Istanbul History Tour: Explore Byzantine Heritage

Immerse yourself in Istanbul’s captivating history on our meticulously crafted historic city tour. Explore iconic landmarks and discover the city’s Byzantine and Ottoman heritage.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Hagia Sophia Mosque - Constructed by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, the Hagia Sophia Mosque holds significant importance in both Christian and Islamic traditions. Following the Ottoman conquest, the bells, altar, and sacrificial vessels were removed, and many mosaics were covered to transform the church into a mosque.
  • Hippodrome -…
What's Included
  • Fast Track Ticket Available to skip the huge queue
  • Discover rich tradition of Turkish handicrafts through unique art & shopping experiences in GORDES
  • Professional Tour Guide
  • Public Transportation Fees
  • Soft Drinks
What's Not Included
  • Entry Fees
  • Private transportation
  • Foods & Drinks
Additional Information

Experience the captivating history of Istanbul with our meticulously crafted historic city tour. Delve into the past as you visit Istanbul’s most renowned landmarks, each a testament to the city’s extraordinary heritage.
From the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia, showcasing Byzantine magnificence, to the vibrant Grand Bazaar, where the tapestry of Istanbul’s…

Location
Olea Travel
Muhterem Efendi Sokak
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(98 Ratings)
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1 star
57joshm
Sep 14, 2025
Great guide and awesome experience - Aydin was an amazing guide! He had in depth knowledge of the city and its history. Very helpful and responsive. He took initiative to reached out to me prior to the meeting and ensured I knew how to find him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michele
Sep 7, 2025
Wonderful! - We absolutely loved our tour with Aydin! The amount of information he knows about the sights is really astounding and was super kind and patient with us throughout the tour. I can't recommend him and the tour enough!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tombg5633bk
Sep 7, 2025
Can’t go wrong with Suleyman! - Suleyman was amazing! 100% recommend. Expertly knowledgeable. Followed our pace. Very flexible…adjusted as we desired. Saved time with the lines. Really made the trip to Istanbul terrific.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shalinigoedoen
Sep 6, 2025
Great expierence, amazing and attentive guide - Had a great expierence. Suleiman was our guide. He knew everything about the city and its history. He was also very attentive towards my medical condition and took care of everything
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nico
Sep 2, 2025
The Best Way to Discover Istanbul with Suleyman - We had the pleasure of being guided by Suleyman through Istanbul, and it was an unforgettable experience. He showed us the most important parts of the city, always with great kindness and availability. He patiently answered all our questions in a very detailed way. His knowledge of history is truly impressive, and the way he tells it makes you feel passionate and deeply engaged. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rashaax2339dg
Aug 31, 2025
Sultanahmet Guided walking tour with Uğurcan - My mom and I went on a very interesting and educational guided walking tour with Uğurcan within Sultanahmet. We covered a lot of ground and saw all the sites. We could not have hoped for a better experience. It was really excellent (10/10). He is very knowledgable and patient. He answered all our questions thoroughly, fully, and in a comprehensive manner. This tour guide really knows his stuff! The walking tour was the highlight of our short trip to Istanbul. Also the timely pick-up and return back to the hotel was very convenient. I strongly reccomend you take a guided tour with him because we would not have been able to learn and notice as much without such a knowledgable tour guide. Definitely worth the cost and time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
348lilyj
Aug 24, 2025
Top notch - Covering history, culture, society, our guide (Sulemon) was terrific. Definitely highly recommendable. Sulemon was college-educated, spoke English perfectly well, and provided both historical and current insight into Turkey and Istanbul. Besides all this, he was also very pragmatic and practical, helping us to bypass multiple lines with his “special” guide-only privileges (at the Blue Mosque, at Topkapi palace, and at the cistern), and navigate the dress code requirements (by providing us with a head-scarf for my wife). I have previously visited Istanbul without a guide, and found this visit many times more valuable and easy thanks to Sulemon’s sharing and guidance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chansharma
Aug 22, 2025
Was able to cover a hectic schedule with ease for us - a group of nine. We didn’t have to worry about anything. - The guide ‘Sulieman’ was very knowledgeable, professional and organized. Would recommend him anytime. He kept tabs on us - group of nine ,throughout our 5 trips in one day
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jdobrich
Aug 12, 2025
Fantastic walk through history! - The tour was absolutely amazing. Incredible insight into every stop and every piece of history along the way. I cannot recommend highly enough!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helena_a
Sep 13, 2025
Was great until we were... - Was great until we were put in a carpet shop towards the end of the tour and shown about 15 or so pieces. Which at no point had voiced any interest in..
Review provided by Viator
From $120 (Per Group)
up to 6 guests
1 - Traveler
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).