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Blue Mosque Guided Tours | Explore Istanbul with Ticket Options
Itinerary
1
Blue Mosque
60 min
Tickets included
Istanbul’s Blue Mosque stands tall with six elegant minarets and a massive central dome. Inside, over 20,000 blue İznik tiles decorate the walls, creating a mosaic of floral and geometric patterns. Sunlight streams through stained-glass windows, illuminating the intricate calligraphy and chandeliers that once held candles instead of bulbs.
2
Istanbul Old Town
Istanbul’s Old Town buzzes with life—cobblestone streets weave past towering mosques, centuries-old hammams, and sunlit courtyards. Lantern-lit alleys lead to hidden teahouses, while vendors at the Grand Bazaar display glittering ceramics and fragrant spices, and seagulls glide over the Bosphorus.
3
Hagia Sophia
45 min
Tickets included (based on selection)
Step inside Hagia Sophia, and your eyes shoot straight up—its colossal dome floats like magic, light pouring through 40 windows. The walls? A wild mix of glittering Byzantine mosaics and giant Ottoman calligraphy discs. Walk around, and you’ll find everything from hidden tunnels to secret marble doors and Viking graffiti!
4
Basilica Cistern
30 min
Tickets included (based on selection)
The Basilica Cistern is a vast, dimly lit underground chamber with 336 marble columns rising from shallow water. Two Medusa head carvings, one sideways and one upside down, support columns at the far end. Soft lights cast shadows on the vaulted ceiling, while rippling water reflects the ancient stone.
5
Bosphorus Cruise
90 min
Tickets included (based on selection)
Sail through the Bosphorus, passing the medieval Galata Tower, the grand Dolmabahce and Ciragan Palaces with their ornate facades, and the baroque Ortakoy Mosque by the water’s edge. Cross under the Bosphorus Bridge, see the domed Beylerbeyi Palace, the stone-built Maiden’s Tower, and the sprawling courtyards of Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia.
Get expert insights beyond the blue tiles at the mosque and explore Old Town’s timeless streets.
- Explore the Blue Mosque, the newly renovated landmark with a licensed guide, and uncover its six-minaret controversy and symbolic design.
- Your guide will talk you through handcrafted blue tiles, calligraphy by the Sultan’s master, grand chandeliers adorning the central dome, as you marvel at light filtering through 200+ stained-glass windows.
- Explore stress-free with a guide handling details and enjoy an Old City walking tour past landmarks like the Hippodrome and German Fountain.
- Upgrade your experience! Take a Bosphorus cruise for skyline views, a Hagia Sophia tour to see Viking graffiti, or walk through the eerie columns of Basilica Cistern.
Get expert insights beyond the blue tiles at the mosque and explore Old Town’s timeless streets.
- Explore the Blue Mosque, the newly renovated landmark with a licensed guide, and uncover its six-minaret controversy and symbolic design.
- Your guide will talk you through handcrafted blue tiles, calligraphy by the Sultan’s master, grand chandeliers adorning the central dome, as you marvel at light filtering through 200+ stained-glass windows.
- Explore stress-free with a guide handling details and enjoy an Old City walking tour past landmarks like the Hippodrome and German Fountain.
- Upgrade your experience! Take a Bosphorus cruise for skyline views, a Hagia Sophia tour to see Viking graffiti, or walk through the eerie columns of Basilica Cistern.
Inclusions
- 1-hour guided tour of the Blue Mosque
- Entry to Blue Mosque
- Expert English-speaking licensed guide
- Walking tour around Old City
- Istanbul Old Town map
- 1.5-hour Bosphorus cruise ticket (as per option selected)
- Audio guide for cruise in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic & Chinese (as per option selected). The audio guide is available for you to download. Instructions will be shared with your ticket. Do bring your own headphones.
- Bosphorus cruise map (as per option selected)
- 1.5-hour guided tour of the Hagia Sophia (as per option selected)
- Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia (as per option selected)
- 30-min guided tour of the Basilica Cistern (as per option selected)
- Skip-the-line entry to Basilica Cistern (as per option selected)
- Hagia Sophia is under renovation, therefore, not all parts of the building are open to the public.
- Due to the Friday prayer, the Mosque will be closed to tourists from 12pm to 2pm. For a smoother experience, it's recommended to visit after 4pm to avoid the lengthy security line anticipated between 2pm and 4pm.
- Hagia Sophia is not accessible for wheelchair users.
- Basilica Cistern is wheelchair accessible.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Reviews
How do we collect reviews?
Snapshots from our guests
4.2
1,847 ratings
991
508
159
69
120
Guests from United States, United Kingdom, Italy and over 68 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Brent
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our tour guide Buse was amazing. She was very informative and answered everyone's questions with a detailed answer. She definitely made our experience better than if we would have gone without a guide. I definitely recommend doing the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia tour with her.
Ionasc
May 2025Verified booking
Great spots to visit, the guide was great, giod details and good english. Plenty of time to visit, no rushing. Just enjoy
Antoine
May 2025Verified booking
Our guide Öpücük was very good. We were impressed how smoothly she managed to navigate us in such busy places. We never felt rushed or anything. Just very informed about the places we visited. She always found the best stop and she had lots of time for extra questions. Great job!
