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Istanbul Hagia Sophia & Basilica Cistern Guided Tour with Tickets
Select Date and Travelers
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn More
2 Hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Overview
Enjoy included admission tickets for Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern.
Visit two major highlights of Istanbul on a small-group tour led by an expert guide.
Explore the world-famous Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern with tickets.
Learn about the history and culture of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires.
Get tips from your guide at the end of the tour to explore Istanbul.
What's Included
- Professional and local guide with a license
- Priority entry tickets for Hagia Sophia
- Priority entry tickets for Basilica Cistern
- Headsets to hear the guide better
- 2 hours guided tour
- Transport to the meeting spot
Meeting And Pickup
Meeting point
We meet at Ersoy Bufe. This is a small food kiosk just by the side of the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet Square. It is across the German Fountain. Your guide will be in front of the Ersoy Bufe with a sign that says, “Walks in Europe.”
End Point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Sultanahmet Square
Enjoy our priority admission with the tickets and join a 2-hour guided group tour in the heart of Istanbul’s old town Sultanahmet to see the Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern. Discover the history of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires with entry tickets.
• Admission Ticket Free
Basilica Cistern
Follow your guide, and he will help you pass with priority tickets. Start your journey with the Basilica Cistern, also known as the "Subterranean Palace." Discover its history, see the underground pillars, and learn about Byzantine architecture. Walk on wooden walkways over the water and view the famous upside-down Medusa heads.
40 Minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Hagia Sophia Mosque
Next, visit the Hagia Sophia with pre-reserved tickets and witness the most significant site of the Greek Orthodox religion in Istanbul. Listen from your guide as you explore the interior, learn how it was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Marvel at the stunning monument and its mixed elements mosque and a church coexisting side by side. Admire the basilica’s stunning dome, minarets, countless mosaics, paintings, and Roman columns. Discover how the impressive İznik tiles were added over time in the Mosque, how the stunning Virgin Mary mosaic was created, and why the Ottomans chose to bury their sultans in the courtyard.
1 Hours • Admission Ticket Included
Hippodrome
Walk the length of the Hippodrome and enjoy a scenic stroll around Sultanahmet as local life goes on around you. Ask about the obelisks that adorn the square. Pause for a last glance at these two important monuments while you learn the significance of the Hippodrome to Istanbul during the Byzantine era.
15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Sultanahmet Square
Concluding in Sultanahmet Square, our tour leaves you equipped with ample knowledge and insights to navigate the enchanting streets of Istanbul independently. Join us for an unforgettable journey through the heart of this historic city.
• Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You will have to pass through airport-style security.
- Hagia Sophia may be closed unannounced due to high-level state visits.
- If Basilica Cistern is closed we visit Şerefiye (cistern of Theodosius) or Binbirdirek (Cistern of Philoxenos).
- Expect long lines to enter the Hagia Sophia, especially during holidays.
- Basilica Cistern has 50 steps going down and then up. There is no lift.
- Clients must arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start of the tour. This is due to the timed entry of the tickets.
- Tickets are timed and expire within 5 to 10 minutes.
- Please be advised that it is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.
- Please note that both men and women should wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees. Shorts, sleeveless tops, and other revealing attire are not permitted inside.
- Please note that women are required to wear a headscarf when entering the mosque.
Operated by Walks In Europe
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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