Istanbul Old City – Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque & Topkapi (Private Tour)

Time: 08:00 – 08:45
Location: Hotel Lobby / The Marmara Taksim / Sultanahmet Square (Meeting Point)

For guests staying in central European side hotels (Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Eminönü, Karaköy, Taksim, Şişli), your private guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby at the agreed time. Look for a sign with Kuantum Tourism and your name.

For guests staying in Airbnb or outside central areas, we arrange a convenient meeting point near Sultanahmet Square (by the German Fountain or The Marmara Taksim – confirmed after booking).

• Logistics: After introductions, you’ll drive or walk together into the Old City. Your guide will give a short briefing about the day, check any special requests (walking speed, prayer times, photos), and adjust the pace to suit you.

Time: 09:00 – 09:30
Location: Hippodrome of Constantinople / Sultanahmet Square

You begin where Constantinople’s public life once pulsed: the ancient Hippodrome, now Sultanahmet Square. Your guide brings to life the chariot races, riots and ceremonies that took place here as you walk past the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column and the German Fountain. It’s the perfect open-air classroom to understand how Istanbul became the capital of two empires.

Time: 09:30 – 10:15
Location: Blue Mosque

Step into the Blue Mosque, feel the thick carpet under your feet and look up at a forest of domes and semi-domes covered in tens of thousands of blue tiles. Your guide will explain mosque etiquette, the meaning of the calligraphy, and how you can respectfully take photos without disturbing worshippers.

• Note: The mosque closes briefly during daily prayer times and may be partially closed during ongoing restoration works; in that case, your guide adjusts the order of visits.

Time: 10:15 – 11:30
Location: Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

From outside, Hagia Sophia looks like a stone mountain rising above the city. Inside, you’ll stand under a dome that has floated overhead since the year 537. Your guide explains how Byzantine engineers built it, how Ottomans added minarets and calligraphy, and how recent changes affect visiting today.

Guests who wish can purchase the separate visiting ticket for the upper gallery / tourist route (current price around €25; paid directly on-site). Your guide will help you handle this smoothly and avoid unnecessary waiting.

Time: 11:45 – 12:45
Location: Local restaurant near Sultanahmet

It’s time to sit down and recharge. We head to a nearby restaurant favored by local guides, not a tourist trap. Enjoy a set-menu Turkish lunch – often lentil soup, a grilled or stewed main (kebap, köfte or veggie dish), salad and bread.

• Note: Please note that lunch is not included and please inform us in advance about vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free needs; Turkish cuisine is flexible, and your guide will help arrange suitable options.

Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Location: Topkapi Palace Museum

After lunch, you walk through the gate into Topkapi Palace, once the center of the Ottoman world. In the courtyards you’ll see views over the Bosphorus, elegant pavilions and the former imperial kitchens. Your guide will highlight key sections such as the Audience Hall, Treasury and Sacred Relics.

If you choose to purchase the extra Harem ticket, you’ll step into the private apartments of the sultan and his family – a maze of tiled rooms and wooden galleries full of whispered stories.

• Note: Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays; on those days we replace it with suitable alternatives such as the Basilica Cistern or an extended neighborhood walk and extra time at other sites.

Time: 15:15 – 16:15
Location: Grand Bazaar

Dive into the legendary Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. Follow your guide through lanes of carpets, lamps, leather, ceramics and gold. Learn how to recognize quality, how bargaining works, and how to say a polite “no, thank you” when you’ve seen enough.

• Note: The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and on some public holidays. On these days we substitute with the Spice Bazaar and nearby markets instead.

Time: 16:15 – 17:00
Location: Your hotel / agreed drop-off point

After your final shopping stop or last photos in Sultanahmet, your driver meets you and returns you to your hotel or a central drop-off point (such as Taksim Square) according to your preference. Your guide can help with restaurant suggestions or evening plans – Bosphorus cruise, rooftop dinner, or simply a quiet walk by the water.