Guided Tours

Blue Mosque Guided Tour with Options

4.3/5(2,370)

Claudia I

Group

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

A truly memorable tour through three of Istanbul's most impressive landmarks: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern. Each site had its own unique charm — the architecture, history, and atmosphere were all fascinating. Our guide, Buse, was excellent: knowledgeable, clear and engaging in her explanations, and genuinely attentive to the group. She made the whole experience much richer. Highly recommend!"

Srinivas S

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

The day's highlight was Buse's explanation of the history. It is quite an intense history but she kept it light while delving into some of the gory historical Details. She also kept a large group Moving while giving everyone enough free time to take pictures. Thank you Buse!

Carl R

Couple

Verified booking

6 days ago

Our guide, Haluk, gave us a wonderful guided tour full of anecdotes, stories, and a joy of sharing the history of his beautiful country. I recommend this type of tour, called the trio, which lasts 3.5 hours. It is well worth the price. Highly recommended.

Gabriele B

Group

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Our guide spoke good, very clear English and guided us around and into the Blue Mosque as relaxedly as possible given the many visitors. He provided a good amount of information about the mosque and Islam. Definitely recommended!

Mubina V

Couple

Verified booking

Sep 2026

We enjoyed our combo tour of Haiga Sophia and Blue Mosque very much, our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of both sites and he was friendly. Tour date 31/08/26

Charles H

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

Buse was excellent, could not recommend her any higher. She was knowledgeable, personable, and very funny. The sites were amazing, regardless of a little construction.

Walk straight into the Blue Mosque with a licensed guide who reveals why its minarets caused a stir and how its architecture enhances prayers.

Gaze at the vast marble courtyard, elegant cascading domes, colossal columns nicknamed “elephant feet,” and inscriptions hand-drawn by Ottoman calligraphers.

A guide leads the way through the mosque and an Old City walking tour past the Hippodrome, ancient Obelisks, and Byzantine relics.

Enhance your journey with a Bosphorus cruise for unbeatable skyline views, take a Hagia Sophia tour to uncover its hidden frescoes, or explore the Basilica Cistern.

Choose your preferred language for your guided tours: the Blue Mosque tour is available in Spanish, French, or Portuguese, while the Basilica Cistern tour is available in French.

1-hour guided tour of the Blue Mosque

Entry to Blue Mosque

Expert English-speaking licensed guide

Walking tour around Old City

Istanbul Old Town map

1.5-hour Bosphorus cruise ticket (as per option selected)

Audio guide for cruise in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic & Chinese (as per option selected).

Bosphorus cruise map (as per option selected)

1.5-hour guided tour of the Hagia Sophia (as per option selected)

Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia (as per option selected)

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

Skip-the-line entry to Basilica Cistern (as per option selected)

1-hour guided tour of Topkapi Palace (as per option selected)

Skip-the-line entry to Topkapi Palace (as per option selected)

French-guided Basilica Cistern tour (as per option selected)

Spanish, French or Portuguese-guided Blue Mosque tour (as per option selected)

Timeline
Map
Start point
Sultanahmet Square
Get direction
1. Blue Mosque
Free Admission
1 hr
Step into the Blue Mosque to see over 20,000 hand-painted İznik tiles, six towering minarets, and a vast prayer hall lit by hundreds of hanging lamps.
2. Istanbul Old Town
30 min
3. Hagia Sophia
Tickets included (based on selection)
1 hr 30 min
4. Basilica Cistern
Tickets included (based on selection)
30 min
5. Bosphorus Cruise
Tickets included (based on selection)
1 hr 30 min
End point
Depends on the experience selected

