Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar Tour

Our guide was very adaptable throughout the day. We initially expected a shuttle van for the entire day, but it was only provided for the first part of the trip. Afterwards, we had to take the tram back at the end, which was somewhat difficult given our large group and the presence of small children.

Helpful? Yes

The entrance fee is quite high, but the site itself is incredible and the tour along with the guide was excellent.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was informative and friendly and as they liked to say, they “cut a long story short.” It turned out to be a truly wonderful experience.

Helpful? Yes

We really enjoyed ourselves, exploring at our own pace. Our tour guide was very friendly and shared plenty of Istanbul’s history with us. I would definitely recommend this tour.

Helpful? Yes

The part where we were taken to visit the cistern shouldn’t have been included, as it seemed designed to pressure us into buying carpets. It felt like a waste of time.

Helpful? Yes

The excursion itself was good but the Grand Bazaar experience was very disappointing. Instead of visiting the Grand Bazaar as expected, we were taken to a high end mall and made to watch a fashion show which was not what we booked or wanted. After wasting about 30 minutes, our guide rushed us to leave. The place was a brand store selling clothes and leather jackets, with a name starting with "Bel." It felt like a sales tactic to push us into buying something. This disrupted our schedule and priorities we had planned to visit the main Grand Bazaar, sho, and return to the hotel. Because of the forced fashion show, we were delayed by almost an hour and nearly missed our flight. We believe a minimum 20% refund is warranted since our Grand Bazaar visit never took place.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was excellent, and the group size was small. Definitely worth it to skip the lines at Hagia Sophia.

Helpful? Yes

The Grand Bazaar visit was excellent overall. The tour was great and the guide was very pleasant.

Helpful? Yes

My tour was fantastic. Our guide was incredibly well organized and enthusiastic even on a chilly, snowy morning in Istanbul. He did an excellent job keeping the group together, even though I often fell behind to take photos or tie my shoes. He was very accommodating, which I truly appreciated. His ability to answer my questions and those of others with such knowledge was impressive. I would definitely recommend this walking tour preferably on a warmer, less snowy day. Still, I absolutely loved it!

Helpful? Yes

A fantastic 4 hour tour exploring Istanbul’s treasures! I have to say our guide, made me fall even more in love with the city. Thanks to him for such an amazing day!

Helpful? Yes

This was a very good tour with wonderful places to see. I highly recommend it.

Helpful? Yes

We really enjoyed our guide and learning about the mosques. The tour description suggested we would have a guided walk through the Grand Bazaar but instead, we were simply dropped off at the entrance to explore on our own without any guidance or information. Just something to keep in mind.

Helpful? Yes

They picked us up from Taksim Square but this pickup location wasn’t mentioned prior to booking. However, the guide was good and provided thorough explanations about Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was excellent both very knowledgeable and friendly. He truly is an expert in his field.

Helpful? Yes

This was the worst tour I’ve ever experienced. I can’t recommend it at all. The tour guide was unhelpful and seemed uninterested in assisting us. We even left halfway through the tour. I believe a refund is justified. Overall, a very disappointing experience.

Helpful? Yes

The tour was excellent. Our guide was knowledgeable and showed us some incredible places.

Helpful? Yes

The bazaar part of the tour was simply a drop off with no information provided which was disappointing. However, the rest of the tour was very good. The entire tour lasted about two hours.

Helpful? Yes

Our tour guide was both knowledgeable and approachable. We gained a lot of insight into the history of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Their friendly and welcoming manner made the experience even better.

Helpful? Yes

I was on a solo tour and when we reached the entrance to the bazaar, the guide suddenly said thank you and ended the tour. I asked if she was coming in with us, since it was supposed to be a 75 minute bazaar tour, but she said no, the tour was over. I also asked how I would get back to my hotel, expecting transportation but was told it was a drop off only. She left me there alone, which led to a very upsetting experience. The Grand Bazaar was extremely crowded and I wasn’t prepared for men touching me, trying to massage me, grabbing my waist, and brushing against me. I had to leave because I felt so uncomfortable something I never experienced before. I advise other women not to enter alone. It was very disappointing that the guide left me on my own in that situation.

