Headout is a brand trusted by millions of guests worldwide offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.
Inclusions
Exclusions
It was a beautiful experience! We entered immediately with the skip the line ticket! I didn't use the audio guide because I didn't know how to install it, but it's not necessary, Hagia Sofia speaks for itself! Andreea 💋 xoxo
Hagia Sofia is good experience. An ancient orthodox Christian Church Converted to a Mosque. Since we have the skip the line tickets we avoided standing in the long lines in the middle of the day under the hot sun. We are skeptical about the tickets in the biggining since we can not download tickets due to WiFi issues. But it worked well. Now I look forward Headout for my future travel plans. An app may be much beneficial for the travelers.
Hagia Sophia is a beautiful masterpiece hence the long line up to get in. Getting the admission ticket with head out was a smart decision because it allowed you to skip the long line ups and most importantly, it is cheaper than the admission fees at the door or on the QR codes they have to skip the line. Ticket also includes audio tour to help understand the history of this amazing architecture better. One of the best attractions in Istanbul, highly recommend visiting and getting cheaper tickets from head out.
Skip the line tickets were the best thing we could do, it saved us hours of waiting in long queues under the sun. The group was quite small which make it easy to hear our guide. Our guide was great, he spoke very good English and explained everything in a very interesting way. I really liked that he also told us about Turkish history, culture, current situation in the country etc., I found it very interesting. Hagia Sofia was amazing and breathtaking. Basilica cistern was a big surprise, it's a beautiful place worth visiting. The time given in each place was enough for exploration and pictures. The tour overall took 4 hours. I highly recommend this tour when in Istanbul.
Arda, our guide, was awesome even tho it was sometimes hard to hear every word he said (to be fair every place we saw was quite crowded). Also the skip the line feature is super useful! There is enough time to take pics and buy water or food during the tour
The mosque is fabulous, it shows the respect and diversity that Turkiye has and had over millennia. You find Muslim and Christian manifestations and art, even Scandinavian graffiti by a well identified soldier. A wonderful place of serenity and reflection. The ticket buying experience online makes it easy to access the site and the electronic guidance system is superb. Even my teenage kids were engulfed in the history and beauty of Hagia Sophia. In short, an awesome place!
Overall it was a great experience and our tour guide was super knowledgeable with the history and stories related to Hagia Sophia. We were running behind schedule due to Istanbul traffic, however customer support and the tour guide from Headout were super helpful and waited for us at the 11th hour. Highly recommended and will do it again when we visit next.
The collection point at the Topkapi Cafe was initially a little tricky to find as it is round the back of the mosque. However when we did, there was a friendly and efficient ticket organiser and a lovely walled cafe to wait in. The mosque is stunning and it was sad to see some tourists had not bothered to pay attention to the dress code for this religious building. It is a fascination building and photography is allowed in most areas.
The Headout service was so good, the guide explanation was clear and he was supported with some additional photos and complementary information. In my case I had a little incident, I lost my guide outside Blue Mosque, fortunately one guide of Headout supported me to find my group. Thanks so much to save my visit!
Our guide (Haluk Barlas) was very knowledgeable, witty, and well-organized. He showed us a lot of hidden gems inside Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia. Our guide kept the focus of the group by asking some basic questions about the history and culture of the monuments we were visiting. This participation and interaction elevated the whole experience to another level.
Informative not too long introduction. "Skip the line" is a littlebit missleading, as security line needs to be done anyway and takes 45 min
Fond of history, visiting the Hagia Sophia is a dream come true and it was made easier by booking it with Headout. Kudos to the team who assisted us.
Even though our entry was delayed to the President's visit, the wait was worth it. The experience of getting inside, having the space to view the mosque and the peace inside was the recipe of a great experience.
The nature of the place and the knowledge of the guide
The mosque was beautiful . It was a beautiful experience
Was amazigng. Great building. Perfect.
Amazing day with amazing guide
Excellent The guide us professional
Great tour guide who was very informative. Did not rush us through the cistern so that we could appreciate it fully
Good architect and of high historical value
Beautiful place, a lot of history, quite expensive tickets
A great walking tour that suits our preferences n timing. Good knowledgeable guide !
The guide was perfect! Places were amazing. No line with this combo.
Collecting tickets was easy but a little chaotic 👍🏼
Good information. Beautiful museum.
Inclusions
Overall it was a great experience and our tour guide was super knowledgeable with the history and stories related to Hagia Sophia. We were running behind schedule due to Istanbul traffic, however customer support and the tour guide from Headout were super helpful and waited for us at the 11th hour. Highly recommended and will do it again when we visit next.
