Old City Tour with Pre-Booked Tickets: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern

If you want to see the historic peninsula's three great landmarks without dealing with tickets, this old city tour with pre-booked tickets is ideal. Tickets for Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern are reserved in advance; all you have to do is follow your guide.

The stops

Over three hours you visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern with a licensed guide, who explains Ottoman and Byzantine heritage, the architecture of each building and the history of the city. Thanks to the small group and the headset you are given, you can hear your guide clearly even in busy spaces.

Tickets and queues

Pre-booked tickets for Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern make entry easier. However, nobody can skip the line at the mosques; the guides do this every day, so they make the process more efficient. Because the tickets are for timed entry, you need to be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start, and you cannot join once the tour has begun.

Visiting rules

The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are working mosques and can close to visitors without notice, for example for a state visit. Women must wear a headscarf in the mosques, and everyone must cover their shoulders and knees; shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed. Political or ideological banners, flags and similar items are not allowed in Hagia Sophia.

Practical tips

The tour suits all fitness levels. Transport to the meeting point is not included, but it is close to public transport. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a scarf or shawl.

To round off your trip, browse more experiences on our Istanbul tours page, and find somewhere to stay among our hotels in Istanbul.