🏨 Imperial Istanbul Half-Day Tour: Hagia Sophia, Basillica Cistern and Grand Bazaar Activity

Imperial Istanbul Half-Day Tour: Hagia Sophia, Basillica Cistern and Grand Bazaar

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From $60.00

64 reviews (3.48)

Price varies by group size

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Pricing Info: Per Person

Duration: 4 hours

Departs: Istanbul, Istanbul

Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Free cancellation

Up to 24 hours in advance.

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Overview

Get a glimpse of Istanbul's fascinating Imperial legacies on this half-day sightseeing tour with an expert local guide. First visit Hagia Sophia, once one of the largest basilicas in the world and now the second-most visited museum in Turkey. Venture below ground to the ancient Basilica Cistern, which once supported the Great Palace of Constantinople, and hone your haggling skills at the bustling Grand Bazaar, one of the world's largest and oldest covered markets where you can shop for jewelry, spices, leather goods and souvenirs galore.

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Local guide

Transport by air-conditioned minivan

What's Not Included

Food and drinks, unless specified

Gratuities

Traveler Information

CHILD: Age: 5 - 11
ADULT: Age: 12 - 99

Additional Info

Face masks provided for travellers
Face masks required for travellers in public areas
Hagia Sophia will be closed on Mondays, should you travel on this day, you'll visit the Chora Museum instead
In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited
Not recommended for children aged 4 and under
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised

Children 18 years and under must be accompanied by an adult
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and on religious holidays (September 1-4, 2017) should you travel on these days, you'll spend additional time at Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Experience may be cancelled due to Insufficient travelers

What To Expect

Kapali Carsi

Your Imperial Istanbul tour starts with pickup from your hotel in the early afternoon. Traveling by minivan, your guide will spend five hours showing you the fascinating history and culture of Turkey's largest city.

Delving into Istanbul's ancient past, you'll learn that this city served as the capital of a whopping four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261) and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). Strategically located along the Silk Road, linking Europe and the Middle East, Istanbul has been fought over for thousands of years.

Your first stop is Hagia Sophia, a former Greek Orthodox church built in the 6th century by the Roman Emperor Justinian. The seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia was one of the largest basilicas in the Christian world, and was converted into an Imperial mosque after the Ottoman conquest. Today it is a magnificent museum revealing Istanbul's complex layers of history and featuring stunning Byzantine mosaics. Join locals and visitors alike as you explore the second-most visited museum in Turkey with your guide, who'll explain what you see.

Just a few paces from Hagia Sophia lies the Basilica Cistern, your next stop. The largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city, the Basilica Cistern was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I to provide a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople.

Back above ground, head to the Grand Bazaar to practice your bargaining skills at one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. The original market was erected in the 15th century, shortly after the Ottoman conquest. Today you'll find a dizzying array of local treasures at more than 3,000 shops spread across 61 streets. Browse jewelry, leather, pottery, spices, carpets and more, and soak up the atmosphere of this cultural hotspot as your guide leads you through.

Your tour ends with hotel drop-off.

Please note: You may visit the Basilica Cistern or Nakkas Cistern, Hagia Sophia (Closed on Mondays; will be replaced with Chora Museum), Grand Bazaar (Closed on Sundays; additional time will be spent at the other locations).

60 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Hagia Sophia Mosque

St Sophia

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Basilica Cistern

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Imperial Istanbul Half-Day Tour: Hagia Sophia, Basillica Cistern and Grand Bazaar Activity - Istanbul Travel Guide

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