Istanbul-St Sophia,Blue Mosque,Hippodrome Guided Tour

Explore two of Istanbul’s most iconic attractions during this shared walking tour of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.You will walk in the footsteps of gladiators in the hippodrome.

About this activity

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Duration 3.0 hour

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Live tour guide

English

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Details on this Activity

Itinerary

Take a tour of History Istanbul and explore it from the perspective of the Byzantine /Ottoman Empire. See ruins of Byzantine churches, the site of former Roman chariot races, and the magical minarets of the Imperial Mosque (Blue Mosque). Visit the Hippodrome, location for thrilling chariot races in the days of the Roman Empire. The track is now some 6.6 feet (2 meters) below ground, but has been marked on the paving of Sultan Ahmet Square. You will see the surviving obelisks, as well as the Serpentine Column from Delphi, and the Byzantine German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Continue to Hagia Sophia, also known as “The Church of Holy Wisdom.” Undoubtedly one of the greatest architectural creations in the world, the temple was so richly decorated that Justinian proclaimed, “Solomon, I have surpassed you!" Your guide is an expert on Byzantine history, art, and architecture, and will describe important moments from the empire’s history as you continue to the iconic Blue Mosque. Named for its stunning decoration of Iznik tiles, you will also admire its slender minarets (From Garden outside our guide given information)

Highlights

Visit the fantastic Blue Mosque and admire its minarets and rich Iznik tiles
Tour the Hagia Sophia, one of the greatest architectural creations in the world
You will walk in the footsteps of gladiators in the hippodrome.
Tour a historical palace with a knowledgeable local guide

Know before you go

Please arrive at the meeting point 10-15 minutes before the activity starts. Meet your guide in front of the Alzer Hotel ,opposite the obelisk on hippodrome. The guide will be holding a flag with the logo of Gulliver/All Tours Istanbul. All visitors must pass through airport-style security Due to long lines, entry into Hagia Sophia is not guaranteed Istanbul has notoriously bad traffic, so please leave early to make it on time for your tour. It is not possible to join the tour after it has started Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are functioning mosques and could be closed last minute without notice Women must carry a headscarf

Includes

Professional English-speaking, Licensed tour guide Spend Long Time on The all place. Service charges and taxes

Reviews from other travelers

Stefanie

2 /5

(Written on 2020-01-06)

We would have expected more from the tour. Since it took place on Friday, the blue mosque was closed, so we only got some information shortly before. The hippodrome was also dealt with extremely quick (Read More)ly and we would have liked a lot more input in the Hagia Sofia as well. This tour was more of an escorted group to the sights with a few bits of info on the side. In summary very disappointing.

GetYourGuide traveler - France

5 /5

(Written on 2023-04-26)

Very serious guide perfect visits To recommend

Jan - Denmark

5 /5

(Written on 2016-11-28)

very good guide :)

Rhonda

4 /5

(Written on 2019-06-17)

The organisation of groups at the beginning was frustrating and time consuming. Which meant we did not really start the tour until after 0920. This was a four hour tour but in essence would have been (Read More)lucky to have been three hours - which questions true value for money.

GetYourGuide traveler

4 /5

(Written on 2023-08-12)

It was a very pleasant tour without any rush and with lots of explanations. I was lucky enough to only be traveling with two other guests. Unfortunately, the appointment was delayed a bit and the meet (Read More)ing point was also difficult because other groups start there about every 2 minutes. But everything was easily arranged via WhatsApp (including a call from the guide). I would recommend the tour.

GetYourGuide traveler

1 /5

(Written on 2020-01-05)

I bought a tour and they put me in another group and I ended up not doing what was scheduled!!

GetYourGuide traveler - Italy

4 /5

(Written on 2024-09-18)

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