Informative not too long introduction. "Skip the line" is a littlebit missleading, as security line needs to be done anyway and takes 45 min
To be honest, my partner and I felt a little bit underwhelmed by the tour. We did get to skip the line for the Hagia Sophia, but we got a 10 min briefing before we went in and then as soon as we entered our guide showed us to the audioguide area and left us saying "he wasn't allowed to guide us through" which we saw a sign for, however there were probably 50 groups that we saw that were being guided, so that felt weird. As for the Blue Mosque we could barely hear our guide and we only spent about 15 minutes inside, and it was free entry... So it definitely didn't feel worth €112 for two people. We more or less paid that much for just the Hagia Sophia and a 30 minute tour. Overall it was a fun day though and they are definitely sites worth seeing.
Even though our entry was delayed to the President's visit, the wait was worth it. The experience of getting inside, having the space to view the mosque and the peace inside was the recipe of a great experience.
The nature of the place and the knowledge of the guide
Manageable group size and knowledgeable guide. History of the various reincarnations of the site was great.
The tour was well organized and the meeting point was easy to find. Gidt told interesting facts and answered questions.
View original review in German
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.
Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We thought having a guided tour for Aya Sophia was definitely worth it. But it was quite expensive for a family of 5. Children or family discount would be welcome! (For this tour and most Istanbul attractions by the way)
Haluk, our guide for the Hagia Sophia Tour was very knowledgeable and shared some interesting information. He had pictures with him to show how it looked like in the past and told everything in a good way. All in all it was a bit chaotic, as how to split the tour and in which order to do it. Not sure if it's worth paying the money for the tour or if you just do pay the entrance fee and take a look yourself. Both your guides in between distracted by their phones. The Blue Mosque 'Tour' was not a tour, could have saved the money for it. Younger tour guide, who didn't stick to a story line and showed us example pictures in tiny on his phone.
I felt that the tour guide was not knowledgeable enough to explain the history and the facts around Haga Sophia. We stayed around 30minutes outside and he was just talking and most of us are English speakers and couldn't understand what he was saying. One couple asked him why you need to cover your head when you go in the mosque and the tour guide said "these are the rules" and moved on. Repeatedly kept saying "by the way" and "actually".
Our guide was amazing, spoke English and explained many things . I wish I had his name to praise him to you as he was the best tour guide taking us through the Blue Mosque, the Underground Cisterns, and Hagia Sofia.
The communication has been very good. The guide was punctual and spoke excellent English . He had a good voice and he could be heard above the surrounding noise. Samet - our guide was very knowledgeable and approachable. I enjoyed his tour . The building spoke for itself. Amazing and well worth the visit!
The guide presented some interesting information and managed the tour well. It was good from that point of view. The skip the line ended up as a long queue in the sun - not directly your fault but it spoiled the experience.
The tour guide was very helpful. Unfortunately hard to understand. Other groups had headphones and the guide had a microphone. That would have been very helpful.
View original review in German
The guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable, shared a lot of facts about the history and background , plus very attentive to the group. Recommended to explore one of the main archeological masterpieces of Istanbul
Our tourguide, Arda, was very knowledgeable of Turkish history, and enthusiastic to share that knowledge. A great walking tour with a spectacilar ending at the Mosque.
We had Arda as our guide. He did a great job. Was very knowledgeable and calmly took his time to explain everything. Highly recommended!
View original review in Dutch
The most i like the good explication of our guide,good English and he explains to us everything and he answered our questions, He is very professional i think his name was semit or semih
Guide was very well informed, spoke very good English and provided a lot of interesting facts and details about the Hagia Sophia as we got closer to the entrance. He was very nice and helpful.
We got to go inside the mosques without having to wait in line for the tickets. The guide had a lot to say and was very helpful. The guide was a bit hard to hear inside the mosques though because of so many people. Also hee englisj was just okay. The meeting point was also a bit unclear as the guide didn't show up until at the last second.
We thought it was way over priced for what we got to see. We were only allowed in the top portion, so for price paid only half a tour considering the Blue Mosque is free. Couldn't get the audio to work, so no real tour as guide not allowed in. Only wanted skip the line tickets and audio but spent an hour outside with guide seeing things we'd already been over. Wouldn't recommend to others!
Ticketing was simple and quick. The experience was amazing especially given the excellent tour guide whom we had. She was calm, patient and helpful. The information she gave was first class and she answered questions with ease.
The logistics (meeting points) and expectations in the booking email were outlined really well. The guide was knowledgeable and engaging. The website description, pre-booking, needs to be transparent about the fact that the guides are not allowed inside the Museum and the "guided" portion of the tour is outside Hagia Sophia, with a skip purchase ticket line included as a perk.
