Guided Tour of Blue Mosque

(230 Ratings)

Free cancellation

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Mobile ticket

1 hr

Guided tour

On this guided tour, visit Istanbul’s renovated iconic Blue Mosque, walk through its courtyards, and explore the surrounding Old City too.

highlights

Soak up the charm and splendor of the Blue Mosque’s architecture, dating back to the Ottoman Empire, on this tour with a local guide.
Enjoy a complimentary walking tour of the Old City surrounding the mosque, formerly an administrative pole of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.
Listen to interesting facts from your guide as you walk along its courtyard which has a large fountain and special area for ablution.
Admire the hand-painted blue tiles that adorn the mosque’s interior walls with 5 main domes, 6 minarets, and 8 secondary domes.
Fun Fact: Various verses from the Quran and the words of the Prophet Muhammad adorn the high walls of the mosque.

inclusions

1-hr guided tour of the Blue Mosque
Local English-speaking guide
Entry to the Blue Mosque
Walking tour of the Old City around the mosque
Combo: Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia guided tour (optional)
Combo: Blue Mosque + Basilica Cistern guided tour (optional)

cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

ratings & reviews

4.2

230 Ratings

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1/5

Penelope

Sep, 2023

5/5

Did a Blue Mosque tour with Tulay. The directions given to meet were easy to follow and she was very visible. Tulay gave us the most thorough and interesting tour of the Blue Mosque. I wasn't dressed appropriately so she got me organised in some other clothing. She seamlessly got us through the chaos of getting into the mosque. There are masses of people wanting to get photos and selfies. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and think this is a great way to see such an iconic monument. I would recommend.

Gloria

Sep, 2023

4/5

Ticketing was easy, the meeting place was a bit hard to find but ok. Some confusion as there were a number of tours meeting there at the same time. Guide was a lovely young woman but in such a busy place very hard to hear. She did her best though to keep us together & impart her knowledge. Would recommend.

Almerina

Sep, 2023

4/5

good morning I would like to report that our guide Hakan Korkmaz was very professional and super politicaly correct.... this was very welcome and I would recommend everyone to take a tour with him thank you Almerina Colzada

View original review in Italian

Lenka

Sep, 2023

4/5

I love the tourist guide and the customer service of headout. I came quite late for the meeting and the assistent did the best to take me to the group. The tourist guide had a great knowledge about the history of Istanbul and answered any question.

Hayley

Sep, 2023

4/5

Friendly tour guide, could answer all our questions confidently. Enthusiastic about his job. We met the company exactly where they said, they were there on time and very helpful. There was no skip the queue but they moved very fast, and we went in the afternoon. Would have liked a longer tour of the old town. The entry to the mosques are free but we enjoyed the personal and educational aspects of the tour. Would recommend. Great tour overall.

your experience

Meet your guide just outside the Blue Mosque, one of the most famous monuments in Istanbul dating back to the Ottoman Empire. Get the opportunity to see the mosque after an extensive renovation of more than 5 years.

Learn About the Magnificent Blue Mosque

Walk through its spacious tiled courtyard with a fountain while at the lower levels and in the interior, the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade İznik style ceramic tiles, in more than fifty different tulip designs. Notice how the design becomes flamboyant with representations of flowers, fruit, and cypresses at the gallery level. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mosque stands tall as it holds the secrets and histories of the Ottoman Empire from the year 1616 when the mosque first opened. Adorn the floors that are covered with carpets, which are regularly replaced as they wear out. The many spacious windows confer a spacious impression. Listen to stories about how the many lamps inside the mosque were once covered with gold and gems, while one could find ostrich eggs and crystal balls in many of its glass bowls.

A Walk Around the Old City

Enjoy a complimentary walking tour outside the Blue Mosque of the Old City. Considered to be the heart of Istanbul, this is the perfect spot to see the balance of the mosque's atmosphere against the haggling in historic bazaars. Your guided tour ends inside the Blue Mosque after which you will have time to explore the interiors on your own.

know before you go

Important Information

Please note that the security line can take up to 60 minutes in the high season.
If you do not have a scarf or body cover, you can buy them at the entrance (a scarf is 1€ and a body cover is 3€).
Photography and outside food and drinks are allowed.

my tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.