Guided Tours

Istanbul: Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Tickets

Hagia Sophia interior with ornate domes and arches, Istanbul, Turkey.

Visitors observing the Deesis mosaic in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey.

Blue Mosque exterior in Istanbul with domes and minarets against a clear sky.

Blue Mosque interior with intricate tilework and stained glass windows, Istanbul.

Duration

3 hrs - 4 hrs

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Guided tour

Instant confirmation

Mobile ticket

Save money, see more! Explore the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia with a discounted ticket and stories from an expert.

Blue Mosque's Iznik tiles, elephant-foot pillars supporting its vast domes, and handwoven carpets covering the vast prayer hall, will leave you in awe.

Find hidden marble doors at Hagia Sophia, tombs of Ottoman sultans, mosaics once buried under centuries of plaster, and giant oil lamps.

On a guided walk of Istanbul's Old Town, pass by the Million Stone, once the zero-mile marker of the Byzantine Empire, and the Obelisk of Theodosius from Ancient Egypt.

Upgrade and descend into Istanbul’s hidden depths with a guided tour of Basilica Cistern’s eerie forest of columns, where carp swim beneath glowing arches.

Did you know? The Blue Mosque's interior is lit by 260 windows and offers panoramic views.

1-hour guided tour of the Blue Mosque

Entry to Blue Mosque

45-min guided tour of the Hagia Sophia

Entry to Hagia Sophia

Expert English-speaking licensed guide for all venues

Walking tour around Old Town

Istanbul Old Town map

30-min guided tour of the Basilica Cistern (as per option selected)

Entry to Basilica Cistern (as per option selected)

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

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Guests from United States, United Kingdom, Italy and over 57 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Isabel
Apr, 2025Verified booking
5/5
Great experience! A group not so large that you can't ask questions to the guide and no one got lost despite big crowds. Incredidbly knowledgeable guide who provided a very detailed and interesting tour. A great start to our trip to Istanbul to get a base understanding of Old Town and its history.
Gernot
Apr, 2025Verified booking
3/5
All in all a good tour...great guide...who knew a lot of background information. unfortunately nothing was recognizable from the fast lane - thank god there was not much going on...so it was no problem.
Peter
Apr, 2025Verified booking
5/5
I had a great time thanks to the guid who was brilliant, very informative and was able to pass on the information in easy way so you understood , he also had a good sense of humour . The things we saw were fascinating and interesting even though I have travelled a lot over the years.
Rühling
Apr, 2025Verified booking
5/5
A very entertaining guide, who ensured that the tour was very exciting, entertaining and entertaining with his great specialist knowledge and many anecdotes! Not having to queue is a great luxury, as the other queues would have taken hours.
Diana
Mar, 2025Verified booking
5/5
Fayik's punctuality, friendliness and professionalism! He was knowledgeable and at ease with the topics. He easily guided the group. He's an excellent guide! The duration of the tour is ideal and the monuments visited are extraordinary! We recommend

Armed with this super-saver combo ticket, experience Istanbul’s greatest architectural beauties – Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

Hagia Sophia

The journey to Hagia Sophia begins with a meeting at the Blue Mosque, where you'll learn about historical facts and the latest renovations. Continue to the Blue Mosque courtyards and the Old City around it. The city is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk your way through the renowned Hagia Sophia and admire the coexistence of Byzantine and Ottoman art pieces. The Dome, featuring 40 windows, will surely impress you while the Wishing Column is thought to have healing effects! Learn all about the genius of Byzantine architecture and art with the power of storytelling, thanks to your expert English-speaking historian tour guide.

Blue Mosque

Learn about the rich history of Istanbul and the Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, the Islamic faith, and the famous blue Iznik tiles inside the Blue Mosque with your official licensed guide. During the tour, you will have ample opportunities to explore and take amazing photographs of the hand-painted blue tiles that adorn the mosque’s interior walls, the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. Get enough insights and tips to help you discover independently the rest of your trip.

What to bring

Bring your walking shoes, water bottle, hat, sunglasses, and snacks for comfortable exploration.

Bring local currency or your preferred payment method for meals, souvenirs, and extra delights not covered by the ticket.

What's not allowed

Hagia Sophia

The prayer area on the first floor can only be entered by Turkish citizens.

Strict dress code: Women should not wear knee-length shorts, skirts, or clothing with exposed shoulders or chests. Hair should be partially covered with a scarf. Men should not wear knee-length shorts or clothing with exposed shoulders.

Accessibility

Basilica Cistern

This experience is wheelchair accessible.

Hagia Sophia

This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Additional information

If you do not have a scarf or body cover, you can buy them at the entrance (a scarf is 1€ and a body cover is 3€).

While you can breeze through the ticket lines, security screening is standard for all guests. Be prepared for wait times of up to 60 minutes during peak travel periods.

Hagia Sophia is under renovation, therefore, not all parts of the building are open to the public.

Due to the Friday prayer, the Mosque will be closed to tourists from 12pm to 2pm. For a smoother experience, it's recommended to visit after 4pm to avoid the lengthy security line anticipated between 2pm and 4pm.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting Point

Meet your guide at Dsign Cafe.

Address: Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd No:10, 34093 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye.

Landmark: Turkish and Islamic Art Museum, Hippodrome.

Your guide will be waiting for you at the meeting point with Headout or Istanbul Welcome Card Flags.

Get Directions to the Meeting Point