We didn't realise we were being taken around a square and given a talk We thought the guide would be taking us into the hagia sofia and we would get the benefit of his knowledge in there As it was there wasn't too big a queue to get tickets
9% off
Inclusions
Basilica Cistern
Hagia Sophia
Basilica Cistern
Hagia Sophia
It was a surprise to enter such an old and well preserved site, the lighting is perfect and the modern sculptures installed there add a lot of character, we loved not having to wait in line to enter especially because the day was very hot and it is always visited by many people.
View original review in Spanish
Very beautiful and unique place! With e-ticket, I didn't had to wait in line (which was very long!). Audio also worked very well. Definitely worth it!!
We've skipped the lines for tickets. Especially at Cisterna. Super fast entry. At Aya Sofia there was a line for security and entry. But was fast enough. Good choice we bought the tickets online. Saved a lot of time and no more waiting in the heat and sun.
Beautiful experience. The basilica is a goosebump show. Guide in Italian using cell phone. Online ticket purchase and ticket hopping. Good organization at the entrance
View original review in Italian
Purchasing tickets on line was easy, intuitive and fast taking advantage of cheaper prices than on other sites. The skip-the-line allowed us to immediately enter the attraction using the fast track dedicated to online purchases that was practically empty while the other two were full of people with very long lines. Using the audio guide was very easy and very intuitive, however, only after the invaluable help we got from the Support Team assistant at the entrance of the Basilica Cisterna by setting up the cell phone correctly with much helpfulness and courtesy. Thank you, it was fatastic to use Headout!
View original review in Italian
Quick and simple selection of attraction we would like to visit, other than Headout allow you to select each attraction, it also enable you to choose how many attraction per day to visit. We only select 1 attraction a day. This allow us to go in the morning and finish just before noon which is pretty hot in July. We head back to hotel to shower and take a nap 😴. Then head back out after 6pm for dinner and visit attraction to take pictures only from the outside. Sunset and night scene looks very different comparing it to day scene especially at Blue Mosque.
The place was out of this world. We don't have to make any line. The staff was very friendly. Were tennis shoes (no heels).
The best thing about buying tickets with Headout was not having to wait in line! The tour is impressive and very well organized. I was really impressed with the experience and recommend it for its historical value.
View original review in Spanish
The experience at the Basilica Cistern is incredible. I purchased tickets that allowed me to enter without waiting in line, and I was able to get in quickly. The basilica is marvelous, with stunning lights and artistic displays to enjoy. On the downside, there's no mobile signal inside the cistern. Although I had downloaded the app for a virtual guided tour, it wasn't available within the basilica. It would have been very considerate of them to inform visitors of this when purchasing tickets. So, you could decide whether to listen to the guide before or after entering the basilica. Alternatively, providing an option to download the guide for offline use would be ideal. Despite this, I highly recommend visiting the Basilica Cistern.
The online ticket system was super easy and convenient. We arrived and entered without any line ups. The Basilica Cistern is breathtaking, Beautiful, spectacular and a must do whilst in Istanbul.
The skip-the-line ticket is worth every penny. We were quickly inside and were able to enjoy the beautiful basilica without waiting in line. Buying and paying for tickets online is easy. I highly recommend it. The basilica itself was incredible. It's nice to see a piece of history and enjoy the beautiful views.
It was a wonderful visit, the site is beautiful. As expected, we didn't wait in line and it was easy to get in. We recommend taking the guided tour to get more details about the cisterns. It is a must see place in Istanbul.
View original review in Spanish
The Basilica Cistern is impressive. Is beautiful, incredibly stunning. To visit is a must while in Istanbul. Using the "skip the line" tickets was the best. From bying and downloading the app and walking in took us less than 10 minutes while the line to buy the tickets was very long. We did not do any line or waiting or nothing. We highly recommend it.
So glad we found these online tickets! We visited later in the day, which meant limited remaining open time, so we only had to wait in the long security line. Ww would have liked to have more guidance, or an escort, regarding where to go after picking up the tickets, but we figured it out. The audio tour was only for one person and there were two of us, so that was only OK. That said, getting to visit the Hagia Sophia was wonderful and well worth the effort to get there.
Arrived a few minutes after 9am opening to find a line half way up the block, but then realized I chose the SKIP THE LINE option, I breezed in. There are two lines, one along the wall and the other STL option right next to it but sort of street side. I was maybe one of the first 20 people in the door Very pleased I went with that option. A tiny bit disappointed that the downloaded audio didn't work, I had listed to it the night before so I had a good idea what to expect, but would have been nice if it had worked as advertised.
Instrucciones sencillas,descarga de la guía correcta y funcionó sin datos móviles durante toda la visita a la basilica cisterna.muy recomendable.
