Istanbul Tour: Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace

Discover the cultural and historic treasures of Istanbul with a half-day tour of Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Skip the ticket line and explore these iconic sites at your own pace.

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Blue Mosque - Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque by many tourists has five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes with traditional Ottoman architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period.
  • Topkapi Palace - Topkapı Palace was the seat of Ottoman Empire more than 380 years where 24 of 36…
What's Included
  • Topkapi Palace and Harem entry ticket (if all-inclusive option selected)
  • Professional Guide
  • Small Group
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratitudes
  • Admission fees
Additional Information

Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace are two of the city’s unmissable cultural and historic sites. Focusing on these two places will allow you to concentrate on their beauty and unique histories at leisure, without rushing on to other sites. Save time by skipping the ticket line in Topkapı Palace with priority access, definitely a bonus whether…

Location
Foodie-ist Cafe and Brasserie
Muhterem Efendi Sokak
Meet your guide outside 'FOODIE-IST CAFE AND BRASSERIE,' just a 2-minute walk from the (T1) Sultanahmet tram stop. Your guide, easily identifiable by their tour guide badge, will be waiting for you at the cafe entrance.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.7
(87 Ratings)
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Karymjoaquim
Nov 14, 2025
Kind and knowledgeable guide - Great experience. Guide was very knowledgeable and patient. The itinerary was good, not too long, and, fortunately, we were the only ones in the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_t
Sep 8, 2025
The Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace - Our tour guide Kim was a wealth of information not just on the Palace and the Mosque but of the whole history of Istanbul and Turkey. We were the only ones who signed up for this tour and were so surprised that they did not cancel. So we actually had a private tour. Highly recommend this tour because Kim led us through all the buildings and especially knew what was not to be missed. We just followed along without any worries about where to go. Would highly recommend this tour. Be prepared for a lot of walking and a lot of steps.
Review provided by Viator
Danielle_e
Jun 22, 2025
Must see tour with Kim - Kim was an amazing guide. We really enjoyed our time with her. She was very knowledgeable. The Palace is a must see!
Review provided by Viator
Antonio_s
May 13, 2025
Huseyin was a wonderfully... - Huseyin was a wonderfully knowledgeable tour guide. He went out of his way to help with everything from flight issues to restaurant recommendations. His expertise on the subject matter was impressive, and he was also incredibly personable and easy to talk to.
Review provided by Viator
Hilary_l
Mar 21, 2025
Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque visit - Erol Utgun was an exceptional guide. His historical knowledge as well as information about the two sites was excellent. We enjoyed his company and would definitely use him again if we return to Istanbul.
Review provided by Viator
O3227aslindal
Jan 17, 2025
Wonderful tour and wonderful guide guide - Erol was so great! Knowledgeable and very funny. great tour and one of the nicest ones we’ve ever been on. The four hours went very quickly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charles_k
Nov 12, 2025
Istanbul: Topkapi Palace and Mosque - It was very difficult to find the rendezvous point due to Istanbul's confusing streets and alleys. We had to get help from numerous locals, in fact one of whom called our guide and escorted us to the meeting spot.
Review provided by Viator
Evette_w
Oct 12, 2025
Topkapi palace and blue mosque - Our tour guide was 30 minutes late. It was very crowded so hard to see everything. She was a good guide except for being late.
Review provided by Viator
Carol_c
Apr 25, 2025
Well worth paying for a private guide - Not to be missed , the private guide was well worth the money, she was very well informed & a credit to the company
Review provided by Viator
Tarek_f
Jun 25, 2025
It’s okay - Our guide was nice but the tour ended up being 3 hours, not 4 and it didn’t feel worth the cost. That said, depending on the included admission fee and the fact that you skip the line, maybe that’s worth it. For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Review provided by Viator
From $46
up to 8 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).