Private Tour: Istanbul’s Ottoman Experience Including Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque
Overview
About
Experience the rich history and culture of Istanbul with a private tour that takes you to the iconic Topkapi Palace and the breathtakingly beautiful Blue Mosque.
What you'll do
What is included?
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
What is not included?
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Confirmation for this product will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- In the event of any museum or mosque closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited
- Not recommended for children aged 4 and under
- During religious holidays July 28, 29 and 30 and October 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2014 the Spice market and Grand Bazaar will be closed
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Meet your host
Itinerary
Istanbul Historical & Heritage Tours Itinerary (2026 Guide) – What You'll See & Do
Explore the full itinerary for Private Tour: Istanbul’s Ottoman Experience Including Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. This historical & heritage tours experience includes 7 stops over 1 day. Duration: 4 hours. Activity level: Light.
Here is the starting point
Hippodrome
Hop out of your minivan in Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s UNESCO-listed historical heart, and wander through the Hippodrome — your first attraction of the tour. The hub of daily life during its Ottoman-era heyday, the Hippodrome was once a vast arena with galleries where people from all walks of life would gather for political meetings, chariot races and even riots. Today, the historical site exists as a city park that’s popular with locals and visitors alike. Pose for photos in front of the Obelisk of Theodosius, a gift to the city from Egypt, and then continue by foot to the nearby Blue Mosque.
Blue Mosque
After marveling at the mosque’s iconic six minarets, head inside the famous place of worship to see the thousands of Iznik tiles that cascade a sea of blue throughout the building’s interior. An incredible example of classical Ottoman architecture, the Blue Mosque was built on the orders of Sultan Ahmet I who demanded a place of worship to rival the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia — another of Sultanahmet’s impressive mosques.
Topkapı Palace
Take some time to explore inside with your private guide, and then walk over to Topkapi Palace, the final attraction visited on your tour. Once the lavish abode of eccentric 15th-century sultans and their harems, Topkapi Palace now leads a tamer existence as one of the city’s top museums. Browse the exhibits that feature artifacts and ornamentation from Ottoman days, and hear colorful stories about the characters who lived in one of Istanbul’s most ostentatious palaces.
Sultanahmet District
- Leave Topkapi Palace, and stroll the short distance to your minivan to finish your tour with a drop-off at your European-side hotel or at the start point in the center of town.
- Please note: On Fridays the Blue Mosque will be closed until 2.30pm for prayer, this will be replaced with a visit to Rustem Pasha Mosque
German Fountain
It was built in Germany and moved by ships and its construction was completed in Istanbul.
Hagia Irene Museum
The Hagia Irene located in the outer courtyard of Topkapı Palace is the oldest church of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine).
Obelisk of Theodosius
Obelisk of Theodosius: obelisk, originally erected for king Thutmose III of Egypt but transferred to Constantinople
This concludes the tour.