Ottimo il servizio di biglietti in Line siamo entrati senza fila. Il posto è veramente incredibile Complimenti anche per come sono allestite le luci. L'esperienza della visita è stata veramente unica. Un posto bellissimo!
Having purchased my ticket early, we avoided the very long lines. The Cistern was amazing! Words can't describe. Stunning!
The speed with which we were able to enter and the explanations about the Cistern Basilica. We had read them beforehand so that we could take a closer look at the details.
View original review in Spanish
Fue una gran experiencia. Disfrutamos mucho el caminar entre las columnas. El único detalle es que pagamos audioguia y no pudimos utilizarla porque nunca pudimos conectarnos a Internet
I caught a good day and was lucky to be there before all the tourists crowded the basilica. Very interesting with many thoughts that teleport you back in time. From my point of view, worth seeing.
View original review in German
It was a very interesting experience. I love being in such old structures and the fact that it was featured in movies and videogames, it makes it even better
Breathtaking place! We loved we skipped very long line and enter in a few minutes!
Fast, easy entries and very attentive staff.
View original review in Spanish
The organization to enter, very interesting, the platforms allow you to go all over the site.
View original review in Spanish
8% off
Inclusions
Topkapi Palace
Hagia Sophia
Basilica Cistern
Topkapi Palace
Hagia Sophia
Basilica Cistern
The. Palace is marvelous, thoughtful and friendly assistance, unfortunately the audio guide was inaccessible and the internet coverage was partial, so we were not. Managed to translate all the explanations and we. Understood little
View original review in Italian
It was a surprise to enter such an old and well preserved site, the lighting is perfect and the modern sculptures installed there add a lot of character, we loved not having to wait in line to enter especially because the day was very hot and it is always visited by many people.
View original review in Spanish
The gentleman who came for us was funny and nice. He was well understood. The tour itself was wonderful. It is a pity that in the palace there is no property or other things to look at.
This review is translated. Show original review.
Very beautiful and unique place! With e-ticket, I didn't had to wait in line (which was very long!). Audio also worked very well. Definitely worth it!!
We've skipped the lines for tickets. Especially at Cisterna. Super fast entry. At Aya Sofia there was a line for security and entry. But was fast enough. Good choice we bought the tickets online. Saved a lot of time and no more waiting in the heat and sun.
Beautiful experience. The basilica is a goosebump show. Guide in Italian using cell phone. Online ticket purchase and ticket hopping. Good organization at the entrance
View original review in Italian
Purchasing tickets on line was easy, intuitive and fast taking advantage of cheaper prices than on other sites. The skip-the-line allowed us to immediately enter the attraction using the fast track dedicated to online purchases that was practically empty while the other two were full of people with very long lines. Using the audio guide was very easy and very intuitive, however, only after the invaluable help we got from the Support Team assistant at the entrance of the Basilica Cisterna by setting up the cell phone correctly with much helpfulness and courtesy. Thank you, it was fatastic to use Headout!
View original review in Italian
Straight forward tour, enjoyed being able to have my own time flexibility. Loved the sacred relics and all the historical architecture. However audio guide only covered the entrance really.
The meeting point is near the main entrance easily recognizable. The guide is ONLY for entering inside the palace and does not give instructions or ticket to visit the Harem area. Beware of this as Harem turns out to be extra charged and if not ticketed they will not let you in. Ask the guide for instructions now!!!
View original review in Italian
Quick and simple selection of attraction we would like to visit, other than Headout allow you to select each attraction, it also enable you to choose how many attraction per day to visit. We only select 1 attraction a day. This allow us to go in the morning and finish just before noon which is pretty hot in July. We head back to hotel to shower and take a nap 😴. Then head back out after 6pm for dinner and visit attraction to take pictures only from the outside. Sunset and night scene looks very different comparing it to day scene especially at Blue Mosque.
The place was out of this world. We don't have to make any line. The staff was very friendly. Were tennis shoes (no heels).
We loved the beautiful palace at the impressive location at the Bosporus. The palace is well preserved. Information about the harem could be more informative, there were for instance no stories about the harem. The ticket service also could be better. First it was not clear where to get the Headout tickets. We got the tickets from a guide, but the guide only accompanied us to the palace but did not follow us into the palace. So we did not get more information from the guide after entering the palace. In spite of these points of criticism the overall impression was great, we are glad we have visited this very impressive beautiful palace.
The best thing about buying tickets with Headout was not having to wait in line! The tour is impressive and very well organized. I was really impressed with the experience and recommend it for its historical value.
View original review in Spanish
The guide's explanation of the highlight was accurate. I was able to see the main parts of the palace in less than 2 hours.