Catarina
May 2025Verified booking
It's worth visiting the Blue Mosque with a guide. We learned a lot. The guide was very friendly, not tiring at all and very knowledgeable.
View original review in Portuguese
Rohaizad
Apr 2025Verified booking
It was well planned. Hussein our guide was great, knowledgeable and friendly. The pace and presentation was very good and clear.
Rodolfo
Apr 2025Verified booking
All beautiful, especially Cistern and St. Sophia Mosque which, however, due to earthquake ilb23 April, we could see today 24 April. Courtesy and professionalism of the Guide. Thank you
View original review in Italian
Irene
Apr 2025Verified booking
We feared bad surprises after reading some negative comments online, but in Istanbul everything went perfectly . Precise and punctual organization, directions are given to the meeting point and via app everything is very convenient and at hand. Pleasant tour, our guide, Ali (I unfortunately do not remember his full name), was a nice guy, knowledgeable and very helpful. We had a great time with him, the explanation given was just the right length, neither too short nor too long, and the time flew by. Very convenient the skip-the-line ticket, considering the crowds of tourists.
View original review in Italian
João
Apr 2025Verified booking
The guide's maturity and knowledge made the visit even richer. We learned details about the mosque that we wouldn't have been able to explore otherwise.
View original review in Portuguese
Matthias
Jun 2025Verified booking
Ali was an awesome tour guide! Great experience 👍👍
Charles
May 2025Verified booking
The guides were well informed, personable and interesting. Very glad I signed up for this service.
Rosa
May 2025Verified booking
The tour is well designed and the guide is fantastic
View original review in Spanish
JAVIER
May 2025Verified booking
Everything, the guide's experience, cordiality, friendliness.
View original review in Spanish
Orgovany
May 2025Verified booking
I really liked my tour guide Ali. He gave me a lot of information and answered all my questions.
Jesper
Apr 2025Verified booking
Hal was an enthusiastic and good-humored guide who gave many good stories
This review is translated. Show original review.
Daniel
Mar 2025Verified booking
Interesting info presented in a clear and entertaining way by tour guide
Theresa
Jun 2025Verified booking
It was well organized and Arthur gave us a great insight into the history and architecture of the buildings. The tour of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia was guided. We were able to visit the basilica on our own. It makes sense to have your knees and shoulders covered and ladies should bring a scarf for their hair. At the Hagia Sophia, nothing was lent out here but you had to buy something to cover yourself and the rest of the group had to wait.
View original review in German
Roberto
Jun 2025Verified booking
Thanks to Ali, very professional and kind. Made us feel comfortable with detailed information of each site. Ancora Imparo...he knows, Michela and Roberto
Janette
Jun 2025Verified booking
The easy of moving between sights and jumping the lines. The headphone commentary was difficult to hear at times and somtimes stopped gor a while. At times it was hard to understand the spoken English through a heavy turkish accent through the headphone.
Reetta
Jun 2025Verified booking
The group was too big. It took too long time to move the group from one place to another. We had to wait for the group at all the places. The tour was in "slow motion"
D
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our guide (Matar?) was super informative. His delivery was relaxed, belying the fact that he has undoubtedly given the same dozens of times prior to our group. He allowed adequate time at each location for us to walk around before moving on to the next site. I would definitely recommend this excursion to anyone interested in knowing about the history of istanbul.
Anna
Jun 2025Verified booking
My email to Headout was never answered, gave uncertainty. Headout outsourced tour and via app and small print did eventually find everything. Tour itself was very good, good guide very knowledgeable and spoke very clear English.
View original review in Dutch
SAVITHA
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our guide (Heerat?) was very knowedlgable and shared intersting stories about things. He was patient with questions and organizedc the tour well between the three sites. We recommend this tour.
Lee
May 2025Verified booking
The guide Ali, was incredibly knowledgeable - his guiding added real depth to each of the three sights and he was able to take care of us well, preparing us for any practical arrangements e.g. dress codes, queuing, meeting places, toilets etc.. these details are important! The Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia were fascinating and beautiful places to visit and worth doing with a guide lest you miss key details. I'd do the trip all over again if given the opportunity and the wonderful guide.
Marta
May 2025Verified booking
Wonderful places not to be missed! The guide was able to pick us things not described in normal guidebooks!I recommend doing it in the morning to find fewer people!
View original review in Italian
Wencke
May 2025Verified booking
You are told so often to please be on time. The event started 45 minutes late and we were there 30 minutes earlier as recommended. But we enjoyed the tour. I only ticked 2 to be able to send the review.
View original review in German
Combo: Basilica Cistern + Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Tickets
Itinerary
TOTAL DURATION3 hours 30 minutes - 4 hours 30 minutes
MODE OF TRANSFERWalk
Timeline
Map
START POINT
Blue Mosque
Meet your guide in front of the Blue Mosque. As you stand before its grand domes and six elegant minarets, take a moment to admire the blend of Ottoman splendor and Byzantine grace. Step inside soon to discover over 20,000 blue Iznik tiles that give the mosque its famous name—each one telling a story of artistry and devotion.
