1 Day Private Istanbul Tour: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar

Hagia Sophia Mosque - The Hagia Sophia stands as a remarkable architectural marvel with a significant place in the art world due to its design, grandeur, size, and functionality. Originally the largest church built by the Eastern Roman Empire in Istanbul, it has been constructed three times on the same site. Initially named Megale Ekklesia (Big Church), it was later called Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) after the fifth century. This church was where rulers were crowned and was the largest cathedral in the city during the Byzantine era. The first church was built by Emperor Konstantios (337-361) in 360, featuring a wooden roof and basilica style, but was destroyed in 404 due to a public riot. Although no remains of the first church exist, bricks marked ‘Megale Ekklesia’ found in museum storage are believed to belong to it. The second church was erected by Emperor Theodosios II (408-450) in 415, featuring five naves and a monumental entrance, but was demolished in 532 during the Nika revolts. Excavations led by A. M Scheinder of the Istanbul German Archeology Institute uncovered steps, column bases, and lamb-embossed pieces from this period. The current structure was commissioned by Emperor Justinianos (527-565) and designed by architects Isidoros (Milet) and Anthemios (Tralles). According to historian Prokopios, construction began on February 23, 532, and was completed in five years, opening on December 27, 537. On its opening day, Emperor Justinianos reportedly said, “My Lord, thank you for giving me the chance to create such a worshipping place,” and added, “Süleyman, I beat you,” referring to Süleyman’s temple in Jerusalem. The third Hagia Sophia combines traditional basilical plans with a central dome design. It features three naves, one apse, and two narthexes, with a length of 100 m and a width of 69.5 m. The dome rises 55.60 m from the ground, with a radius of 31.87 m north to south and 30.86 m east to west. Emperor Justinianos ordered the best architectural pieces from his provinces to be used in its construction, making it grander. Columns and marbles were sourced from ancient cities in Anatolia and Syria, such as Aspendus, Ephessus, Baalbeek, and Tarsa. White marbles came from Marmara Island, green porphyry from Eğriboz Island, pink marbles from Afyon, and yellow from North Africa. The interior walls were decorated with symmetrical marble patterns, and columns from the Temple of Artemis in Ephessus and Egypt support the domes. The structure has 104 columns, 40 in the lower and 64 in the upper gallery. Except for marble-covered walls, all walls are adorned with beautiful mosaics made from gold, silver, glass, terra cotta, and colorful stones. Plant-based and geometric mosaics date back to the 6th century, while figured mosaics are from the Iconoclast period. During the East Roman period, Hagia Sophia was the Empire Church, where emperors were crowned. The area on the right of the naos, with colorful stone flooring creating an intertwining circular design (omphalion), is where Eastern Roman Emperors were crowned. During the Latin occupation of Istanbul (1204-1261), both the city and church were damaged. When Eastern Rome regained control in 1261, Hagia Sophia was in poor condition. After Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s (1451-1481) conquest in 1453, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. It was fortified and protected, remaining a mosque. Additional supporting pillars were added during the East Roman and Ottoman periods due to earthquake damage. Minarets designed by Mimar Sinan also served this purpose. A madrasah was built north of Hagia Sophia during Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s reign, later abolished in the 17th century. During Sultan Abdülmecid’s (1839-1861) reign, renovations by Fossati included rebuilding the madrasah. Remains were discovered during 1982 excavations. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Ottoman additions included mihrabs, minbar, maksoorahs, a preachment stand, and a muezzin mahfili. Bronze lamps on either side of the mihrab were gifts from Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (1520-1566) after returning from Budin. Two marble cubes from the Hellenistic period (3 - 4 B.C.) at the main entrance were gifts from Sultan Murad III (1574-1595). During Sultan Abdülmecid’s reign (1847-1849), extensive renovations by the Swiss Fossati brothers included removing the Hünkâr Mahfili in the northern section and building another near the mihrab. The 8-7.5 m diameter calligraphy panels by Caligrapher Kadıasker Mustafa İzzet Efendi on the main walls are the largest in the Islamic world. Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s orders and has been welcoming visitors since February 1, 1935. According to a 1936 deed, Hagia Sophia is registered as “Ayasofya-i Kebir Camii Şerifi” on behalf of the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Foundation for mausoleum, akaret, muvakkithane, and madrasah on 57 pafta, 57 island, and 7th parcel.

