Istanbul City Highlights Full Day Tour: Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar | Small Group of 12 Pax | Lunch Included

Enjoy a fullday tour of the UNESCO site of Sultanahmet Old Istanbul with an extensive guided tour. You'll enjoy the magical Istanbul and its signature sights: the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome of Constantinople and Grand Bazaar.
According to your tour pick-up time, meet your guide and begin your full-day tour.
First, explore Hagia Sophia. Meaning "Divine Wisdom," Hagia Sophia was the largest building on earth, barring the Egyptian Pyramids and the Great Wall of China. Built by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD, it served as the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period. The building was used as a church for 916 years and as a mosque for 481 years. In 1934, by the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, it was converted into a museum and has since been open to visitors.
Next, visit Topkapi Palace. In addition to being the imperial residence of the Sultan, the palace also served as the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. It housed the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years until the Dolmabahçe Palace was built. In 1924, it was converted into a museum. Today, Topkapi Palace is famous for its harem, royal treasury, and holy relics sections.
Continue your tour to the Hippodrome. Built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203 AD, the Hippodrome was the civil center of the city during the Roman period, where up to 100,000 spectators could gather. Located in the heart of Sultanahmet, surrounded by the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace, today the Hippodrome is home to the Egyptian Obelisk (Dikilitaş), Serpentine Column (Burma Sütun), Constantine Column, and the German Fountain.
Afterwards, visit the Blue Mosque. Built by Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in 1616, it is located opposite Hagia Sophia. The Blue Mosque, officially named Sultanahmet Mosque, is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city, renowned for its six minarets and magnificent dome. Though officially named Sultanahmet Mosque, visitors gave it the nickname "Blue Mosque" due to the stunning blue tiles that adorn its interior walls.
Finally, explore the Grand Bazaar, one of the greatest bazaars in the world. With 18 entrances and more than 4,000 shops, the Grand Bazaar was built between 1455 and 1461 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. Today, shops selling similar merchandise are grouped together in their own streets or inns, following the original Ottoman system. The tour concludes at the Grand Bazaar, where you can explore at your leisure.

* Admission Fees (per Person)
- Topkapi Palace: 55.00 EUR
- Hagia Sophia: 25.00 EUR 
Note: The tour guide will have pre paid Skip-The-Line tickets to avoid long ticket queues. The cost of used entry tickets can be paid to the tour guide in cash Dolar, Euro or Turkish lira.
* Departure Time: 08:30 (approx.).
* Departure point: Centrally located Istanbul Hotels (Sisli, Besiktas, Taksim, Sultanahmet, Aksaray).
* Ending point: Grand Bazaar.

B: Excluded, L: Included, D: Excluded