0.4 km
5 minutes
1
Basilica Cistern
60 min
Tickets included
Next, step into the Basilica Cistern and take in the cool, shadowy depths of this hidden world beneath Istanbul, supported by 336 marble columns. At the far end lies its most curious secret—two ancient Medusa heads used as column bases, one turned sideways, the other upside down. Here's an interesting fact: to this day, no one truly knows why they were placed that way!
0.3 km
4 minutes
2
Hagia Sophia
120 min
Tickets included (based on selection)
And finally, enter the majestic Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece that has stood as both church and mosque through centuries. Gaze at the sunlight pouring through its massive dome, look closely at the intricate mosaics, Ottoman calligraphy, and faint Viking runes, and end your trip by stepping out into the bustling heart of Istanbul carrying these unforgettable sights with you.
3
Enjoy expert storytelling, skip-the-line access, and a 5+ language audio guide for 3 of Istanbul’s most iconic sites.
Everything you get at Blue Mosque: Skip the long lines and head straight to the Blue Mosque’s grand prayer hall. Get insights into this stained-glass-lit monument, with an English-speaking guide and an audio guide.
Everything you get at Hagia Sophia: Access the Upper Gallery of Hagia Sophia—an area once reserved for royalty. Avoid the wait and admire its breath-taking mosaics at your own pace, while enjoying a detailed audio guide.
Everything you get at Basilica Cistern: Take an underground walk into the Basilica Cistern’s cool and quiet spaces. Skip long wait lines, and walk in to admire the marble columns and the famous Medusa heads with an expert guide.
Why choose this combo: In just 4 hours, visit three of Istanbul’s top landmarks in one day, with one easy ticket. Skip the long lines with this flexible ticket and explore each site with expert English-speaking guides and immersive audio guides.
Enjoy expert storytelling, skip-the-line access, and a 5+ language audio guide for 3 of Istanbul’s most iconic sites.
Everything you get at Blue Mosque: Skip the long lines and head straight to the Blue Mosque’s grand prayer hall. Get insights into this stained-glass-lit monument, with an English-speaking guide and an audio guide.
Everything you get at Hagia Sophia: Access the Upper Gallery of Hagia Sophia—an area once reserved for royalty. Avoid the wait and admire its breath-taking mosaics at your own pace, while enjoying a detailed audio guide.
Everything you get at Basilica Cistern: Take an underground walk into the Basilica Cistern’s cool and quiet spaces. Skip long wait lines, and walk in to admire the marble columns and the famous Medusa heads with an expert guide.
Why choose this combo: In just 4 hours, visit three of Istanbul’s top landmarks in one day, with one easy ticket. Skip the long lines with this flexible ticket and explore each site with expert English-speaking guides and immersive audio guides.
Inclusions
Basilica Cistern
- 1-hour guided tour of Basilica Cistern
- Skip-the-line entry
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Audio app downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, & Turkish
Hagia Sophia
- 1-hour guided tour of Hagia Sophia
- Skip-the-line entry
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Entry to Hagia Sophia Upper Gallery visiting area
- Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, & Spanish
Blue Mosque
- Entry and 1-hour guided tour to the Blue Mosque
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Skip-the-line entry
Basilica Cistern
- Tip: Be sure to walk to the far end of the cistern to see the famous Medusa heads—many visitors miss them by turning back too soon.
- Floors can be slick in places due to moisture, so wear stable footwear with good grip.
- For a quieter, more serene experience, visit first thing in the morning or just before closing when crowds are less.
- Skip-the-line tickets help cut down wait time. However, security screenings are compulsory for all visitors and will take time.
Hagia Sophia
- Tip: Security checks can take up to an hour in summer (June–August), so plan your visits accordingly.
- Only the Upper Gallery is open to visitors; the main prayer hall is reserved for worshippers and not accessible to visit.
- Access is paused during daily prayers, so plan your visit between those times.
- Tourist entry is paused every Friday from noon to around 2:30pm for weekly prayers.
- Visitors are required to dress modestly – so please cover your head, shoulders and knees. Women are also required to wear scarves. If you forget to bring your own, there are scarves available at the entrance.
Blue Mosque
- Tip: The Blue Mosque is closed to non-worshippers during the five daily prayers, so make sure you check local prayer times before visiting.
- Visitors are required to dress modestly – so please cover your head, shoulders and knees. Women are also required to wear scarves. If you forget to bring your own, there are scarves available at the entrance.
- Shoes must be removed before entering. Make sure you bring a small bag to carry them.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
- These tickets are valid for 2 days from the date of purchase.
Reviews
How do we collect reviews?
Snapshots from our guests
4.3
802 ratings
473
200
64
21
44
Guests from United States, Italy, United Kingdom and over 48 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Ionasc
May 2025Verified booking
Great spots to visit, the guide was great, giod details and good english. Plenty of time to visit, no rushing. Just enjoy
Antoine
May 2025Verified booking
Our guide Öpücük was very good. We were impressed how smoothly she managed to navigate us in such busy places. We never felt rushed or anything. Just very informed about the places we visited. She always found the best stop and she had lots of time for extra questions. Great job!
Rohaizad
Apr 2025Verified booking
It was well planned. Hussein our guide was great, knowledgeable and friendly. The pace and presentation was very good and clear.
