Istanbul Historical Peninsula City Tour(sultanahmet old city )

1. Hippodrome
   45m
   The Hippodrome of Constantinople (Greek: Ἱππόδρομος τῆς Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, romanized: Hippódromos tēs Kōnstantinoupóleōs; Latin: Circus Maximus Constantinopolitanus; Turkish: Hipodrom), was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square in Istanbul, Turkey, known as Sultanahmet Square (Turkish: Sultanahmet Meydanı).
   
   The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos (ἵππος), horse, and dromos (δρόμος), path or way. For this reason, it is sometimes also called Atmeydanı ("Horse Square") in Turkish. Horse racing and chariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world and hippodromes were common features of Greek cities in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras.
2. Blue Mosque
   45m
   The Blue Mosque, officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii), is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. It was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today. It also attracts a large number of tourists and is one of the most iconic and popular monuments of Ottoman architecture.[2][3]
   The mosque was built next to the former Hippodrome and stands across from the Hagia Sophia, another popular tourist site. The Blue Mosque was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1985 under the name of "Historic Areas of Istanbul".
3. TopkapI Palace
   1h 15m · Admission ticket not included
   The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı;[2] Ottoman Turkish: طوپقپو سرايى, romanized: ṭopḳapu sarāyı, lit. 'Cannon Gate Palace'),[3] or the Seraglio,[4] is a large museum and library in the east of the Fatih district of Istanbul in Turkey. From the 1460s to the completion of Dolmabahçe Palace in 1856, it served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, and was the main residence of its sultans.
4. Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
   1h 15m · Admission ticket not included
   Hagia Sophia,[a] officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque,[b] is a mosque and former church serving as a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. The last of three church buildings to be successively erected on the site by the Eastern Roman Empire, it was completed in AD 537. The site was an Eastern rite church from AD 360 to 1453, except for a brief time as a Latin Catholic church between the Fourth Crusade and 1261.[4] After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, it served as a mosque until 1935, when it became a museum. In 2020, the site once again became a mosque Constantinople, it remained the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, until the Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520. Beginning with subsequent Byzantine architecture, Hagia Sophia became the paradigmatic Orthodox church form, and its architectural style was emulated by Ottoman mosques a thousand
5. Grand Bazaar
   1h
   The Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı, meaning ‘Covered Market’; also Büyük Çarşı, meaning ‘Grand Market’[1]) in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops[2][3] on a total area of 30,700 m2,[4] attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.[5] In 2014, it was listed No.1 among the world's most-visited tourist attractions with 91,250,000 annual visitors.[6] The Grand Bazaar at Istanbul is often regarded as one of the first shopping malls of the world.

Pickup details

Pick-Up Points for the Historic Peninsula Tour

For your convenience, we offer several designated pick-up points for our Historic Peninsula Tour, covering main hotels and easily accessible locations in the Old City. Please make sure to be ready at your selected meeting point 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.

1. Sultanahmet Square (Hippodrome Area)

This is the main meeting point for guests staying in or near Sultanahmet. Our guide will meet you in front of the German Fountain, holding a sign with the tour name. This area is ideal for hotels around Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern.

2. Sirkeci Tram Station

Guests staying in the Sirkeci and Gülhane area can join the tour at Sirkeci Tram Stop. Our team will wait on the station’s main exit side. This point is close to many hotels near the Gülhane Park entrance and the Sirkeci railway district.

3. Eminönü Square (Near the New Mosque / Spice Bazaar)

For participants located around Eminönü and the Galata Bridge area, pick-up is available at Eminönü Square, next to the New Mosque (Yeni Camii) entrance. This location is easily reachable by tram or ferry.

4. Beyazıt Square (Grand Bazaar Entrance)

If your hotel is near the Grand Bazaar, Laleli, or Beyazıt area, you may join the tour at Beyazıt Square, close to the main entrance of the Grand Bazaar. Our staff will be waiting next to the tram station.

5. Hotel Pick-Up (Selected Hotels Only)

We also provide direct hotel pick-up from selected hotels within the Historic Peninsula. If your hotel qualifies for this service, you will receive a confirmation email with the exact pick-up time.

Important Information

Please ensure your phone is reachable in case our team needs to contact you.

If you are unsure which pick-up point is closest to your hotel, we are happy to assist you.

Guests arriving late to the meeting point may need to join the group at the next location.

We look forward to welcoming you on our Historic Peninsula Tour and sharing Istanbul’s rich history with you!

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Anyone who feels well can join this tour.