The experience at the Basilica Cistern is incredible. I purchased tickets that allowed me to enter without waiting in line, and I was able to get in quickly. The basilica is marvelous, with stunning lights and artistic displays to enjoy. On the downside, there's no mobile signal inside the cistern. Although I had downloaded the app for a virtual guided tour, it wasn't available within the basilica. It would have been very considerate of them to inform visitors of this when purchasing tickets. So, you could decide whether to listen to the guide before or after entering the basilica. Alternatively, providing an option to download the guide for offline use would be ideal. Despite this, I highly recommend visiting the Basilica Cistern.
Easy to get there and apart from the initial part where the tour guide needs to lead you into the harem area, you are free to look around at your leisure. Audio guide app doesn't work but you can download a guide from the website although sometimes the areas can get confusing.
The online ticket system was super easy and convenient. We arrived and entered without any line ups. The Basilica Cistern is breathtaking, Beautiful, spectacular and a must do whilst in Istanbul.
The skip-the-line ticket is worth every penny. We were quickly inside and were able to enjoy the beautiful basilica without waiting in line. Buying and paying for tickets online is easy. I highly recommend it. The basilica itself was incredible. It's nice to see a piece of history and enjoy the beautiful views.
It was a wonderful visit, the site is beautiful. As expected, we didn't wait in line and it was easy to get in. We recommend taking the guided tour to get more details about the cisterns. It is a must see place in Istanbul.
View original review in Spanish
The Basilica Cistern is impressive. Is beautiful, incredibly stunning. To visit is a must while in Istanbul. Using the "skip the line" tickets was the best. From bying and downloading the app and walking in took us less than 10 minutes while the line to buy the tickets was very long. We did not do any line or waiting or nothing. We highly recommend it.
The guide was very well informed and got us through all the lines very quickly. He gave us all the information we needed, including tips on how to make the most of this visit. I really recommend. Expecially if you have children (skip the line really does mean skip the line)
So glad we found these online tickets! We visited later in the day, which meant limited remaining open time, so we only had to wait in the long security line. Ww would have liked to have more guidance, or an escort, regarding where to go after picking up the tickets, but we figured it out. The audio tour was only for one person and there were two of us, so that was only OK. That said, getting to visit the Hagia Sophia was wonderful and well worth the effort to get there.
Arrived a few minutes after 9am opening to find a line half way up the block, but then realized I chose the SKIP THE LINE option, I breezed in. There are two lines, one along the wall and the other STL option right next to it but sort of street side. I was maybe one of the first 20 people in the door Very pleased I went with that option. A tiny bit disappointed that the downloaded audio didn't work, I had listed to it the night before so I had a good idea what to expect, but would have been nice if it had worked as advertised.
Instrucciones sencillas,descarga de la guía correcta y funcionó sin datos móviles durante toda la visita a la basilica cisterna.muy recomendable.
Ottimo il servizio di biglietti in Line siamo entrati senza fila. Il posto è veramente incredibile Complimenti anche per come sono allestite le luci. L'esperienza della visita è stata veramente unica. Un posto bellissimo!
Inclusions
Basilica Cistern
Blue Mosque
Hagia Sophia
Basilica Cistern
Blue Mosque
Hagia Sophia
Skip the line tickets were the best thing we could do, it saved us hours of waiting in long queues under the sun. The group was quite small which make it easy to hear our guide. Our guide was great, he spoke very good English and explained everything in a very interesting way. I really liked that he also told us about Turkish history, culture, current situation in the country etc., I found it very interesting. Hagia Sofia was amazing and breathtaking. Basilica cistern was a big surprise, it's a beautiful place worth visiting. The time given in each place was enough for exploration and pictures. The tour overall took 4 hours. I highly recommend this tour when in Istanbul.
Arda, our guide, was awesome even tho it was sometimes hard to hear every word he said (to be fair every place we saw was quite crowded). Also the skip the line feature is super useful! There is enough time to take pics and buy water or food during the tour
The Headout service was so good, the guide explanation was clear and he was supported with some additional photos and complementary information. In my case I had a little incident, I lost my guide outside Blue Mosque, fortunately one guide of Headout supported me to find my group. Thanks so much to save my visit!
Our guide (Haluk Barlas) was very knowledgeable, witty, and well-organized. He showed us a lot of hidden gems inside Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia. Our guide kept the focus of the group by asking some basic questions about the history and culture of the monuments we were visiting. This participation and interaction elevated the whole experience to another level.
Amazing day with amazing guide
Excellent The guide us professional
Great tour guide who was very informative. Did not rush us through the cistern so that we could appreciate it fully
A great walking tour that suits our preferences n timing. Good knowledgeable guide !
