Byzantine Half-Day Tour Of Istanbul

Istanbul’s historic peninsula contains some of the city’s most splendid sites. This small-group 5-hour walking tour with a local guide will take you to the most notable attractions in the city. Discover the breathtaking 6th-century Hagia Sophia, also known as the Church of Holy Wisdom, a Byzantine-era building that later was a mosque before finally becoming a museum. Feast your eyes on the Hagia Sophia’s intricate preserved mosaics and sweeping architecture.

Continue onto the Hippodrome, a former horse-racing track and site of political ceremonies during the Byzantine era. Walk through the open space, currently a public park containing the remains of obelisks.

Explore the striking tilework inside the Blue Mosque, formally known as the Sultanahmet Mosque. With its six minarets and blueish gray domes punctuating the skyline, the Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul’s most iconic sites. The mosque is open to the public, so you’ll be able to go in and feel the splendor of this holy place.

You can shop at the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. There are hundreds of small handicraft shops selling everything from handmade carpets to Turkish coffee. Haggle over cups of tea with the shop owners to pick up the perfect souvenir.

At the conclusion of your tour, the guide and vehicle will return you to your hotel or ship.