Combos

Combo (Save 5%): Kariye Mosque Entry Tickets + 1 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Kariye Mosque interior with Byzantine frescoes and domed ceiling, Istanbul.

Guests exploring the interior of Kariye Mosque, Istanbul, near ornate wooden staircase.

Hop-on hop-off bus tour in Istanbul with passengers boarding.

Tourists on a bus tour in Istanbul with the Blue Mosque in the background.

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

4.0/5(455)

Jeffrey L

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

Despite a very slow and rocky start, I did enjoy the tour once it got going. There were plenty of buses and tour narrative was good. I started my tour in the AM at Galataport. There was a problem with one of the buses. I waited 1 hour for a new bus, some waited 2 hours. The crew gave little info as to what was going on. The communication and language barrier was very frustrating

Jan O

Couple

Verified booking

Mar 2026

Due to heavy rain and wind, the tour was a great alternative for getting a first impression of this city! Multiple languages available for the audio guide!

Marcel Q

Couple

Verified booking

Feb 2026

A comprehensive tour that gives you an idea of the scale of Istanbul and covers many topics, although a bit more time on the Asian side is missed.

Bundle a 1-day Istanbul hop-on hop-off bus pass with Kariye Mosque entry, with a little extra saving versus booking separately.

Hop-on hop-off bus tour: Ride a double-decker route with onboard audio commentary in 8 languages, plus WiFi and a charging station.

Receive your mosque ticket by email, then on the day walk past the ticket counter, enter directly without queuing and begin exploring when you arrive with your audio guide.

Use your included entry to Kariye Mosque to explore its interiors at your pace, then ride the hop-on hop-off bus loop to reach areas across Istanbul.

Use the bus pass across the day, and fit your Kariye Mosque visit around the stops that matter most to you.

Kariye Mosque tickets

Entry ticket to Kariye Mosque

Skip-the-ticket-line access

Audio guide in English

Hop-on hop-off tour

1-day hop-on hop-off bus tour

Audio commentary in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Russian, and Turkish

WiFi onboard

Charging station onboard

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

455 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.
208
127
79
14
27
Guests from United States, United Kingdom, Australia and over 31 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Jeffrey L
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
Despite a very slow and rocky start, I did enjoy the tour once it got going. There were plenty of buses and tour narrative was good. I started my tour in the AM at Galataport. There was a problem with one of the buses. I waited 1 hour for a new bus, some waited 2 hours. The crew gave little info as to what was going on. The communication and language barrier was very frustrating
Raquel B
Solo
Verified booking
6 days ago
It was great—I went twice
Kamran K
Family
Verified booking
Apr 2026
When I booked tickets and downloaded app, it did not revel tickets so had to get it printed from a kiosk. The boarding directions to gelata tower were misleading, it didn't take us to boarding point rather we were tsken to the hop on/hop off shop near gelata tower. The people weren't helpful and it was a long way down to reach to boarding point. We got lost in the way. Apart from that, bus tour was good. We would prefer an actual guide rather then ear phones.
Jan O
Couple
Verified booking
Mar 2026
Due to heavy rain and wind, the tour was a great alternative for getting a first impression of this city! Multiple languages available for the audio guide!
David M
Couple
Verified booking
Feb 2026
Great way to see all the important sights in city and to get orientated in a new place Issues with this tour were the audio didn't always match up with the sights and often you couldn't see what was being mentioned

Routes & schedule

See more of Istanbul in one day with hop-on hop-off flexibility, then add Kariye Mosque when you want a slower, self-paced stop.

Istanbul Bosphorus Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Getting started

Board at BUSFORUS ISTANBUL (HOP ON HOP OFF TOURS) in Sultanahmet Meydanı, between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Keep your mobile voucher and a valid photo ID ready.

What to expect

Ride a double-decker bus for a panoramic city overview. Use the onboard audio commentary (8 languages) to follow what you’re seeing as you pass major districts and waterfront stretches.

Features

Audio commentary in 8 languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Russian, and Turkish

Onboard WiFi and a charging station

Red Route and Blue Route coverage

Schedule

Red Route and Blue Route: 10am to 8:05pm

Frequency: every 60 to 80 minutes

Stops: 11 total (7 on the Red Route, 4 on the Blue Route)

Kariye Mosque

Your visit to Chora (Kariye) Mosque centers on entering this active place of worship while respecting its operating rules and prayer times. Visitor access pauses 30 minutes before each prayer and during prayers, so your time inside is shaped around this schedule. Skip the ticket line at the entrance by using your pre-issued ticket, which lets you bypass the on-site purchase queue and move directly toward the control point.

What to bring

Child ID: Bring a passport or ID card for children to verify ages at entry.

Smartphone: Carry a charged smartphone to access your emailed entry ticket.

Modest clothing: Wear clothing that follows the mosque dress code, avoiding shorts and sleeveless tops.

Head and body cover: Plan to buy a scarf or body cover at the mosque desk if your outfit is not compliant.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access: The experience is wheelchair accessible.

Strollers: You must fold your stroller and carry it in your hand inside the mosque.

What’s not allowed

Closed days: Do not plan your visit to the mosque on Fridays, as it is closed to visitors.

Prayer times: Do not arrive within 30 minutes before prayer, as visitor access stops then.

Pets: Do not bring pets, as they are not allowed.

Dress code: Do not wear shorts or sleeveless shirts inside the mosque.

Strollers: Do not bring non-folding strollers inside the mosque.

Additional information

Child policy: Children under 8 years old receive free admission with age-verifying documents.

Dress code: Compliance with the mosque dress code is mandatory for all visitors.

Prayer schedule: Visitor hours may be restricted or halted according to the mosque prayer schedule.

Prayer closure: The mosque closes to visitors 30 minutes before prayer and remains closed during prayer.

Ticket delivery: Your entry ticket for the mosque will be emailed on the morning of your visit date.

Refund policy: This activity is non-refundable.

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.