Istanbul: City Highlights Tour w/Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque

According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your half-day tour. Explore Hagia Sophia; Meaning Divine Wisdom, Hagia Sophia was the largest building on earth barring the Egyptian Pyramids or the Great Wall of China. Today's Hagia Sophia was built by the Emperor Justinian in 537AD. It was the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period. It was used as a church for 916 years and as a mosque for 481 years, In 1934, by the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, it was converted into a museum and has since been open to visitors.

Continue to with Hippodrome; Built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203AD, during the Roman period hippodrome was the civil center for the people of the city whıch once could hold 100,000 spectators.  Located in the heart of Sultanahmet surrounded by Blue mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi palace, today it is home to The Egyptian Obelisk (Dikilitaş), The Serpentine Column (Burma sütun), The Constantine Column and the German Fountain.

Next Blue Mosque; Built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in the year 1616, it is located opposite the Hagia Sophia.  Blue mosque today is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city with its famous six minarets and magnificent dome. Although it is officially named Sultanahmet Mosque,, the (nıck) name Blue Mosque was given to it by the visitors because of the amazing blue tiles decorating the interior walls.

The last visiting place is Grand Bazaar: One of the largest covered markets in the world with more than 60 streets and 5000 shops, where you will find in an authentic oriental atmosphere, all kinds of gifts, leather clothing, rugs, antiques, jewelry, hand-woven fabrics, etc…