Irene
Apr 2025Verified booking
We feared bad surprises after reading some negative comments online, but in Istanbul everything went perfectly . Precise and punctual organization, directions are given to the meeting point and via app everything is very convenient and at hand. Pleasant tour, our guide, Ali (I unfortunately do not remember his full name), was a nice guy, knowledgeable and very helpful. We had a great time with him, the explanation given was just the right length, neither too short nor too long, and the time flew by. Very convenient the skip-the-line ticket, considering the crowds of tourists.
View original review in Italian
Rosa
May 2025Verified booking
The tour is well designed and the guide is fantastic
View original review in Spanish
Orgovany
May 2025Verified booking
I really liked my tour guide Ali. He gave me a lot of information and answered all my questions.
Theresa
Jun 2025Verified booking
It was well organized and Arthur gave us a great insight into the history and architecture of the buildings. The tour of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia was guided. We were able to visit the basilica on our own. It makes sense to have your knees and shoulders covered and ladies should bring a scarf for their hair. At the Hagia Sophia, nothing was lent out here but you had to buy something to cover yourself and the rest of the group had to wait.
View original review in German
Janette
Jun 2025Verified booking
The easy of moving between sights and jumping the lines. The headphone commentary was difficult to hear at times and somtimes stopped gor a while. At times it was hard to understand the spoken English through a heavy turkish accent through the headphone.
Reetta
Jun 2025Verified booking
The group was too big. It took too long time to move the group from one place to another. We had to wait for the group at all the places. The tour was in "slow motion"
Anna
Jun 2025Verified booking
My email to Headout was never answered, gave uncertainty. Headout outsourced tour and via app and small print did eventually find everything. Tour itself was very good, good guide very knowledgeable and spoke very clear English.
View original review in Dutch
SAVITHA
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our guide (Heerat?) was very knowedlgable and shared intersting stories about things. He was patient with questions and organizedc the tour well between the three sites. We recommend this tour.
Carl
May 2025Verified booking
Blue mosque - beautiful - The cistern was fantastic - think the visit could have been condensed slightly to 3hours though - a fair bit of waiting around - although this did make it quite relaxing
Andreea
May 2025Verified booking
Very pleased with the experience. Well organized and our guide was amazing. He explained in details the history for all 3 sights, in plain English and he was very helpful.
Lenka
May 2025Verified booking
The whole ticketing process was very smooth, good communication flow and well given instructions. Our guide did excellent job and provided many interesting facts and insights about all three visited sites.
Charlotte
May 2025Verified booking
Our tour guide Buse was excellent - she was knowledgable and gave us insights into the history of the sights that you wouldn't get in a tourbook. The tour was well organised and we were given plenty of time to see the beautiful landmarks of Istanbul.
Deon
May 2025Verified booking
We had an awesome tour guide! He was very informativ, funny, charmingly aggressive. His English was great. He always made sure we had enough space to take a good picture and quickly asked other tourist to move if they were in our space. Pace was good. Amount of information was also good. I think it is a must to see Istanbul with a tour guide. This is a recommended company and tour guide. Thank you
Ross
Apr 2025Verified booking
Hussein was a fantastic guide - informative, relaxed, and hospitable. He took us through the 2 mosques and the cistern with practised ease - making for a comfortable and very enjoyable experience. The audio earpieces worked well and ensured our group could follow easily Hussein's excellent guidance. Hussein was also generous with answering extra questions and allowing group members to spend their own time at the sites and use the facilities. Overall, an excellent tour and well worth it.
Elena
Apr 2025Verified booking
The guide , Al, was very knowledgeable and was good at managing a group of about 40 people on a really peak season day.
View original review in Italian
Carmela
Apr 2025Verified booking
The guide was really very good. Punctual. Easy to find. I had never tried Headout, didn't know it before and had some anxiety because the reviews were not all positive. Really interesting 4-hour tour!
View original review in Italian
Mr
Mar 2025Verified booking
Our tour guide was very good. He had a very thorough grasp on the history of each site we visited and gave us just the right amount of detail to really understand the history of each place. A really good experience
Christian
Mar 2025Verified booking
We got in quickly Unfortunately in English The guide was quite strict and not relaxed He was more of a boss than a tourist guide There was no audioguite but except in the Hagia Sophia where the preacher was so loud, we understood everything
View original review in German
Anne
Jun 2025Verified booking
Great tour guide and the place was just magical!
Sarah
Jun 2025Verified booking
Great guide, he told us everything we needed to know. One small downside: the group was quite large.
Jacqui
Jun 2025Verified booking
The guide made it worthwhile ms kiss was great and her knowledge outstanding
Mercedes
May 2025Verified booking
The guide was incredible and we enjoy a lot!
Itinerary
1
Blue Mosque
60 min
Tickets included
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul rises with six minarets and a towering central dome. Inside, more than 20,000 İznik tiles in shades of blue form intricate floral and geometric designs. Sunlight filters through stained-glass windows, casting a glow on the detailed calligraphy and chandeliers that once shimmered with candlelight.
2
Hagia Sophia
45 min
Tickets included
Enter Hagia Sophia, and your gaze instantly locks onto its massive dome, seemingly suspended in midair as sunlight streams through 40 windows. The walls blend shimmering Byzantine mosaics with towering Ottoman calligraphy. Wander through, and you’ll uncover hidden tunnels, mysterious marble doors, and even Viking carvings etched into the stone!