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Topkapi Palace - Topkapı Palace served as the residence of Ottoman sultans and the administrative and educational center of the state. Built between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, it was expanded and altered over time. The palace was home to the Ottoman sultans and their court until the mid-19th century. In the early 1850s, it became inadequate for state ceremonies, prompting the sultans to move to Dolmabahçe Palace on the Bosphorus. Despite the move, the royal treasure, Holy Relics of the Prophet Muhammad, and imperial archives remained at Topkapı, which continued to host certain state ceremonies. After the Ottoman monarchy was abolished in 1922, Topkapı Palace became a museum on April 3, 1924, by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s order. After Constantinople’s conquest, Sultan Mehmed II built a palace in modern-day Istanbul’s Beyazıt district, where the University of Istanbul stands today. This first palace became known as the Old Palace (Eski Saray). Following its construction, Mehmed II built the Tiled Kiosk (Çinili Köşk) and then Topkapı Palace, to which the court relocated upon completion. Mehmed called it the New Palace (Sarây-ı Cedîd). The palace received its current name when Sultan Mahmud I (r. 1730-54) built a large wooden palace near the city’s Byzantine walls, with ceremonial cannons in front. This seaside palace was named the Cannon Gate Palace by the Sea (Topkapusu Sâhil Sarâyı), and when it was destroyed by fire, its name was transferred to Mehmed II’s New Palace. Topkapı Palace, which evolved over centuries, played a crucial role in Ottoman governmental philosophy and palace-subject relations. Its design was influenced by the Edirne Palace on the Tunca River, built by Mehmed II’s father, Sultan Murad II (r. 1421-44, 1446-51), though little of it survives today. The palace’s basic design centers on courtyards and gardens, surrounded by state offices, sovereign residences, and court employee accommodations. Topkapı Palace is atop the Byzantine acropolis on Sarayburnu at Istanbul’s peninsula tip, surrounded by the Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus, and Golden Horn. On the land side, it is encircled by 1,400-meter-long high walls, known as the “Royal Walls” (Sûr-ı Sultânî), and on the sea side by Byzantine walls. The palace covers approximately 700,000 square meters, with a major part set aside for the Royal Gardens (Hasbahçe). The court of Topkapı Palace consists of two main organizations: the Outer Palace (Bîrûn) and the Inner Palace (Enderûn), with the Harem as part of the latter. Residences, ceremonies, ceremonial spaces, and palace facilities were organized according to this principle. Within the Topkapı Palace complex are three main gates-the Imperial Gate (Bâb-ı Hümâyûn), the Gate of Salutation (Bâbüsselâm), and the Gate of Felicity (Bâbüssaâde)-four courtyards, the Harem, the Royal Gardens-now known as the Rose Garden (Gülbahçe)-and various other gardens.

Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque, known as Sultanahmet Camii in Turkish, is a historic mosque in Istanbul. It is called the Blue Mosque due to the blue tiles surrounding its interior walls. Built between 1609 and 1616 during Ahmed I’s rule, it includes a tomb of the founder, a madrasa, and a hospice. While still an active mosque, it is also a popular tourist attraction in Istanbul. As a functioning mosque, it closes to non-worshippers for about half an hour during the five daily prayers. The best way to appreciate the Blue Mosque’s architecture is to approach it from the Hippodrome (west side). Non-Muslim visitors must use the same entrance.

Kapali Carsi - The Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered bazaars globally, spans 30,700 square meters with over 60 streets and alleys and 4,000 shops. The original historical core, İç Bedesten, was completed by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461. A “bedesten” refers to an indoor arcade with shops, and several areas within the bazaar are called by this name. Over time, the Grand Bazaar expanded from two bedestens to a sprawling roofed complex of thousands of shops, fringed by tradesmen’s inns and workshops known as hans. According to Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname, by the seventeenth century, the Kapalı Çarşı (or Çarşı-yı-Kebir as it was known) reached its present size, with over 4,000 shops and nearly 500 stalls known as dolap (literally “cupboard”). Additionally, there were amenities for merchants, including restaurants, a hammam, and a mosque, as well as at least 10 smaller mescits, or prayer rooms. Today, this city-within-a-city contains a police station, health dispensary, post office, branches of major banks, and a tourist information center.

