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Guided Tours

Blue Mosque Guided Tour with Options

Blue Mosque courtyard with central fountain and domes, Istanbul.
Interior view of Blue Mosque with ornate chandeliers and stained glass windows, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hagia Sophia exterior with minarets and domes in Istanbul, Turkey.
Hagia Sophia interior with ornate dome and Islamic calligraphy, Istanbul, Turkey.

Duration

1 hr - 5 hr

Open today

09:00am - 06:00pm

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

Guided tour

4.2/5

(2,170)

Colin Buggey

Colin

Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
The tour itself was enjoyable. The guide was very knowledgeable and his English was good. However the organisation was poor. As requested, we arrived 15 minutes before the scheduled start time but the tour didn't actually begin until almost an hour later. As the first part of the tour consisted of a rather long section covering the history of Turkey, there was too much standing around. This could be a serious issue on a hot day, or for anyone who is not young & fit. Once we got going the mosque visits were excellent and it was great to miss the queues. The guide had genuine enthusiasm and really brought the history and architecture alive. So on balance a 5 star tour but with only 2 or 3 star organisation.
Regina Timoftica

Regina

Sep 2025
Verified booking
5/5
We were lucky enough to take a tour with tour guide Ali and it was an unforgettable experience! 🌟 She took us to visit three really picturesque places, telling us trivia and details that we would never have discovered on our own. Her helpfulness, kindness and professionalism made the day special. A big plus was the fact that we skipped the line-a detail that made everything more enjoyable and stress-free. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience an authentic, well-organized and carefree visit. 👏👏
Marina Zawaher

Marina

Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
We joined a four-hour guided tour around the main highlights of Sultanahmet, and it was a wonderful experience. Despite the large crowds, the tour was concise, well-structured, and very informative — the perfect introduction to the area’s rich history. Special thanks to our guide, Buse, who was absolutely fantastic! She has such a dynamic personality, great energy, and an engaging way of explaining everything. Her enthusiasm and clarity made the whole experience so enjoyable and memorable. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Istanbul for the first time!
    • 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.

    • Fun fact: Various verses from the Quran and the words of the Prophet Muhammad adorn the high walls of the mosque.

    • 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). The audio guide is available for you to download. Instructions will be shared with your ticket. Do bring your own headphones.

    • 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)

  • Blue Mosque

    1. Blue Mosque

    Tickets included
    60 min
    Istanbul Old Town

    2. Istanbul Old Town

    30 min
    Hagia Sophia

    3. Hagia Sophia

    Tickets included (based on selection)
    90 min
    Basilica Cistern

    4. Basilica Cistern

    Tickets included (based on selection)
    30 min
    Bosphorus Cruise

    5. Bosphorus Cruise

    Tickets included (based on selection)
    90 min
  • These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

  • 4.2
    2,170 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.

    1.1K
    580
    179
    79
    141
    Guests from United States, Italy, United Kingdom and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Andres Marcelo Martinez Romero

    Andres

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    This guided tour was absolutely worth it. Our guide was knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about the history of both the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. They explained everything clearly, from the architecture to the cultural and religious significance, and answered everyone’s questions without rushing.
    Francesca Aslan

    Francesca

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The professionalism of our guide, Ali . Very well organized tour, the guide was always present and helpful. Absolutely recommended
    Hans Dick Terhenne

    Hans

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Great tour with Alex , inspire of large group. Took his time to show and explain special places. Fabulous amount of history and great places.
    Colin Buggey

    Colin

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    4/5
    The tour itself was enjoyable. The guide was very knowledgeable and his English was good. However the organisation was poor. As requested, we arrived 15 minutes before the scheduled start time but the tour didn't actually begin until almost an hour later. As the first part of the tour consisted of a rather long section covering the history of Turkey, there was too much standing around. This could be a serious issue on a hot day, or for anyone who is not young & fit. Once we got going the mosque visits were excellent and it was great to miss the queues. The guide had genuine enthusiasm and really brought the history and architecture alive. So on balance a 5 star tour but with only 2 or 3 star organisation.
    Marina Zawaher

    Marina

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    We joined a four-hour guided tour around the main highlights of Sultanahmet, and it was a wonderful experience. Despite the large crowds, the tour was concise, well-structured, and very informative — the perfect introduction to the area’s rich history. Special thanks to our guide, Buse, who was absolutely fantastic! She has such a dynamic personality, great energy, and an engaging way of explaining everything. Her enthusiasm and clarity made the whole experience so enjoyable and memorable. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Istanbul for the first time!
  • Blue Mosque

    Monday09:00am - 06:00pm
    Tuesday09:00am - 06:00pm
    Wednesday09:00am - 06:00pm
    Thursday09:00am - 06:00pm
    Friday09:00am - 06:00pm
    Saturday09:00am - 06:00pm
    Sunday09:00am - 06:00pm
  • What to bring

    • Bring your walking shoes, water bottle, hat, sunglasses, and snacks for comfortable exploration.

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

    • Stay ahead of the game; download the audio app beforehand to dodge any network glitches at the location.

    • Don’t forget your trusty earphones for an immersive audio guide experience.

    What's not allowed

    Hagia Sophia

    • The prayer area on the first floor can only be entered by Turkish citizens.

    • Strict dress code: Women should not wear knee-length shorts, skirts, or clothing with exposed shoulders or chests. Hair should be partially covered with a scarf. Men should not wear knee-length shorts or clothing with exposed shoulders.

    Accessibility

    Basilica Cistern

    • This experience is wheelchair accessible.

    Hagia Sophia

    • This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

    Additional information

    • 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€).

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

    • While you can breeze through the ticket lines, security screening is standard for all guests. Be prepared for wait times of up to 60 minutes during peak travel periods.

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

    • Due to the Friday prayer, the Mosque will be closed to tourists from 12pm to 2pm. For a smoother experience, it's recommended to visit after 4pm to avoid the lengthy security line anticipated between 2pm and 4pm.

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