3
Istanbul Old Town
Guided tour
4
Basilica Cistern
30 min
Tickets included (based on selection)
The Basilica Cistern is a massive underground chamber with 336 marble columns emerging from still water. At the far end, two Medusa head carvings, one tilted sideways and the other inverted, serve as column bases. Subtle lighting casts shadows across the arched ceiling, while gentle ripples shimmer against the ancient stone.
Discover Istanbul’s treasures like Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Old Town in one expert-guided tour.
- Everything you get: Join a 1.5-hour guided tour of Hagia Sophia, followed by a 1-hour visit to Blue Mosque to see Iznik tilework and towering minarets with an expert. Wander the Hippodrome’s ancient chariot-racing grounds and the historic Old Town with a 30-minute walking tour.
- Why choose this: Go beyond the basics—expert stories, skip-the-line entry, and a complete Old Town experience in one seamless adventure.
- Upgrades: Enhance your journey with a 30-minute guided tour of Basilica Cistern, complete with skip-the-line access.
Discover Istanbul’s treasures like Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Old Town in one expert-guided tour.
- Everything you get: Join a 1.5-hour guided tour of Hagia Sophia, followed by a 1-hour visit to Blue Mosque to see Iznik tilework and towering minarets with an expert. Wander the Hippodrome’s ancient chariot-racing grounds and the historic Old Town with a 30-minute walking tour.
- Why choose this: Go beyond the basics—expert stories, skip-the-line entry, and a complete Old Town experience in one seamless adventure.
- Upgrades: Enhance your journey with a 30-minute guided tour of Basilica Cistern, complete with skip-the-line access.
Inclusions
- 1.5-hour guided tour of Hagia Sophia
- Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia visiting area
- Expert licensed English-speaking guide
- 1-hour guided tour of Blue Mosque with entry
- 30-min Hippodrome & Old Town walking tour
- Istanbul Old Town map
- 30-min guided tour of Basilica Cistern with skip-the-line entry (based on option selected)
- The prayer area on the first floor can only be entered by Turkish citizens.
- Strict dress code: Women should not wear knee-length shorts, skirts, or clothing with exposed shoulders or chests. Hair should be partially covered with a scarf. Men should not wear knee-length shorts or clothing with exposed shoulders.
- This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
- If you do not have a scarf or body cover, you can buy them at the entrance (a scarf is 1€ and a body cover is 3€).
- While you can breeze through the ticket lines, security screening is standard for all guests. Be prepared for wait times of up to 60 minutes during peak travel periods.
- Hagia Sophia is under renovation, therefore, not all parts of the building are open to the public.
- Due to the Friday prayer, the Mosque will be closed to tourists from 12pm to 2pm. For a smoother experience, it's recommended to visit after 4pm to avoid the lengthy security line anticipated between 2pm and 4pm.
- Hagia Sophia is not accessible for wheelchair users.
- Basilica Cistern is wheelchair accessible.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Reviews
How do we collect reviews?
Snapshots from our guests
4.2
1,157 ratings
671
283
89
39
75
Guests from United States, United Kingdom, Italy and over 56 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Brent
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our tour guide Buse was amazing. She was very informative and answered everyone's questions with a detailed answer. She definitely made our experience better than if we would have gone without a guide. I definitely recommend doing the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia tour with her.
Ionasc
May 2025Verified booking
Great spots to visit, the guide was great, giod details and good english. Plenty of time to visit, no rushing. Just enjoy
Antoine
May 2025Verified booking
Our guide Öpücük was very good. We were impressed how smoothly she managed to navigate us in such busy places. We never felt rushed or anything. Just very informed about the places we visited. She always found the best stop and she had lots of time for extra questions. Great job!
Rohaizad
Apr 2025Verified booking
It was well planned. Hussein our guide was great, knowledgeable and friendly. The pace and presentation was very good and clear.
Irene
Apr 2025Verified booking
We feared bad surprises after reading some negative comments online, but in Istanbul everything went perfectly . Precise and punctual organization, directions are given to the meeting point and via app everything is very convenient and at hand. Pleasant tour, our guide, Ali (I unfortunately do not remember his full name), was a nice guy, knowledgeable and very helpful. We had a great time with him, the explanation given was just the right length, neither too short nor too long, and the time flew by. Very convenient the skip-the-line ticket, considering the crowds of tourists.
View original review in Italian
Rosa
May 2025Verified booking
The tour is well designed and the guide is fantastic
View original review in Spanish
Orgovany
May 2025Verified booking
I really liked my tour guide Ali. He gave me a lot of information and answered all my questions.
Theresa
Jun 2025Verified booking
It was well organized and Arthur gave us a great insight into the history and architecture of the buildings. The tour of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia was guided. We were able to visit the basilica on our own. It makes sense to have your knees and shoulders covered and ladies should bring a scarf for their hair. At the Hagia Sophia, nothing was lent out here but you had to buy something to cover yourself and the rest of the group had to wait.
View original review in German
Janette
Jun 2025Verified booking
The easy of moving between sights and jumping the lines. The headphone commentary was difficult to hear at times and somtimes stopped gor a while. At times it was hard to understand the spoken English through a heavy turkish accent through the headphone.