The guide was perfect! Places were amazing. No line with this combo.
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
Our guide Mohammed was very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and kind. He gave a lot of details that others would not. He also taught us Turkish words and gave us recommendations to eat and visit. A must go tour. Very easy to book and really wonderful attractions. Don't miss it.
Tour guy was very knowledgeable of the Istanbul history. Great way to get into the historical places with the passes. We did not spend time waiting on the lines.
Detailed explanations and at a good pace. Despite being a visit in English and q in group we were several whose native language is different the guide adapted to us and our level.
View original review in Spanish
Experience to be had here in Istanbul especially with the guide who took us through all the explanation necessary to understand the whole history up to the present day. Skip the line is essential to avoid long waits.
View original review in Italian
Glad we took the combo, we had a great experience visiting these amazing monuments. And our guide Ali gave us many details about the history of the places we visited. Totally recommended.
Our guides were great, nice, supportive , patient. The whole combo was ideal to see into one single shot. Skip the line was worthy.
The guide who conducted the walking tour was excellent. Very knowledgeable and professional. The tour was organised very well too. Overall a fabulous experience.
Recommended!! It was very easy to find the tour guide and he knew how to explain about the history of the Mosques. They provided us with headphones to hear better what he was talking. Very patient and attentive. Also with no cues! Fantastic
We were blessed with a great guide named Mehmet who provided us with information on the sides and about culture and life in Istanbul. He further took care of everyones personal needs like extended pauses for food and drinks!
Beautiful and very interesting tour, Ali very kind guide, made us spend 4 hours without ever getting bored and telling us many historical anecdotes of this fantastic city
View original review in Italian
The history of the area. Seeing all the attractions. Tour guide was very engaging and knowledgeable. Being guided throughout and skipping the queues.
Great introduction to the city history and culture! Seeing this amazing constructions,having Arda as a passionate and so knowledgeable guide helped us made this trip the highlight of the year!
Tour was fantastic with Busa - she was really informative and had a lovely sense of humour. Everything ran on time and the time at each place was perfect.
Our guide Buse was really nice and knowledgable We skipped all the lines and got to know interesting facts about Istanbul history Good price for what you get
Our guide was so knowledgeable about each of the places we went, and he was very patient with our questions and keeping us all together.
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
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 the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia with one discounted ticket and a guide.
Discover the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia with one discounted ticket and a guide.
Inclusions
Skip the line tickets were the best thing we could do, it saved us hours of waiting in long queues under the sun. The group was quite small which make it easy to hear our guide. Our guide was great, he spoke very good English and explained everything in a very interesting way. I really liked that he also told us about Turkish history, culture, current situation in the country etc., I found it very interesting. Hagia Sofia was amazing and breathtaking. Basilica cistern was a big surprise, it's a beautiful place worth visiting. The time given in each place was enough for exploration and pictures. The tour overall took 4 hours. I highly recommend this tour when in Istanbul.
Arda, our guide, was awesome even tho it was sometimes hard to hear every word he said (to be fair every place we saw was quite crowded). Also the skip the line feature is super useful! There is enough time to take pics and buy water or food during the tour
The Headout service was so good, the guide explanation was clear and he was supported with some additional photos and complementary information. In my case I had a little incident, I lost my guide outside Blue Mosque, fortunately one guide of Headout supported me to find my group. Thanks so much to save my visit!
Our guide (Haluk Barlas) was very knowledgeable, witty, and well-organized. He showed us a lot of hidden gems inside Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia. Our guide kept the focus of the group by asking some basic questions about the history and culture of the monuments we were visiting. This participation and interaction elevated the whole experience to another level.
To be honest, my partner and I felt a little bit underwhelmed by the tour. We did get to skip the line for the Hagia Sophia, but we got a 10 min briefing before we went in and then as soon as we entered our guide showed us to the audioguide area and left us saying "he wasn't allowed to guide us through" which we saw a sign for, however there were probably 50 groups that we saw that were being guided, so that felt weird. As for the Blue Mosque we could barely hear our guide and we only spent about 15 minutes inside, and it was free entry... So it definitely didn't feel worth €112 for two people. We more or less paid that much for just the Hagia Sophia and a 30 minute tour. Overall it was a fun day though and they are definitely sites worth seeing.
Amazing day with amazing guide
Excellent The guide us professional
Great tour guide who was very informative. Did not rush us through the cistern so that we could appreciate it fully
A great walking tour that suits our preferences n timing. Good knowledgeable guide !
Manageable group size and knowledgeable guide. History of the various reincarnations of the site was great.