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

2,370 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United States, United Kingdom, Italy and over 45 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Claudia I
Group
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
A truly memorable tour through three of Istanbul's most impressive landmarks: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern. Each site had its own unique charm — the architecture, history, and atmosphere were all fascinating. Our guide, Buse, was excellent: knowledgeable, clear and engaging in her explanations, and genuinely attentive to the group. She made the whole experience much richer. Highly recommend!"
Srinivas S
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
The day's highlight was Buse's explanation of the history. It is quite an intense history but she kept it light while delving into some of the gory historical Details. She also kept a large group Moving while giving everyone enough free time to take pictures. Thank you Buse!
Carl R
Couple
Verified booking
6 days ago
Our guide, Haluk, gave us a wonderful guided tour full of anecdotes, stories, and a joy of sharing the history of his beautiful country. I recommend this type of tour, called the trio, which lasts 3.5 hours. It is well worth the price. Highly recommended.
Gabriele B
Group
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Our guide spoke good, very clear English and guided us around and into the Blue Mosque as relaxedly as possible given the many visitors. He provided a good amount of information about the mosque and Islam. Definitely recommended!
Mubina V
Couple
Verified booking
Sep 2026
We enjoyed our combo tour of Haiga Sophia and Blue Mosque very much, our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of both sites and he was friendly. Tour date 31/08/26

A guided walk through Istanbul's most iconic landmarks, starting inside the Blue Mosque and extending across the Old City — with optional add-ons that take you further into the city's history.

Getting started

Meet your licensed English-speaking guide at the designated meeting point. Tickets are validated before entry, and your guide handles dress code requirements at the mosque, scarves are available to borrow.

Blue Mosque

What to expect

Step inside one of Istanbul's most recognisable landmarks on a 1-hour guided tour that traces its architectural and religious significance from the moment you enter.

Features

Expert commentary on the mosque's history, design, and place in Ottoman Istanbul.

Guided navigation of the interior, covering domes, tiles, and the prayer hall.

Dress code assistance is managed by your guide throughout.

Hagia Sophia (if selected as part of the tour)

What to expect

Enjoy a 1.5-hour guided tour of one of the world's most visited landmarks, entered without queuing.

Features

Skip-the-line entry managed by your guide.

Guided tour covering the building's evolution from cathedral to mosque.

Expert commentary on mosaics, architecture, and structural history.

Basilica Cistern (if selected as part of the tour)

What to expect

A 30-minute guided visit to the vast underground cistern beneath the city, built by the Byzantines in the 6th century.

Features

Skip-the-line entry

Guided walk through the columns and waterways with historical context

Topkapi Palace (if selected as part of the tour)

What to expect

A 1-hour guided tour through the seat of the Ottoman Empire, covering the palace's courtyards, collections, and imperial quarters.

Features

Skip-the-line entry

Guided access to key sections of the palace complex

Commentary on Ottoman history, court life, and the palace's centuries of use

Bosphorus Cruise (if selected as part of the tour)

What to expect

Board a 1.5-hour cruise along the strait that divides Europe and Asia, with an audio guide available in ten languages — English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and Chinese. A cruise map is included.

What to bring

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

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

Audio app: Stay ahead of the game by downloading the audio app beforehand to avoid any network issues at the location.

Earphones: Don’t forget your earphones for an immersive audio guide experience.

What's not allowed

Hagia Sophia

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

Dress code for women: Women should not wear knee-length shorts, skirts, or clothing that exposes the shoulders or chest. Hair should be partially covered with a scarf.

Dress code for men: Men should not wear knee-length shorts or clothing that exposes the shoulders.

Accessibility

Basilica Cistern

Wheelchair accessibility: This experience is wheelchair accessible.

Hagia Sophia

Wheelchair accessibility: This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Additional information

Scarves and body covers: If you do not have a scarf or body cover, you can purchase them at the entrance. A scarf costs €1, while a body cover costs €3.

Bosphorus cruise options: You can choose to take the Bosphorus cruise on the same day or the next day. In addition to midday and afternoon departures, a special evening cruise at 6 pm is available from April to October.

Security screening: While you can skip the ticket lines, security screening is mandatory for all guests. Be prepared for wait times of up to 60 minutes during peak travel periods.

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

Friday prayer and tourist visiting hours: Due to Friday prayers, the mosque will be closed to tourists from 12pm to 2pm. For a smoother experience, it is recommended to visit after 4 pm to avoid the lengthy security lines anticipated between 2pm and 4pm.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

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

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.