
By day’s end, you’ve walked through empires and legends — and return to your hotel with a story to tell from every corner of Sultanahmet.
The tour exceeded all my expectations! Istanbul is a city full of history, and this tour covered all the major highlights beautifully. The guide was fantastic, making history come alive with engaging stories and interesting facts. Walking inside Hagia Sophia was an incredible experience, and learning about its transformation over the centuries was fascinating. The Blue Mosque was absolutely stunning, with its elegant domes and intricate details. I would 100% recommend this tour to anyone visiting Istanbul!
Kahraman was wonderful! We truly enjoyed having him as our guide. He went above our expectations. He was amazing! We named him our Turkish son and will cherish our memories with him! Thank you!
This tour is an excellent way to explore the highlights of Istanbul and learn about the rich history and culture of this incredible city. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly, providing us with a wealth of information about each attraction we visited. The tour started with a visit to the iconic Blue Mosque, an architectural masterpiece with its stunning domes and minarets. The interior was just as impressive, adorned with beautiful blue tiles and intricate calligraphy. We then proceeded to the Hagia Sophia, a former church and mosque that is now a museum. The guide gave us a detailed history of this magnificent building and its significance in Istanbul's history. The interior was equally impressive, with its impressive dome and intricate mosaics. Next, we visited the Topkapi Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman Sultans. The palace's architecture and interior were breathtaking, and we learned about the lives of the sultans who once lived there. The palace's stunning gardens were also a highlight of the tour. Finally, we visited the Grand Bazaar, a bustling marketplace with a rich history dating back to the 15th century. We explored the maze of shops and stalls, where we had the opportunity to bargain with local merchants for unique souvenirs and gifts. Overall, the Istanbul history tour by Toursce was an exceptional experience. The itinerary was well-planned, and we had enough time to explore each attraction thoroughly. The guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating, making the tour both informative and enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Istanbul for the first time or wanting to learn more about the city's history and culture.
If you have time and a chance join a tour guide. They are not expensive in the group tours. I am keen on the religious history of Istanbul and it's not just a multinational city but there are many places hidden away from the main tourist attractions as well. Even for someone like us who has spent years researching deep history, in Istanbul, there is always something new to discover. So, this tour was that for us. Thank you very much.
Wonderful guided and city tour. Extremely intriguing to hear about Istanbul's life both past and present. It's an enchanting city and our guide really did bring the history to life. I would strongly recommend the Istanbul history tour.
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