Reetta
Jun 2025Verified booking
The group was too big. It took too long time to move the group from one place to another. We had to wait for the group at all the places. The tour was in "slow motion"
Anna
Jun 2025Verified booking
My email to Headout was never answered, gave uncertainty. Headout outsourced tour and via app and small print did eventually find everything. Tour itself was very good, good guide very knowledgeable and spoke very clear English.
View original review in Dutch
SAVITHA
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our guide (Heerat?) was very knowedlgable and shared intersting stories about things. He was patient with questions and organizedc the tour well between the three sites. We recommend this tour.
Carl
May 2025Verified booking
Blue mosque - beautiful - The cistern was fantastic - think the visit could have been condensed slightly to 3hours though - a fair bit of waiting around - although this did make it quite relaxing
Jill
May 2025Verified booking
Bot venues very crowded and had alot of trouble hearing the guide speak. Our group was rather large and we attempted to circle around him but the ambient noise and fact that some of us were shorter and stuck behind tall people there were big gaps in what I could hear him say. Overall he had good info but seemed unenthusiastic.
Andreea
May 2025Verified booking
Very pleased with the experience. Well organized and our guide was amazing. He explained in details the history for all 3 sights, in plain English and he was very helpful.
Lenka
May 2025Verified booking
The whole ticketing process was very smooth, good communication flow and well given instructions. Our guide did excellent job and provided many interesting facts and insights about all three visited sites.
Charlotte
May 2025Verified booking
Our tour guide Buse was excellent - she was knowledgable and gave us insights into the history of the sights that you wouldn't get in a tourbook. The tour was well organised and we were given plenty of time to see the beautiful landmarks of Istanbul.
Deon
May 2025Verified booking
We had an awesome tour guide! He was very informativ, funny, charmingly aggressive. His English was great. He always made sure we had enough space to take a good picture and quickly asked other tourist to move if they were in our space. Pace was good. Amount of information was also good. I think it is a must to see Istanbul with a tour guide. This is a recommended company and tour guide. Thank you
Ross
Apr 2025Verified booking
Hussein was a fantastic guide - informative, relaxed, and hospitable. He took us through the 2 mosques and the cistern with practised ease - making for a comfortable and very enjoyable experience. The audio earpieces worked well and ensured our group could follow easily Hussein's excellent guidance. Hussein was also generous with answering extra questions and allowing group members to spend their own time at the sites and use the facilities. Overall, an excellent tour and well worth it.
Elena
Apr 2025Verified booking
The guide , Al, was very knowledgeable and was good at managing a group of about 40 people on a really peak season day.
View original review in Italian
Carmela
Apr 2025Verified booking
The guide was really very good. Punctual. Easy to find. I had never tried Headout, didn't know it before and had some anxiety because the reviews were not all positive. Really interesting 4-hour tour!
View original review in Italian
Mr
Mar 2025Verified booking
Our tour guide was very good. He had a very thorough grasp on the history of each site we visited and gave us just the right amount of detail to really understand the history of each place. A really good experience
Christian
Mar 2025Verified booking
We got in quickly Unfortunately in English The guide was quite strict and not relaxed He was more of a boss than a tourist guide There was no audioguite but except in the Hagia Sophia where the preacher was so loud, we understood everything
View original review in German
Anne
Jun 2025Verified booking
Great tour guide and the place was just magical!
Sarah
Jun 2025Verified booking
Great guide, he told us everything we needed to know. One small downside: the group was quite large.
Istanbul Top Museums 3-Day Pass: Guided Tour + Entry Tickets & Free Bosphorus Cruise
- Enjoy a guided tour of Istanbul’s best iconic attractions with this one combo ticket that you can use in 1 day or over 2 or 3 days.
- Learn about the illustrious history of each of these landmarks from your expert English-speaking guide.
- Gain valuable insights about the iconic Hagia Sophia from your guide before you enter.
- Explore Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern while listening to interesting stories through an audio guide app available in 8 languages.
- Sail away on a relaxing 90-minute cruise of the Bosphorus Waterway as you admire the architectural beauty of Istanbul from a different perspective.
- Enjoy a guided tour of Istanbul’s best iconic attractions with this one combo ticket that you can use in 1 day or over 2 or 3 days.
- Learn about the illustrious history of each of these landmarks from your expert English-speaking guide.
- Gain valuable insights about the iconic Hagia Sophia from your guide before you enter.
- Explore Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern while listening to interesting stories through an audio guide app available in 8 languages.
- Sail away on a relaxing 90-minute cruise of the Bosphorus Waterway as you admire the architectural beauty of Istanbul from a different perspective.
Inclusions
- 60-min Topkapi Palace tour with skip-the-line entry
- 30-min Basilica Cistern tour with skip-the-line entry
- 60-min Hagia Sophia tour with entry
- 90-min Bosphorus Cruise ticket
- English-speaking guide for all attractions
- Audio app in 10 languages
Day 1
- Hagia Sophia Mosque
- Bosphorus Cruise Tickets
Day 2
- Topkapi Palace
- Basilica Cistern
- Tip: Topkapi Palace's ground floor has the best Instagram potential. You get to photograph the stunning interiors and beautiful ceilings.
- The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish.