The tour was well organized and the meeting point was easy to find. Gidt told interesting facts and answered questions.
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The guide was perfect! Places were amazing. No line with this combo.
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
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Our guide Mohammed was very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and kind. He gave a lot of details that others would not. He also taught us Turkish words and gave us recommendations to eat and visit. A must go tour. Very easy to book and really wonderful attractions. Don't miss it.
Tour guy was very knowledgeable of the Istanbul history. Great way to get into the historical places with the passes. We did not spend time waiting on the lines.
Detailed explanations and at a good pace. Despite being a visit in English and q in group we were several whose native language is different the guide adapted to us and our level.
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Experience to be had here in Istanbul especially with the guide who took us through all the explanation necessary to understand the whole history up to the present day. Skip the line is essential to avoid long waits.
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Glad we took the combo, we had a great experience visiting these amazing monuments. And our guide Ali gave us many details about the history of the places we visited. Totally recommended.
Our guides were great, nice, supportive , patient. The whole combo was ideal to see into one single shot. Skip the line was worthy.
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.
The guide who conducted the walking tour was excellent. Very knowledgeable and professional. The tour was organised very well too. Overall a fabulous experience.
Haluk, our guide for the Hagia Sophia Tour was very knowledgeable and shared some interesting information. He had pictures with him to show how it looked like in the past and told everything in a good way. All in all it was a bit chaotic, as how to split the tour and in which order to do it. Not sure if it's worth paying the money for the tour or if you just do pay the entrance fee and take a look yourself. Both your guides in between distracted by their phones. The Blue Mosque 'Tour' was not a tour, could have saved the money for it. Younger tour guide, who didn't stick to a story line and showed us example pictures in tiny on his phone.
Recommended!! It was very easy to find the tour guide and he knew how to explain about the history of the Mosques. They provided us with headphones to hear better what he was talking. Very patient and attentive. Also with no cues! Fantastic
We were blessed with a great guide named Mehmet who provided us with information on the sides and about culture and life in Istanbul. He further took care of everyones personal needs like extended pauses for food and drinks!
Beautiful and very interesting tour, Ali very kind guide, made us spend 4 hours without ever getting bored and telling us many historical anecdotes of this fantastic city
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Inclusions
Everything is fine, you just have to make sure that you read your emails! It took us a while to find the checkpoint!
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The experience of taking the ticket and pass without queues is excellent, they accompany you to the entrance of topkapi, we were 3 friends and we took the premium megapass. The transport card is very good, it includes 5 trips and then you can recharge them in the machines of any transport. The audio guides are good. The only but, the guided tour of the Blue Mosque is not worth much, it is in English and they do not explain much.
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The fike-cutters are very practical for St Sophia and the Cistern Basilica, but not very efficient for Topkapi. The cruise is very pleasant and the sightseeing buses always interesting for a first visit to the city.
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Good, do it after 16:00, less waiting.
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All perfect Great pass to skip the line
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Instructions were clear and easy to follow. Very convenient. The customer service is superb and very helpful!
Loved how you could choose which attractions to visit and loved how you could visit on your own schedule!!
Skip the line really did work! Great!
Buying the megacard was a god proposition
View original review in Dutch
Very convenient, well organised and a lot of time saved by booking events online
Value and customer service was great!
Well organized, everything went Very smooth. Highly recommend. Customer service(whats app) is excellent.
Go for: Skip-the-line tickets
Duration: Flexible
Guide: Audio guide or an expert historian guide, depending on the ticket you choose
Recommended tours:
Go for: Guided tours
Duration: Flexible
Guide: Audio guide or an expert historian guide, depending on the ticket you choose
Recommended tours:
Go for: Combo tickets
Duration: Flexible
Guide: Audio guide or an expert historian guide, depending on the ticket you choose
Recommended tours:
Open: Daily
Closed: Prayer hours and during noon prayers on Fridays
Duration of visit: 1 to 2 hours
Best Time to visit: The best time to visit the Hagia Sophia are early mornings and late afternoons when there are fewer people inside the mosque and the golden sun, bathes the central dome in a beautiful light.
Hagia Sophia opening hoursAddress: Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih İstanbul, Turkey
The Topkapi Palace is a large complex of courtyards and buildings, and a stunning example of Islamic art and architecture. The Palace also contains an impressive collection of manuscripts, old weapons, and jewels.
Explore Topkapi PalaceBuilt in the 6th century, the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul is an underground water storage system. The structure is supported by 336 columns and is a perfect example of how the water system worked during the Byzantine reign.
Explore Basilica CisternYou can cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, straddling Europe and Asia, and enjoy Istanbul’s famous landmarks from the water. You can also opt for Bosphorus dinner cruises to enjoy a delicious meal on your sightseeing cruise.