Helpful? Yes

An outstanding guide! He was very thorough and patient. I especially valued the historical background he provided, as he is clearly very knowledgeable. I wholeheartedly recommend him!

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was excellent both very knowledgeable and friendly. The tour offered great value.

Helpful? Yes

A fantastic and passionate guide. This was the perfect way to experience some of the main highlights if you have limited time.

Helpful? Yes

A very responsible guide who genuinely looks after all his guests, ensuring no one is left behind and that we get great spots for photos. We especially appreciated his courage in addressing visitors who were smoking in the non smoking area. He also shared excellent tips for places to visit outside the tour. Many thanks!

Helpful? Yes

An excellent and highly informative tour. Our guide was outstanding!

Helpful? Yes

The tour was amazing. The operator called a day before to confirm the tour and meeting location. Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared plenty of historical details about the sites.

Helpful? Yes

Everything was great for the half day tour and our guide was excellent. It was a very nice experience.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was very knowledgeable and patient, explaining the history clearly. He also gave us time to shop in the Bazaar. I would definitely recommend this tour.

Helpful? Yes

The tour itself was great and our guide was friendly but overall, I don’t think it was worth the price.

Helpful? Yes

Perfect experience! Our guide was fantastic, and the architecture was stunning. The weather was great too!

Helpful? Yes

An exceptional guide was very helpful and friendly, providing clear explanations about the site.

Helpful? Yes

It was excellent. Thank you. We highly recommend the guide who explained the history and many other details very well. Many thanks and have a wonderful holiday!

Helpful? Yes

The guide was friendly and shared a lot of useful information with us.

Helpful? Yes

This walking tour was truly worth the cost. Our tour guide reached out to us ahead of time and ensured our meeting went smoothly. He even arrived early and sent a photo to confirm. Our guide was very knowledgeable, answered all our questions, took photos for us, and shared a lot of information about the sites.

Helpful? Yes

A positive experience overall. The guide communicated well from the moment the tour was booked until the meeting point. The tour was efficient without feeling rushed. We were also shown the best spots for photos.

Helpful? Yes

A great tour led by an excellent guide. I recommend it to everyone.

Helpful? Yes

The guide really made the experience worthwhile. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t enter the mosques, but there was one open that we should have visited.

Helpful? Yes

Excellent experience. I highly recommend the tour. Our guide was very kind and gentle.

Helpful? Yes

A great tour with the perfect length to help you get oriented and familiar with the Grand Bazaar.

Helpful? Yes

We booked a four hour trip to visit Hagia Sophia and three other sites, but ended up seeing only two. It was a disappointing experience.

Helpful? Yes

The guide was very informative, making the tour worthwhile. However, be cautious of the sales pitches for leather goods and carpets prices often start at about 25% of the asking price but can increase significantly.

Helpful? Yes

We really enjoyed the tour. Our guide was very kind and professional.

Helpful? Yes

Due to some miscommunication, my experience wasn’t as enjoyable as I had hoped.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was knowledgeable, informative, and friendly. I recommend this tour.

Helpful? Yes

We arrived late to the activity and really appreciated our guide waiting for us and helping us join another group. That was the only positive aspect of the visit. Beyond that, there’s little value in paying for a guide especially while the mosque is under renovation, as there isn’t much to see. You're better off visiting on your own.

Helpful? Yes

The tour was detailed and the guide did a fantastic job clearly highlighting and explaining the historical elements. It went beyond my expectations, and I would definitely recommend it.

