Category Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque

Turkey · HAGIA SOPHIA AND THE BLUE MOSQUE

Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque: 15 Tours Compared

22 reviewed

Both buildings are working mosques. Cover shoulders and knees, take your shoes off inside, and expect closures at prayer times, which is the single biggest reason a timed tour is worth it. Below: what each visit includes, which tickets are prepaid, and which tours pair the two with Topkapi in one morning.

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket & Museum Option

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket & Museum Option - Ticket Pickup at the Museum Counter, Not at the Gate

1.Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket & Museum Option

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 4,958 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $33Our pick

Skip the ticket-buying line for Hagia Sophia, with optional museum combo, AR, and 23-language audio, plus practical ticket pickup tips.

“Hagia Sophia was as described, very pretty and interesting. My main complaint is I found it quite difficult to find where I had to get my ticket from. No one seemed to know! Also depending where you are approaching the mosque it’s quite a climb.Very steep approach.”

Check availability →Read the full review

Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Guided Tour w/ Tickets

Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Guided Tour w/ Tickets - How the Galataport cruise start makes your day easier

2.Istanbul: Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia Guided Tour w/ Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,600 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $39

Small-group guided tour of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia with priority tickets, headsets, plus fast access from Galataport or Sultanahmet.

“My visit to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia with guide Ismail Mert was fantastic! Ismail was knowledgeable, friendly, and brought the history of these iconic sites to life with engaging stories. His passion and clear explanations made the tour truly memorable. Highly recommend Ismail for an enriching experience.”

Check availability →Read the full review

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket and Audio Guide

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket and Audio Guide - Entering Hagia Sophia: Visiting Areas vs. the Prayer Floor

3.Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket and Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,246 reviews · from $35

Skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia plus an English phone audio guide, great flexibility to explore the visiting areas at your pace.

“We were pleased to be able to skip the queue to buy tickets but we still had to queue a long time to enter the building (unavoidable because it's so popular). I forgot my headphones so can't comment on the audio guide.”

Check availability →Read the full review

Istanbul: Basilica Cistern & Hagia Sophia Combo Ticket

Istanbul: Basilica Cistern & Hagia Sophia Combo Ticket - Skip-the-line is not magic, security still takes time

Istanbul: Blue Mosque Guided Tour

Istanbul: Blue Mosque Guided Tour - Meeting at Dsign Cafe and finding your MegaPass guide

5.Istanbul: Blue Mosque Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,910 reviews · 1 hour · from $19

A 1-hour Blue Mosque guided visit from Dsign Cafe, with Old City walking, expert stories, and free time inside for photos.

“I really liked the tour with Buse, it was quite informative. The only thing is, I would not recommend it if you don’t understand english really well. The guides English was great, but with an accent and through the microphone transmission I sometimes struggled to understand everything, so just be mindful of that when booking. Otherwise, 5/5 experience!”

Check availability →Read the full review

Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, & Basilica Cistern Tour

Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, & Basilica Cistern Tour - Meeting the guide in the Hippodrome area

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket with Audio Tour

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket with Audio Tour - Your audio guide route: from the main rooms to second-floor areas

Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, & Hagia Sophia Tour

Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, & Hagia Sophia Tour - Sultanahmet Square and the Hippodrome: Getting Context Before You Go Indoors

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Ticket Line & Audio Guide

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Ticket Line & Audio Guide - Where You Enter With Your QR Code (And Why It Changes Everything)

Istanbul: Topkapi, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern Tour

Istanbul: Topkapi, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern Tour - Basilica Cistern First, Then Hagia Sophia Feels Even Bigger

10.Istanbul: Topkapi, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,430 reviews · 4 hours · from $117

Small-group Istanbul tour with skip-the-line entry to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern, plus optional Harem time.

“Furkan our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable & continues to research so he can impart his knowledge to guests. Having a small group was wonderful. Furkan was enthusiastic and timed our tour with comfort stops. An energetic, efficient and knowledgeable guide, thoroughly recommended.”

Check availability →Read the full review

Istanbul: Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Tour w/Entry Tickets

Istanbul: Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Tour w/Entry Tickets - Meeting near Alman Çeşmesi and getting oriented fast

Basilica Cistern &Topkapi Palace &Hagia Sophia Combo Tickets

Basilica Cistern &Topkapi Palace &Hagia Sophia Combo Tickets - 3 Days of Flexibility for Hagia Sophia and the Cistern

12.Basilica Cistern &Topkapi Palace &Hagia Sophia Combo Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,306 reviews · 3 days · from $157

Skip-the-line combo for Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia Upper Gallery, and Topkapi Palace and Harem, valid 3 days with timed entry.

“Very easy. Tickets were sent 24 hours before, as promised, and going to Topkapi with the guide was straightforward - they send you all the details about where to go and the times you can go beforehand.”

Check availability →Read the full review

Istanbul: Whirling Dervish Ceremony next to Hagia Sophia

Istanbul: Whirling Dervish Ceremony next to Hagia Sophia - The 55 minutes of Sema: what happens before, during, and after

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Ticket with Audio Guide & Blue Mosque

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia Ticket with Audio Guide & Blue Mosque - How the Cosmic Tickets QR code and skip-the-line actually work

Istanbul Highlights! Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and More!

Istanbul Highlights! Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and More! - Meeting at the German Fountain and getting oriented fast

15.Istanbul Highlights! Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and More!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 618 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $175Top rated

See Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi and more on a small-group walking day with included tickets, lunch, and a great guide.

“Oz was AMAZING! It was like having the mayor of Istanbul walk us through the city. He was so knowledgeable as though taking a college course, and patient and kind! If we could do every tour with this man we would! He should be in every city. History, present, looking to the future- he knew it!! Cannot say enough wonderful things about this phenomenal guide.”

Check availability →Read the full review