Hippodrome - The Hippodrome of Constantinople, located in Sultanahmet/Istanbul, was a public arena primarily for chariot races. The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos (horse) and dromos (way). It also hosted gladiatorial games, official ceremonies, celebrations, protests, and torture of convicts. The Hippodrome functioned during Roman (203-330 CE), Byzantine (330-1453 CE), and Ottoman (1453-1922) periods. Roman Emperor Septimius Severus conquered ancient Constantinople, then named Byzantion, in 203 CE, renaming it Augusta Antonina and building many structures, including the Hippodrome. The first Hippodrome was small. In 330 CE, Constantine I declared the city the Byzantine Empire’s capital, naming it Constantinople, meaning Constantine’s city in Greek. One of Constantine I’s first projects was rebuilding the Hippodrome, enlarging it and connecting it to the Great Palace of Constantinople, now beneath the Blue Mosque. The Great Palace’s foundations can be seen at the Museum of the Great Palace Mosaics. The Hippodrome’s capacity was approximately 40,000, free and open to male community members. At least eight different games could be held daily, and it symbolized the empire’s power. The Hippodrome was decorated with monuments from across the empire, including the Serpent Column (Yılanlı Sütun) from Delphi and the Obelisk of Thutmosis III (Obelisk of Theodosius) from Egypt. These landmarks and monuments showcased the Byzantine Empire’s strength and vast territory. During the Ottoman era, the Hippodrome was called At Meydanı (Horse Square) and used as a square. The construction of İbrahim Paşa Palace (now housing the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum) in the 16th century and the Blue Mosque in the 17th century damaged the Hippodrome. From the mid-eighteenth century onwards, it was abandoned and destroyed. Today, the area is known as Sultanahmet Square, following the Hippodrome’s ground plan and dimensions. Amazing facts about the Hippodrome of Constantinople include the Obelisk of Thutmosis III, brought from Karnak (Southern Egypt) to Constantinople in 390 CE by Byzantine emperor Theodosius I, erected inside the Hippodrome, and named “Obelisk of Theodosius” (Dikilitaş in Turkish). It is one of twenty-nine Egyptian obelisks worldwide. Despite being approximately 3500 years old, the obelisk is in excellent condition. During the Nika Riots in 532 CE, Byzantine emperor Justinian I ordered the killing of 30,000 people locked in the Hippodrome. During the Byzantine period, the Hippodrome was central to Constantinopolitans’ daily life. Huge amounts were bet on chariot races, with four teams participating, each financially sponsored by a different political party (Deme) within the Byzantine Senate: The Blues (Venetoi), the Greens (Prasinoi), the Reds (Rousioi), and the Whites (Leukoi). Good charioteers were public heroes during the Byzantine period. Legendary charioteer Porphyrios raced for both Blues and Greens. According to primary sources, several statues of Charioteer Porphyrios existed around the Hippodrome; unfortunately, none survive, but the bases of two statues, including an inscription praising Charioteer Porphyrios, are exhibited at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums. During the Ottoman period in 1720, a fifteen-day circumcision ceremony for Ahmet III’s sons took place in the Hippodrome, depicted in Surname-i Vehbi (an Ottoman miniature painting book describing the ceremony) with seats and monuments still intact.

2 Days Istanbul Tour: Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, Dolmabahce Palace, Istiklal Street, and Taksim

Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - The Spice Market is a vibrant indoor bazaar with numerous shops offering a variety of spices, purses, flavored teas, Turkish delight, nuts, ceramics, and small souvenirs.