- Facilities: Pram/Stroller Accessibility.
- For Hagia Sophia, Women are required to cover their knees, shoulders, and chest. Their hair should be partially covered with a scarf. Men are required to cover their knees and shoulders. If you don't have a scarf or covering, it can be purchased at the entrance, at your own expense.
- With this admission ticket (except for Hagia Sophia), you will skip the ticket line, but not the security line. During high season, the security check could take up to 30 minutes.
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for pets.
- Your guide will show you the way to each attraction, then you can set your own pace for exploring.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
- These tickets are valid for 3 days from the date of purchase.
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What our guests say
Michael
Oct 2024Verified booking
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- Book this combo package for a guided tour of the Blue Mosque and skip-the-line access to Topkapi Palace and witness both sites within a span of 2 days.
- Skip the lines to visit the 15th-century Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman sultans, and discover ancient jewels, weaponry, and Chinese porcelain.
- Explore the Holy Relics chamber, which houses precious items of historical figures like Prophet Muhammad, Moses, and David.
- Take a stroll along the courtyard of the Blue Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and witness the white calligraphy of Quranic verses on the domes.
- Learn from your guide about the 20,000 handmade Iznik blue tiles covering the mosque walls, and find out more about the 6 intricately engraved minarets.
- Upgrade your ticket and enter Basilica Cistern, an underground water reservoir of Constantinople.
- Book this combo package for a guided tour of the Blue Mosque and skip-the-line access to Topkapi Palace and witness both sites within a span of 2 days.
- Skip the lines to visit the 15th-century Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman sultans, and discover ancient jewels, weaponry, and Chinese porcelain.
- Explore the Holy Relics chamber, which houses precious items of historical figures like Prophet Muhammad, Moses, and David.
- Take a stroll along the courtyard of the Blue Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and witness the white calligraphy of Quranic verses on the domes.
- Learn from your guide about the 20,000 handmade Iznik blue tiles covering the mosque walls, and find out more about the 6 intricately engraved minarets.
- Upgrade your ticket and enter Basilica Cistern, an underground water reservoir of Constantinople.
Inclusions
Topkapi Palace
- Skip-the-line entry to Topkapi Palace
- 1-hr guided tour of the Topkapi Palace
- Access to Topkapi Palace's Harem section
- English-speaking guide
- Audio guide app in 10 languages
Blue Mosque
- 1-hr guided tour of the Blue Mosque
- English-speaking guide
- Audio guide app in 10 languages
Guided tour of Basilica Cistern (optional)
Topkapi Palace
- Tip: Don't miss the intricate miniatures portraying religious texts, court scenes of Sultans, and the very first map of the world made in 1513.
- It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes as this experience involves a fair amount of walking.
Blue Mosque
- Tip: Check out the multiple chandeliers with ostrich eggs, ingeniously used to repel spiders and prevent cobwebs inside the mosque.
- This tour is not available on Tuesdays.
- There could be a waiting line during peak seasons at Blue Mosque which may take up to 60 mins.
- Scarves and body covers can be purchased at the entrance for 1€ and 3€ respectively.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
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What our guests say
Carmen
May 2025Verified booking
Monica
Jan 2025Verified booking
We got lost at the entrance, we couldn't find the Topkapi café, I don't remember the name but he just explained the map of the place and told us to walk around it, I thought he was going to accompany us and explain the tour.
View original review in Spanish
James
Sep 2024Verified booking
I felt cheated. They did the free entry tour first. The guide went on an on and and was hard to hear. He didn't give us enough time to get to the second paid entry tour and we ran out of time and was not able to make it to the paid entry to the palace. Felt we lost $260 euros for our 4 tickets. Insist on doing the palace tour first.
Christine
Jul 2024Verified booking
Our guide was very nice but without a headphones/audio help we couldn't hear half of what he said in the Mosque. Our group was large and only those of us that were able to stand very close could hear him. Headphones would make this a better tour.
Donovici
Aug 2024Verified booking
The guides was fabulous!! Very good experiences! I'm glad to meet this people
Aroa
Jun 2024Verified booking
When I chose the language option, I was given the option of Spanish, but the visit was in English.
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Denise
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Blue Mosque TicketsGuided Tours
Make the most of Istanbul
Which Blue Mosque guided tour is best for you?
Expert-guided tours
Duration: 1 hour
Suited for: Visitors short on time, families, groups, and solo-travelers
Ticket price: starts from €14.92
Why go for it?
- This guided tour is best for visitors looking for a short and detailed walkthrough of the Blue Mosque. An English-speaking tour guide will help you understand the historic significance of the mosque in-depth.
- This tour also includes a walk around the Old City of the surrounding neighborhood.
Recommended tours:
Skip-the-line tours
Duration: Flexible
Suited for: History lovers, visitors with a couple of hours on hand, group travelers
Ticket price: starting from €95
Why go for it?
- With these tickets, you can enjoy priority access to 4 major attractions in Sultanahmet, namely the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Basilica Cistern. Note that since Blue Mosque does not require entry tickets, you can save time on wait lines and security checks.
- You can also enjoy a 90-minute Boshprorus Cruise with these tours, depending on the ticket you choose.
Recommended tours:
Combo tours
Duration: Flexible
Suited for: Budget-friendly travelers
Ticket price: ranges around €46 to €55
Why go for it?
