Istanbul Old City Walking Tour with Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia

This small-group walking tour explores Istanbul's old city on foot, starting in the Sultanahmet district and taking in two of the city's best known landmarks, the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, alongside the historic Hippodrome.

There is no hotel transfer with this tour, so you make your own way to the meeting point in Sultanahmet, where your guide gathers the small group before setting off on foot. Keeping the group small means more time with your guide and an easier pace through the narrow streets around the old city's main square.

The tour begins at the Blue Mosque, known for its six minarets and the blue Iznik tiles lining its interior. Your guide walks you through the courtyard, pointing out the domes and arches before you step inside to see the tilework up close and hear how the mosque earned its name from the thousands of handmade tiles covering its walls.

From there, the walk continues through the Hippodrome, once the chariot-racing and social center of the Byzantine city, where ancient obelisks including the Obelisk of Theodosius still stand. Your guide explains how the square shaped the city's political history over the centuries, from Roman games to Byzantine unrest. Priority access then takes you into the Hagia Sophia, where soaring domes and Byzantine mosaics sit alongside later Ottoman additions; your guide traces its journey from a sixth-century cathedral to a mosque, then a museum and back to an active mosque today, pointing out how each era left its mark on the building.

The tour ends at Sultanahmet Square, leaving you free to explore the old city at your own pace, whether you want to linger over the views or wander into the surrounding streets and markets. Rayna Tours' local team arranges your guide and tickets, so the details are handled before you set out on foot.

• Explore the history of Istanbul's old city on a small-group guided walking tour.
• Visit the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque with priority admission tickets (if option selected).
• Learn about the Hippodrome and its ancient obelisks from your guide.
• See the Blue Mosque's Ottoman architecture and its blue Iznik tiles up close.
• Take in the Hagia Sophia's blend of Byzantine and Ottoman design elements.

1. Download the soft copy of your voucher from your dashboard.
2. Carry it on your phone, or print a copy.
3. Show it to your guide at the meeting point before the tour starts.

• Wear comfortable walking shoes, since the tour involves a fair amount of walking.
• Bring sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen, especially on sunny days.
• Flash photography is not allowed inside the Hagia Sophia or the Blue Mosque.
• Large bags, backpacks and umbrellas are not permitted inside these sites for security reasons.
• Women need a headscarf to enter the Hagia Sophia's mosque section.
• Modest clothing is required at the Blue Mosque; shorts and short skirts are not allowed.
• The Blue Mosque is an active place of worship, so there may be waiting time during prayer hours.
• The amount of walking may be tiring for young children, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
• Pregnant travellers should consider the amount of walking involved before booking.
• Arrive on time at the meeting point; the guide cannot wait more than 5 minutes for latecomers.