Dolmabahce Palace - Dolmabahce Palace is situated along the European shore of the Bosphorus Strait. Originally, a shallow bay where the Ottoman fleet anchored their ships was filled in the 17th century, creating a garden with pavilions named Besiktas Waterfront Palace complex, where sultans relaxed. Dolmabahce means “filled garden” in Turkish. In 1843, Sultan Abdülmecid I ordered a new palace, replacing the old buildings, and architects Garabet and Nikogos Balyan completed it in 1856. Dolmabahce became a secondary palace after Abdulmecid’s death, serving as a winter residence while Beylerbeyi Palace was the summer residence. After two sultans, the imperial family returned to Dolmabahce with Sultan Mehmed V, living there until the Republic’s proclamation at the War of Liberation’s end. The Parliament designated Dolmabahce as a presidential palace, and Atatürk stayed and received foreign guests during Istanbul visits. He died in the palace on November 10, 1938, and it became a museum in 1952. Covering over 110,000 square meters on 250,000 square meters of land, it is an impressive palace on the Bosphorus. The palace consists of three main sections: Administrative apartments (Selamlik or Mabeyn-i Hümayun), Ceremonial Hall (Muayede Salonu), and Imperial Harem (Harem-i Hümayun). The Ceremonial Hall, built between the other two sections, hosted important guests and foreign statesmen. Besides the main palace, the complex includes imperial kitchens, Crown Prince rooms (Veliaht Dairesi), barracks, stables, pharmacy, flour mill, aviary (Kusluk), glass manufactory, foundry, plant house (Fidelik), greenhouse, carpet workshop, clock tower, etc. Some smaller buildings were destroyed or demolished over the years. Two monumental gates provide access to the main garden (only one is open today) of the administrative part: Treasury Gate (Hazine Kapisi) and Imperial Gate (Saltanat Kapisi). The Mabeyn-i Hümayun (state apartments) is the most important section in terms of function and splendor. It features a large entrance hall, a crystal staircase (banisters), and other decorative elements to impress visitors. Large halls upstairs are decorated with Hereke carpets, crystal chandeliers, fireplaces, and a fine imperial Hamam with Egyptian alabaster. The Ceremonial Hall is a large square hall of monumental proportions, over 2,000 square meters in area and 36 meters high. It is decorated with a huge Hereke carpet and a 4.5-ton crystal chandelier sent by Queen Victoria. Important state and religious ceremonies were held here. Upper galleries were used by foreign ambassadors invited to religious ceremonies and by the orchestra on special occasions. Women weren’t allowed in these ceremonies, so they watched from windows of a long corridor connecting the Selamlik with the Harem, passing above the Ceremonial Hall. During winter, the hall was heated with hot air from the heating system at the bottom of 56 tall columns, taking about 3 days to heat properly before any ceremony. The Harem was connected to the Selamlik section by a long corridor, guarded to ensure no unauthorized entry. Only the sultan and eunuch servants could enter. The Harem section includes several rooms, baths, and halls, with suites for the sultan, Queen mother (Valide Sultan), official wives, favorites (Gözde), concubines (Cariye), and education rooms for the sultan’s young children. Next to the Harem section was the Palace of the Crown Prince.

Taksim Gezi Park - Taksim area

Bosphorus Strait - The Bosphorus cruise tour lasts 1.5 hours.

• Professional guide
• Private Tour
• 1 or 2 Day (depending on option selected)

• Food and drinks
• Entrance fees Gratuities

Experience the enchantment of Istanbul with a private 1 or 2-day walking tour. Delight in a river cruise and a guided exploration of the city’s iconic landmarks, such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Dolmabahce Palace, and Istiklal Street.

Private tour guarantees personalized attention
1-day itinerary showcases the highlights of the Old City
2-day itinerary includes the Bosphorus, Dolmabahce Palace, and additional attractions
Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off in Istanbul

• Please note the following closing times:
• Grand Bazaar - Sundays
• Hagia Sophia - Mondays
• Topkapi Palace - Tuesdays
• Dolmabace Palace - Mondays and Thursdays
• If the museum is closed on your chosen day, the local supplier will move the itinerary to the next available day. If not, they will replace the tour with a trip to the underground cistern or Galata tower.
• A 1-way transportation ticket costs 30 TL
• This tour always includes hotel or harbour pick-up and drop off, regardless of which option is selected.
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.