Helpful? Yes

We had an incredible experience on the tour. The team offered great alternatives and was extremely responsive and supportive. They went out of their way to ensure we had the best possible experience. Highly recommended. Just a note there’s no actual skip the line access at Hagia Sophia. If you're lucky, the line might be short.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was outstanding! His deep knowledge, passion and enthusiasm truly brought the history to life. It was a fantastic way to be introduced to Istanbul. He was well organized, spoke English clearly and made the tour engaging and enjoyable for our diverse group.

Helpful? Yes

A very pleasant city walk. Our guide was friendly and welcoming, always with a smile. We recommend both the tour and the operator.

Helpful? Yes

Everything went smoothly. The guide was very friendly, the tour was enjoyable and the places we visited were wonderful.

Helpful? Yes

Everything was excellent and our Spanish speaking guide was very kind.

Helpful? Yes

I had a wonderful experience with a fantastic tour and an excellent guide.

Helpful? Yes

The skip the line access didn’t really save much time. Our guide simply walked us to the bazaar and pointed us in the right direction. We booked the half day tour, but since some others were on the full day tour, we had to wait outside while they visited the Basilica. The tour was okay overall but it would have been helpful to know these details in advance like sharing the tour with others on a different schedule and the waiting time involved. We might have chosen the full day tour since we wanted to see the Basilica but there was no tour combining the Blue Mosque Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica. In the end, we had to buy separate tickets for that attraction.

Helpful? Yes

Good explanation of Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Stop at carpet shop was good for resting but stay a little too long. Went to a leather store with a fake fashion show and pushy salesman. Not sure the Grand Bazaar was actually closed as online hours say it’s open.

Helpful? Yes

Professional, knowledgeable, and friendly guide. I highly recommend this tour. Thank you.

Helpful? Yes

A very good guide attentive, alert and with a good sense of humor. He took his time explaining everything and showed excellent knowledge of history and facts.

Helpful? Yes

We had a fantastic time with our amazing guide. Truly the best! Thank you for making our first day in Istanbul so memorable.

Helpful? Yes

The tour guide was fantastic and extremely knowledgeable. He shared so much information and detail, which made the tour much more engaging. Highly recommended!

Helpful? Yes

An excellent tour guide thorough and inclusive. The tour was quite intense. I was expecting visits to three main sites in the old city but instead got a full and immersive experience of the entire area. I would recommend this to anyone.

Helpful? Yes

A great tour with plenty of information shared.

Helpful? Yes

Excellent guide and fascinating sights it was a wonderful tour.

Helpful? Yes

The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, spending more time and detail explaining the history of the landmarks than other tours I’ve been on. However, instead of visiting the Grand Bazaar, we were taken to a department store selling leather goods (which would be fine as a brief stop) and some fake designer items offered at “special prices only for this tour.” We had to wait over an hour at the exit while the group finished shopping. After the long wait, we were dropped off at the Grand Bazaar entrance, and the tour ended there due to lack of time. Because of this, I’m giving it 4 stars.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was attentive and very knowledgeable. Definitely money well spent.

Helpful? Yes

A very pleasant person, we had a lot of fun and felt very comfortable. The guide was well prepared and friendly.

Helpful? Yes

A fantastic guide full of positive energy and knowledge. Visiting Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque beforehand was one thing but having someone share stories spanning over a thousand years made it a completely different and much richer experience (plus, the best spot to leave your shoes!).

Helpful? Yes

The pick up service was excellent and our guide was very informative and patient. The tour was great, though the hot weather was a bit of a downside. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience.

Helpful? Yes

Everything was wonderfulthank you! Our guide was amazing and the tour was excellent. He also shared some great stories about the place.

Helpful? Yes

The guide was outstanding. It was a great tour with a warm and kind guide.

Helpful? Yes

Everything was perfect, from the guide to the tour itself.

Helpful? Yes

This was an amazing tour. Our guide was fantastic he gave us plenty of time to explore and take photos, while sharing lots of information and historical facts. He was very engaging and we had a wonderful time from beginning to end.

Helpful? Yes

Super informative and nice guide with good background knowledge.