- On a one-time purchase, you can access most of the historical landmarks in Sultanahmet Square, including the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and more.
- With these tickets, you can not only get entry access but also enjoy English-guided tours of these landmarks.
Recommended tours:
Why book a Blue Mosque guided tour?
- Get skip-the-line access: With saver combos, you can enjoy priority access to the Blue Mosque. You can spend more time exploring the architecture and interiors.
- Avoid crowds: Booking Blue Mosque guided tours allows you to bypass long lines and enter the attraction. You can also navigate through cultural and language barriers and pick up a headscarf at the entrance more easily with your tour guide.
- Understand the historicity: Guided tours of the Blue Mosque offer valuable historical insights, with knowledgeable guides providing in-depth information about the mosque's rich history, architectural significance, and cultural context.
- Soak in local stories and anecdotes: Guides share local stories and anecdotes related to the Blue Mosque, providing a more personalized and immersive experience that goes beyond basic historical facts.
- Explore surrounding areas: With Blue Mosque guided tours, you can walk around the Old City surrounding the mosque. If you purchase combo tours, you can also enter the neighboring Sultanahmet attractions like Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more.
Highlights of Blue Mosque’s guided tour
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Frequently asked questions about Blue Mosque’s guided tours
How much does a Blue Mosque guided tour cost?
Save almost 29% as compared to original ticket prices by booking Blue Mosque guided tours online. These tours start from €14.92 and include an English-speaking tour guide.
Which is the best Blue Mosque guided tour?
The best Blue Mosque guided tour starts from €14.92 and includes entry access to the mosque, a detailed 1-hour tour with an expert, English-speaking tour guide, and a walking tour of the Old City surrounding the mosque.
Why should I opt for a guided tour of the Blue Mosque and what does it include?
If you are on a budget, you must choose the 1-hour guided tour of the Blue Mosque which starts from €14.92. You can save almost 29% as compared to the original tour prices. If you want an in-depth tour of the Sultanahmet Square and its surrounding attractions, consider booking Blue Mosque combo tours, which include access to the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and more.
How long does a Blue Mosque guided tour last?
Blue Mosque guided tours, including an expert tour guide continue for around 1 hour. They also include a walking tour of the Old City surrounding the mosque.
What languages are Blue Mosque guided tours available in?
The Blue Mosque guided tours are available in English with an expert tour guide taking you around the mosque and its surrounding areas.
Which parts of the Blue Mosque can I access with a guided tour?
The 1-hour Blue Mosque guided tour is extremely thorough and detailed. An expert, tour guide takes you through most of the mosque’s intricate pathways and courtyards, which are accessible to the public.
What is the cancellation policy for Blue Mosque guided tours?
We recommend you book Blue Mosque guided tours online for their flexible cancellation policy. If you cannot make it to the mosque on the day of your visit, you can cancel your experience up to 24 hours before the experience begins to get a full refund on your purchase.
Are Blue Mosque guided tours suitable for children?
Yes, an expert tour guide will accompany you throughout your Blue Mosque guided tour. It is ideal for families with toddlers, solo travelers, and travel groups because it makes it easier to navigate and get past language barriers. These guided tours also include a detailed walk-through of the mosque and its surroundings.
From happy customers
Brent
United Statesjun, 2025
Our tour guide Buse was amazing. She was very informative and answered everyone's questions with a detailed answer. She definitely made our experience better than if we would have gone without a guide. I definitely recommend doing the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia tour with her.
Istanbul: Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Tickets
Wendy
United Statesene, 2025
+ 2 more
I really appreciated the friendliness and warm welcoming the guides gave me. I felt safe and they really knew how to keep you captivated with all their hostorical content. This was my first time having guided tour and it did not disappoint.
Istanbul: Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Tickets
Ionasc
may, 2025
Great spots to visit, the guide was great, giod details and good english. Plenty of time to visit, no rushing. Just enjoy
Combo: Basilica Cistern + Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Tickets
Antoine
may, 2025
Our guide Öpücük was very good. We were impressed how smoothly she managed to navigate us in such busy places. We never felt rushed or anything. Just very informed about the places we visited.
She always found the best stop and she had lots of time for extra questions.
Great job!
Combo: Basilica Cistern + Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Tickets
João
Portugalabr, 2025
The guide's maturity and knowledge made the visit even richer. We learned details about the mosque that we wouldn't have been able to explore otherwise.
View original review in Portuguese
Istanbul: Blue Mosque Guided Tour
Borhene
nov, 2021
Great experience with great guides. I asked the support team for a help with whatsApp and they were so reactive. appreciated
Istanbul Museum Pass: Guided Tour + Skip the Line
Mark
Canadajun, 2025
It was a great ending to our tour in Istanbul. A relaxing and information filled trip up and down the Bosphorus. The crew was great and the guide was entertaining and full of facts.
It was easy to book and easy to find at the end of the line in the tram.
Bosphorus Luxury Yacht Day Cruise with Snacks & Turkish Coffee
Judith
United Statesmay, 2025
small size of the boat and detail paid to experience including food and music. loved the side adventure to ice cream on the east side.
Bosphorus Luxury Yacht Day Cruise with Snacks & Turkish Coffee