Explore Bosphorus CruisesThe Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. The palace features stunning interiors, crystal chandeliers, and gold embossed artworks, and is designed in a blend of Baroque, Ottoman, and Rococo architectural styles.
Explore Dolmabahce PalaceYes, you need to purchase tickets to enter the Hagia Sophia. We recommend booking Hagia Sophia skip-the-line tickets to bypass long lines on the day of your visit. If you are a history and culture enthusiast, you can book guided tours or combo tickets for a hassle-free and informative touring experience.
You can purchase Hagia Sophia skip-the-line tickets online. It is best to book tickets in advance to reserve your spot so that you do not miss your attraction.
Yes, you can purchase Hagia Sophia historian-guided tours online. We recommend you book Hagia Sophia guided tours online because online ticket bookings ensure that your spot is reserved in advance. You may also chance upon great deals and combo offers when booking tours online.
Yes, if you book Hagia Sophia tickets online, you can enjoy discounted prices and combo deals. These combo tours start from €59 and include access to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and more.
Yes, if you purchase Hagia Sophia skip-the-line tickets, you can enjoy a self-paced, multilingual, audio-guided tour of the mosque. If you book guided tours or Hagia Sophia combo tickets, an English-speaking tour guide will accompany you to share interesting stories about how the past Orthodox church came to be a mosque.
If you are short on time, book the Hagia Sophia skip-the-line tickets. For an in-depth tour, you can choose the historian-guided tour of Hagia Sophia. If you have a few hours to spare, you can choose the combo Hagia Sophia guided tours that offer access to important monuments like Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern, and also include a 90-minute Bosphorus Cruise depending on your ticket options.
Book Hagia Sophia guided tours to enjoy touring the impressive mosque with an English-speaking tour guide. The guide will share interesting stories and anecdotes to familiarize you with the history of the mosque.
It is better to book Hagia Sophia guided tours because a tour guide can offer you insights and interesting stories about the history, architecture, and cultural significance of the monument. The guide can also ensure that you follow the rules and regulations while visiting the mosque. You can also explore the lesser-known hidden corners and secret gems inside the Hagia Sophia with a tour guide.
Depending on whether you are purchasing historian-guided Hagia Sophia tours or combo Hagia Sophia tickets, they can range between €31 to €36 to €59.
The Hagia Sophia guided tour lasts for almost 2 hours. You can roam the monument for as long as you wish even after your historian-guided tour ends.
The Hagia Sophia remains open to the public daily throughout the year. It is only closed to non-worshippers during prayer hours on Fridays.
The best way to reach the Hagia Sophia is to catch the 28, 32, BN1, or EMI to reach Sultanahmet Square. You can also catch either the Marmaray (Atakoy to Pendik) or Marmaray (Halkali to Gebze) train to reach Marmaray Square or Sultanahmet Square. The M2 metro and the T1 tram also reach Sultanahmet Square. The Hagia Sophia is a short walk from the Square.
Hagia Sophia is open daily. You can visit it any time of the year, however, please avoid visiting it during prayer calls and noon prayers on Fridays. June to August is the busiest time of the year, attracting tourists from all over the world. Arrive early in the morning to soak in the relatively quiet atmosphere at Hagia Sophia.
Once known as the Hagia Sophia Museum, the present-day Hagia Sophia is a mosque, so please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Do not wear shorts or strappy tops. Headscarves are available at the entrance for free, and you must wrap them around your head before entering the sacred monument.
Yes, visitors with limited mobility can enter the Hagia Sophia. There are ramps at the west corner of the building at the intersection of Alemdar and Ayasofya Meydani.
While there are no locker rooms inside the Hagia Sophia, you can use the one at Sirkeci train station, 2 tram stops from Sultanahmet to store your belongings.
Yes, with the new visiting area, you can enter the Hagia Sophia with your shoes on. However, you have to remove your shoes if you want to go up to the second floor or the inner chambers.
We advise you not to carry food inside the Hagia Sophia since it is a sacred prayer site. It would be disrespectful to drop crumbs or litter the inside.
Photography is allowed inside the Hagia Sophia, however, please refrain from clicking pictures of people who are praying. Flash photography is not allowed on the premises.
You can plan a day trip to Sultanahmet and visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and the Galata Tower. They are quite near each other.
Once a church and now a mosque, Hagia Sophia has witnessed numerous eras and dynasties. As a former church, the present-day mosque is an essential symbol of the coexistence of several religions. The Byzantine and Ottoman artworks and mosaics inside its walls are remnants of its glorious days. The building’s design is breathtaking with a massive central dome surrounded by towering ornate columns.