Helpful? Yes

It was a great tour, and the guide was very knowledgeable. He was also kind and excellent throughout.

Helpful? Yes

The guide was truly outstanding! He arrived at the meeting point ahead of time and made entry to all the sites seamless. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of every place we visited. One of the best tour guides we’ve ever had!

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He shared a lot of valuable information and made a great impression.

Helpful? Yes

The tour guide was excellent. The tour itself was great and Hagia Sophia was absolutely stunning.

Helpful? Yes

I highly recommend this tour. Our guide shared fascinating stories about the historic sites and provided lots of extra information and helpful tips.

Helpful? Yes

The tour guide was fine but not outstanding. He gave us about 40 minutes of free time which felt a bit excessive given that the tour was meant to last only 3 hours. We also didn’t visit the Grand Bazaar, even though it was listed as part of the tour. Instead, we were taken to two shops one for leather goods and another for carpets which felt a bit out of place. The explanations provided were acceptable but somewhat brief.

Helpful? Yes

The guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. Although the group was a bit too large and we occasionally had to wait for others the guide’s effort and professionalism made up for it definitely a 5 star experience.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was very friendly and shared a wealth of information about the sights. He answered all our questions thoroughly and offered helpful tips.

Helpful? Yes

An amazing tour. Our guide knew everything we wanted to learn and was very helpful and caring. He was incredibly kind and gave us the best tips for exploring the city. The only downside was that we couldn’t visit the Blue Mosque but the hippodrome and the cistern were great alternatives. I would definitely recommend this tour!

Helpful? Yes

A pleasant and informative experience with an amazing guide. The tour was excellent, and I highly recommend it.

Helpful? Yes

I enjoyed the tour. The guide was informative and friendly. I would recommend this tour to anyone planning to visit Istanbul.

Helpful? Yes

Hello, we did the half day tour today in Istanbul, including the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and we really enjoyed it! Our tour guide was excellent. We will definitely book another tour with this company. Thank you again!

Helpful? Yes

Well organized with a very knowledgeable guide. An excellent tour 5 stars.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was amazing very patient, explained everything clearly and was kind and welcoming. It was a fantastic experience. Thanks so much.

Helpful? Yes

A wonderful and excellent guide with a fantastic tour. Highly recommended.

Helpful? Yes

An absolutely amazing tour! We explored the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market on foot. We also had the chance to see traditional Turkish rug artisans at work which was truly fascinating. Our guide was fantastic he shared detailed historical background at every stop and answered all of our questions. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide or tour. Highly recommended!

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was full of insightful information and explained everything to the group in a clear and easy to understand way. He took his time and patiently answered all our questions throughout the tour. A genuinely kind person with a great spirit and sense of humor. We had a wonderful time and learned things we wouldn't have known otherwise. An excellent guide highly recommended!

Helpful? Yes

It was an amazing experience. We got to see the most important sights in Istanbul and everything was clearly explained by our tour guide who spoke perfect English and was very friendly. I highly recommend this tour. We were picked up from our hotel on time and dropped off afterward as well. Definitely a 5 star tour.

Helpful? Yes

Our guide was fantastic. It was a truly great experience. I would absolutely recommend this tour.

Helpful? Yes

A very good guide, full of knowledge and delivered everything in an engaging way. Highly recommended!

Helpful? Yes

Our guide today was exceptional. It was a truly special experience very enjoyable and friendly and the visit was incredibly interesting. We had a small issue with a booked visit, and she handled it for us quickly and efficiently. A solid 10 out of 10!

Helpful? Yes

A very enjoyable morning with a small group and an excellent guide. A great tour overall.

Helpful? Yes

The guide took us to all the key sites and explained the history in a clear and engaging way. Highly recommended!

Helpful? Yes

A very good guide with lots of knowledge. It was a fantastic experience. Highly recommend!

Helpful? Yes

An excellent guide who shared the full history and background of every site we visited and answered all our questions. It was a wonderful experience thank you!

Helpful? Yes